Nearly two dozen hunters captured dozens of bears in the woods off Kings Fork Road Saturday.

The hunters, ranging in age from 3 to about 12, stalked their prey through the woods and captured the bears by cutting the ribbon that tied them to the tree.

But don’t worry — these were only teddy bears.

The Suffolk-Nansemond Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America sponsored the event for the third year at their property behind King’s Fork Middle School.

The hunters, accompanied by family Izaak Walton League volunteers, traipsed through the woods on the hunt for teddy bears, with their “hunting licenses” in hand, entitling them to take a bear.

After the hunt was over, the hunters and their families gathered at the gazebo for hotdogs and then took part in fishing and archery.

“The parents say, ‘This is the most fun I’ve had with them outdoors in ages,’” said Tim Doxey, the media chair for the chapter. “The idea is to get them out in nature and in the woods. It’s just a way to get the families together outside.”

The chapter participates in many events throughout the year, including river cleanups and adopt-a-road cleanups. It also gives scholarships to college students pursuing studies pertaining to conservation and the environment.

But the Teddy Bear Hunt is the event of the year for the under-12 set, Doxey said.
“This is the one event a year that’s designed especially for the kids,” he said.

About 45 hunters and family members participated in Saturday’s hunt, along with about 30 volunteers.

Matt Dess said his daughters, 7-year-old Leah and 4-year-old Mallory, were up at 6:30 Saturday morning. They arrived wearing blaze pink hats and vests.

“They were excited to be here,” he said.

Chapter president Ray Powell said the event was a success.

“We do it for the kids, to educate them on how much fun it is to come out here and fish and do archery,” he said. “That’s what we’re all about.”