The Shadow
Richmond, VA—Residents of the Commonwealth who would like to participate in a one-of-a-kind outdoor experience are encouraged to take part in the 10th Anniversary of the Old Dominion One Shot Turkey Hunt scheduled for April 17-18. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia (WFV) are coordinating this annual event, which provides the opportunity to hunt some of the most exclusive properties with experienced guides.
“The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources is proud to join the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Green Top Sporting Goods, Bass Pro Shops, and Dance’s Sporting Goods in celebrating the 10th annual One Shot Turkey Hunt,” said DWR Executive Director Ryan Brown. “As the Foundation’s premier fundraising event, One Shot directly supports vital habitat restoration efforts and expands outdoor recreational opportunities for residents across the Commonwealth. Equally meaningful is the fellowship it fosters—the camaraderie and enduring friendships shared among landowners, hunters, and guides who come together each year in the spirit of conservation and community.”
Proceeds from the 2026 Old Dominion One Shot Turkey Hunt will be used to promote hunting and outdoor wildlife opportunities across the Commonwealth and to support the DWR/WFV Virginia Wildlife Grant Program. The Grant Program provides a funding source to non-profits, schools, and government agencies with a focus on connecting youth to the outdoors. In 2026, 184 grant applications were received by the Virginia Wildlife Grant Program. Results of the 2026 grant season will be announced in March. See more details here.
Young outdoor enthusiasts (aged 7-17) who are interested in participating are encouraged to enter an essay contest to be considered to hunt with an experienced mentor. There are five slots for those scholarships (more may be added with additional sponsorships). More than 20 youth submitted essays for the 9th Annual Old Dominion One Shot Turkey Hunt in 2025. The theme for this year’s contest is “What is your best hunting memory and what did you learn from it?” Youth essay contest participants emerged as the winners of the 2018 and 2019 One Shot hunts. Essay submission is open through March 17 with the awards being announced no later than March 27. Information on how to submit an essay can be found on the One Shot webpage.
One Shot will kick off Friday, April 17 at Bass Pro Shops in Ashland, Va., with hunters and guides pairing up and planning their hunting strategy. Hunters accompanied by their guides will hunt until noon on Saturday in spectacular locations throughout Virginia donated for the day by generous landowners. Hunters hope to walk away with an award-winning gobbler in one of the several scoring categories. Festivities will conclude Saturday night with a celebration at Bass Pro Shops. The deadline for hunters to register is April 5.
“The One Shot is an opportunity for a broad cross section of Virginians to unite in their passion for hunting turkeys as well as for the outdoors itself. Those involved with the One Shot, whether they are participating as hunters, guides, landowners, or the supporting staff, come together in a unique manner to express their appreciation for Virginia’s wildlife resources. In addition, the efforts of these conservationists are directly contributing to funding that will perpetuate the abundance of wildlife and the expansion of outdoor opportunities in the Commonwealth,” said Jenny West, Executive Director of WFV.
For more information, event details, sponsorships, or how to attend the evening celebration at Bass Pro Shops, visit the One Shot webpage.
