​Annual Richard Snow Memorial Hunt
This year, on March 11th, six youth and their parents met at Rose Hill Game Preserve to experience an upland bird hunt. This year we were joined by the Snow family as they sponsor the cost of the youth hunt. Rose Hill Game Preserve does the hunt at cost and an anonymous donor chipped in the tips for the guides.
As we normally do, we began the morning in the parking lot meeting and greeting and discussing the upcoming memories about to be made. Next, we headed into the office area which was part of the Civil War era plantation and warmed up a little bit by the fire and signed in, took care of waivers and made sure hunting licenses were in hand. Due to the wind (25 mph gusts with a few more than that) we decided to have our safety brief there in the office. However, we did take time before the safety brief to discuss why we were doing the hunt.
Fike discussed his relationship with the Snow family and how he knew Richard Snow, who had sadly passed on from his battle with cancer. Comments were made about what an easy going, reasonable, yet professional realtor he was. A short discussion was made about how he loved the outdoors and how he loved sharing the outdoors with others, which of course was the reason his family opted to sponsor the six youth each of the past three years for the hunt. Another point was made about how Richard did things correctly the first time. He was serious about not half stepping on things no matter what they were. He loved to learn. Daniel, Richard’s son, also spoke about his father and how he loved taking Clara, Daniel’s sister, out to waterfowl hunt. Mrs. Snow shared a collage of photos of Richard and his outdoor adventures so the kids could put a face with the stories they were hearing.
From the warmth of the old plantation building, now turned office, we ventured down to the 5-stand location and youth began taking turns trying to hit clays thrown from various angles to ready themselves for the hunt in the field. Some of the youth caught on right away and some took some pointers from parents and the staff at Rose Hill. The wind was a factor in the shooting for sure and was also going to be a factor for the birds and their flight direction and speed.
Soon enough the practice session was complete and we all ventured back up the hill to change into blaze orange, swap out shells for bird hunting and get one last sip of water before heading afield. The guides had observed the youth shooting and seemed confident in the safety that was observed and soon were ferrying kids to the fields with their parents to teach them about upland bird hunting, conservation and wildlife biology, not to mention dog handling and retrieving.
Shots began ringing out in various fields and the guides were working hard with their dogs to deliver a memorable experience for the kids and their parents. They succeeded! The comments I heard from parents and the youth were all very positive. The guides seemed happy and the hunt went off without any safety issues. All of the youth were able to harvest birds and some youth got multiple birds! For this group, the bird hunt was a first. The guides were showing the kids how to make fan tail mounts and they all posed for a group shot with the Snow family at the conclusion of the hunt.
The lesson was not complete without the guides demonstrating to the youth how to clean their birds and discuss the bird anatomy and biology with the kids as the parents looked on. The patience the guides showed the kids was above board and professional. They were true mentors to the kids. Matt, the farm manager, gave each youth a Rose Hill Game Preserve hat as a gift before they left.
Thank yous to the Snow family and the guides were shared and the kids and parents departed for King George. I joked with the parents and kids that a few of them would probably be asleep before they got halfway home. I was correct. I soon received a photo of a young person passed out in the truck. I won’t tell you who, but I had to laugh and understand. It was a big day and a lot happened thanks for the funding, compassion and graciousness of the Snow family as well as the staff. We know Richard would have been proud to see the hunt and know that many lives were impacted in his honor.

Lt. Spuchesi and his good friend, Roger Summers, worked all summer in the heat to provide experienced youth members a dove hunt. Storms tried to stop the hunt. Lightning flashed, thunder rumbled but we waited it out. Then when it was deemed to be safe, we ventured out and the youth started shooting. The rain poured down a few times but the youth and mentors stuck it out and the youth took some doves! 
We plan on another hunt this Saturday, Sept. 16th and this time the parents can shoot too!
UPDATE: We did enjoy another hunt on Sept 16th in the morning. So far I recevied some pictures from a few people. Here they are!
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Kathy Braden, Morgan, Mo, Emma, Joe and Gus were selected to go on this annual hunt to keep the memory of Richard Snow, a former Realtor, and his love of the outdoors alive. Those selected were new hunters that had not been on an upland
hunt before. Rose Hill Game Preserve www.rosehillgamepreserve.com/ or www.facebook.com/RoseHillGamePreserve/   partnered with the Snow family and friends who covered the costs of birds for the hunt. Rose Hill Game Preserve hosted us, provided a warm up with clays and the guides donated a day off work to come guide for the new hunters. 
The day began with fog hanging over the clays range where hunters warmed up and were coached by Miss Kathy of Rose Hill Game Preserve  and by her husband Mike who was the farm manager. Guide Mike, also coached shooters. The shooters responded well to the advice and were breaking clays with consistency before we all geared up to go afield and walk behind the dogs and guides. Soon shots rang out and birds were being placed in hunting vests and dogs were retrieving birds. Smiles were crossing faces and memories were being made. 
​We would like to thank the Snow family and friends for their generous donation to encourage others to enjoy nature and learn about the outdoors as Richard always did. We also want to thank Rose Hill Game Preserve and the guides for their hosting and time they put in as well as Big Dog Outfitters for the shells and clays for this hunt and finally to Kristy Fike for coming along and mentoring and assisting the hunters. 
This hunt is done to pay respects to Richard Snow and his family and keep his memory alive by fostering a love for the outdoors and passing on the traditions and respect he had for nature and sharing his passion with others. Richard always dug deep into what he was passionate about and this hunt is a good way to start new hunters to see habitat management, wild game biology, cooking and utilizing what is harvested. We think Richard would appreciate what we are doing. 

Lt. Spuchesi invited four youth to come rabbit hunt one last time for this season. Lucas, Blake, Zaccheus, and Raiden got to try their hand at rabbit hunting for the first time. Nearly all of the young men got rabbits. Conditions were tougher with warmer weather and rabbits beginning to think about breeding but the youth still had some opportunities and they got to see how to dress out their rabbits when they were done. Thanks to the dads that showed up and Roger Summers for assisting!

​This past Saturday Lt. Spuchesi held a rabbit hunt for youth in the club. Raiden, Jacob and Landan had a good time and got rabbits! We got to observe some find hound work by Lt. Spuchesi's pack of beagles too!
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Jacob went goose hunting with Mr. Fike and Cooper. He spotte the geese and helped call them right on in!
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