It's showtime for sportsmen around the commonwealth

Can it possibly be that dove season opens in less than five weeks? Sounds impossible, but it's true. On Saturday, Sept. 5, the 2009-10 hunting season gets underway.

Obviously, an avid sportsman can't just pick up a shotgun and enter the exciting world of hunting without some sort of buffer. Otherwise, the exhilaration would be too intense; no telling what would happen -- drooling, hallucinations, out of body experiences, stuff like that. That's why the Good Lord created hunting shows, as a way of diluting the overwhelming joy of getting outdoors. Outdoor shows are like cream in a cup of good coffee: to compliment the flavor.

One of the very best outdoor shows in Virginia happens on Aug. 7-9 when the 26th Annual Virginia Outdoor Sportsman's Show in Richmond gets underway. This year, there will be over 300 fun and exciting new exhibits, demonstrations and seminars -- something for everyone in the family. Experienced and novice sportsmen and sportswomen alike can try the latest in new equipment and learn about new places to enjoy Virginia's great outdoors.

The three-day show is held at The Showplace in downtown Richmond. At the show, sportsmen can purchase hunting and fishing licenses, pick up the new 2010 Virginia Wildlife calendar, get the pan fishing and squirrel skinning DVD from the VDGIF booth and also subscribe to Virginia Wildlife magazine and the Outdoor Report.

Sportsmen can also pick up a free copy of the new 2009-2010 Hunting & Trapping Regulations and Information booklet featuring descriptions of new regulations and opportunities to enhance hunting experiences. The booklet also gives details on popular programs like the apprentice license, Earn-A-Buck, expanded muzzle-loading seasons, telecheck and special youth fall turkey and deer seasons. VDGIF officials will host a special seminar on Saturday, Aug. 8 at 11 a.m. to review new opportunities and regulations for hunters. This is also an opportunity to see some of the biggest bucks harvested in Virginia. Deer hunters throughout the state bring their mounts to this prestigious contest, organized by the Virginia Deer Hunters Association (VDHA). Certified judges from the VDHA and VDGIF will be awarding ribbons and trophies in four antler classes. The Virginia Open Turkey Calling Championship will be held on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and is sanctioned by the National Wild Turkey Federation. There are cash and prize awards with the first-place winners in four divisions eligible to go to the National Calling Contest. Check the show's Web site -- sportsmanshow.com -- for information on numerous seminars, directions, exhibits, demonstrations, sportsmen celebrities and contests.

Strange plants

A couple weeks ago I wrote about a strange plant growing in my back yard. A couple people e-mailed and said it sounded like Johnson grass, a prolific plant that is the devil to get rid of. They said there was a lot of this nuisance grass growing along many of our rural roads. So I looked up Johnson grass and that's not what I have in my back yard.

Johnson grass is a tall, coarse grass with stout rhizomes -- thick underground stems. The grass has a broad leaf and grows in dense clumps. It can reach heights of up to 8 feet. But the grass has panicles, a cluster of flower-like tassels that are reddish brown. The plants in my yard have broader leaves than Johnson grass and have a greenish-yellow cluster of grain at the top. It turns out to be sorghum, sorghum bicolor to be exact. And it's excellent for wildlife.

A little study into sorghum reveals that this particular plant may have more value in creating ethanol than corn. Sorghum is also used regularly at game and wildlife preserves for both cover and as a food source. Quail love it. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the powers that be recognized the value of sorghum and planted it throughout our state for use as ethanol as well as for silage? Ground-feeding birds and all types of wildlife would prosper.

So I am letting this strange looking plant grow and go to seed so the birds will have another source of food. But how sorghum ended up in my wife's flowerbed is still a mystery. My suspicions are that birds are somehow responsible with a few unscheduled deposits.