The ever-expanding Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show has out grown its digs again and it promises to be more exciting than ever. This year it will be held on Aug. 12, 13, and 14 at the Richmond International Raceway Complex (RIR) 600 E. Laburnum Ave—Not very far from its previous home.

New this year is the Tidewater Dock Dogs competition on Saturday and Sunday. Anyone can enter and members of Tidewater Dock Dogs will be available to help coach and encourage your best friend to take the leap. The basics are: throw a floating object off the end of a dock and see how far or high your dog will leap off the dock as it chases the object into the water. There are three divisions: big air, extreme vertical, and speed retrieve. If you’re not sure if your dog is competition material, sign up for the open practice session. Dachshunds and Basset Hounds need not apply.

Topping off this year’s list of outdoor celebrities are Nichole Jones and Pat Reeves, stars of the Outdoor Channel’s Driven TV. Jones grew up in a small town in Illinois and began venturing into the woods with her dad and two brothers as soon as she could walk. She killed her first deer at the age of 6. She can now boast of a Boone and Crockett trophy buck, a 12-foot alligator, antelope and several African species among her conquests. She joined forces with Reeves in 2007 and their program is now in its fourth year. Jones says her favorite part of doing outdoor seminars and shows is the children. She says, “I love seeing kid’s faces light up when they come up to the booth for photos and autographs because I can see their passion coming out.”

Like Jones, Reeves began hunting with his dad. After 30 years of whitetail hunting he became a guide in Wisconsin. He met the producer of Buckmasters TV who urged him to take his interest in photography to the next level and Reeves soon found himself running a video camera. His resume includes Bluff Country Outfitters, Hunter’s Specialties and North American Whitetail Television. Reeves’ largest trophy whitetail is a Boone and Crockett 200” typical.

A second celebrity hunting team appearing at the show are Realtree endorsers Nick Mundt and Travis “T-Bone” Turner. Mundt grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota and has worked as a commercial fisherman in Alaska. He spent eight years as a hunting guide before joining team Realtree.

Turner may be known for his comedy but he is also one of the world’s foremost bowhunters. He is a certified ASA and APA pro shooter and was ASA World Champion in 1991. He has been owner and manager of one of the largest archery shops in Georgia and through his customers he was introduced to Jeff Foxworthy and landed his role as T-Bone. Mundt and Turner have been co-hosts of Michael Waddell’s Bone Collector on the Outdoor Channel since 2008.

In addition to pro seminars the Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show features the Virginia Deer Classic sponsored by the Virginia Deer Hunters Association. Hunters from across the state will be bringing their trophy mounts to compete in four antler classes and six divisions. Trophies, ribbons and citations will be awarded by VDHA and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Turkey hunters who wish to demonstrate their prowess can enter the turkey calling contest on Saturday at 3 p.m. Competition will be held in the senior, intermediate, junior and friction divisions and is sponsored by Green Top Sporting Goods. Prizes include $600 Yeti Tundra coolers, a ground blind and good ole’ cash. The drawing for this year’s door prize, a six-day bow hunt with Midwest Finest Whitetails, valued at $2,950 will be held on Aug. 14 after 5 p.m. 

Hours for the Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show are Friday, 4-9 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tickets are $10 daily or $15 for all three days. For more information, email .