Eds. Note: There have been numerous, reported sightings of mountain lions by seemingly reliable witnesses, yet the Game Department claims there are no mountain lions in Virginia. Below is a recent article from VDGIF? We report, you decide.   More and more images appear as photo attachments to emails claiming to have been taken in Virginia. With some detective work, they are often … [Read more...]

Or guest columnist, Sherman Shifflett, shares with us his memories of apples and orchards   An Apple a Day   By Sherman Shifflett     From the time I can first remember, I lived around orchards. Dad worked most of his adult life in the orchards near Covesville in Albemarle County. He knew a lot about grafting, planting, pruning, thinning, spraying and … [Read more...]

Dr. Ken Neill, III   They have a face that only a mother could love. Black drum lack the beautiful red-golden glow and the more streamlined body of their close cousin, the red drum. They do not give you the blistering runs or acrobatic leaps that are the trademarks of some of the more popular game fish. While considered a delicacy in a few localized areas, they are not highly thought of … [Read more...]

(Intro from Jim Brewer) Well, fellow backyard gardeners, it’s time to plant! This week I asked a veteran gardener, Sherman Shifflett, to share a few suggestions from his many years working the soil. Sherman kindly relayed some tips his father gave him, and one involves using the Farmer’s Almanac. Maybe there’s some real truth in that old handbook. Below are Sherman’s tips.   By Sherman … [Read more...]

By Alan Bittman   Fortunately, my wife, Cyndi, and I just missed the latest weather mess here in Albemarle County. Timing! Timing! Timing! While Central Virginia was treated to snow, ice and torrential rain, we were in Orlando. Last year my brother gave us as a reference (read: “sales lead for a time share”) to the folks who run a very nice resort in Florida. The “catch” was a … [Read more...]

By Charles Crenshaw   When people find out I was born in Charlottesville, they generally say, “You must have seen many changes.” And they are right. I was born in Charlottesville and have lived in or around here all my seventy-five years, except for my military time. I have seen many changes, some for the better and some not so good. The corner “mom and pop” store locations, for … [Read more...]

“Perch” Maynard was a long time guide on the New River before up and moving to South Carolina in order to battle redfish and speckled trout rather than smallmouth bass. “Perch” received his nickname from the legendary fly tier and fishing guide, Chuck Kraft. Chuck teasingly told Maynard that when it came to fishing, he was little more than a perch jerker, and the name stuck. “Perch” wore it … [Read more...]

By Alan Bittman   Not to sound melancholy, but someday all of us will be gone, leaving behind memories and a legacy. No, I am not depressed but, rather, proud that I have already made my bequest. I was wise enough to share my love of the outdoors with my sons and daughter. I started taking them with me when they were quite young, haunting Greene County’s South River in the spring and … [Read more...]

By James Friend Dickerson Deer season is over.  Time to cook up some Venison Stew. We really enjoy cooking with venison at Kamp Karen. I’ve received requests for my Venison Stew recipe, so hear goes. I used to make this following the Bourbon and Buck Stew recipe found in the L.L. Bean Game & Fish Cookbook. Over the years someone borrowed without returning the cookbook or it got lost … [Read more...]