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Twenty-four women and men from the greater Suffolk-Chesapeake area and from as far as Williamsburg recently attended a free, all day “Field to Table” class taught by volunteer hunter education instructors under the auspices of the Virginia Department Of Wildlife Resources.

At the class held Saturday, Oct. 22, Coordinator of Hunter Education for the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Bryan Branch said this butchering class is the department’s most sought after class with demand far outpacing its abilities to meet each call.

The class was held at the Dismal Swamp Office on Desert Road and was hosted by manager,Chris Lowie of the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service.

Local hunters, using permits issued by conservation police Sgt. Mark Brewer supplied the deer harvested from local farms. Participating students received hands-on instruction on safe and proper methods and equipment for skinning, cutting and packaging venison from carcass to final cuts. The students are then free to take the final cuts of vacuum packed venison home, according to a news release.

The state’s two refrigerator cooler-trailers crisscross Virginia offering this free, all day class. Volunteers supply the time and venison.

For more information about taking this course, becoming a hunter education instructor or any number of other skills courses offered visit dwr.virginia.gov/hunting/education.