ROANOKE, W.Va. — Rabbit pot pie, venison chili, shredded duck tacos, and burgoo are among the dishes West Virginia state park cooks will bring to Stonewall Resort State Park near Weston Saturday for a celebration of the state’s hunting, fishing, and food traditions.
Kitchens from 10 state parks are participating in A Taste of West Virginia State Parks, part of West Virginia’s National Hunting and Fishing Day on Sept. 19. The daylong event also features dozens of outdoor activities for children, hunting and fishing demonstrations, more than 40 outdoor-recreation vendors, and a Big Buck Trophy Wall.
For Matt Welsch, executive chef for West Virginia State Parks, the food is part of the story the event is intended to tell.
“I’ve got kitchens from parks all across the state bringing their best to the table,” Welsch told West Virginia Explorer.
“Brisket, short ribs, rabbit stew, rabbit pot pie, pulled pork, shredded duck tacos, burgoo, venison chili, and more. A lot of it is wild game, which is exactly right for National Hunting and Fishing Days.
“This is the food West Virginia was built on, cooked by the people who cook it every day in our parks. Come see what the mountains put on a plate.”
What the mountains put on a plate
The tasting brings together cooks from Blackwater Falls, Cacapon Resort, Chief Logan, Hawks Nest, Holly River, North Bend, Pipestem Resort, Stonewall Resort, Twin Falls Resort and Tygart Lake state parks. Visitors can sample dishes from 1 to 4 p.m. and vote for their favorite.
Burgoo, a less familiar dish outside Appalachia and neighboring parts of the Upper South, is a thick stew traditionally made with meat and vegetables. At Stonewall, it will be served alongside foods more immediately recognizable as part of West Virginia’s hunting tradition, including rabbit, duck and venison.
The food tasting is part of a much larger celebration of outdoor life in West Virginia. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources calls National Hunting and Fishing Day the state’s largest outdoor-focused celebration, and nearly 1,500 people attended after the event returned to Stonewall Resort, according to the agency’s fiscal 2025 annual report.
Teaching another generation to hunt and fish
A major part of Saturday’s program targets children with little or no experience hunting, fishing, or spending time in the woods.
The Outdoor Youth Challenge includes youth fishing and archery, fly fishing, bow fishing, fish identification and filleting, wildlife and bird identification, knot tying, boating and water safety, tree identification, and demonstrations involving search-and-rescue dogs.
Young participants can also learn to field dress deer and squirrels and, at the shooting range, try .22 rifles, muzzleloaders, and sporting clays. Participants can qualify for prize drawings, including Conservation Camp scholarships and a lifetime West Virginia hunting and fishing license.
The Big Buck Trophy Wall also returns this year. Hunters are invited to bring mounted bucks for display and can enter for a chance to win prizes.’
Brett McMillion, director of the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources, emphasized the importance of hunting as a family tradition and invited attendance.
“National Hunting and Fishing Day is a proud tradition that celebrates our state’s rich outdoor heritage and the dedicated sportspeople who help conserve West Virginia’s natural beauty for future generations,” McMillion said.
“We invite families and outdoor enthusiasts of all ages to join us at Stonewall Resort State Park to experience the hands-on activities, traditions, and community spirit that make wild and wonderful West Virginia so special.”
The celebration arrives just as West Virginia’s fall hunting calendar is getting underway. Squirrel season opened Sept. 12, while archery and crossbow seasons for deer and bear open Sept. 26, placing the event near the beginning of one of the busiest periods of the year for hunters across the state.
When and where
National Hunting and Fishing Day will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, at Stonewall Resort State Park near Roanoke in Lewis County.
Admission is $10 for adults, while children 14 and younger are admitted free. Parking is free, with shuttle service available to select activity areas.
Visitors who purchase admission online by 11:59 p.m. Friday will receive two complimentary sampling tickets for A Taste of West Virginia State Parks. Additional food sampling tickets will be sold at the West Virginia State Parks Mobile Gift Shop for $3 each or two for $5. Each entrée, dessert, or drink sample requires one ticket.