SWVA Sportsmen Takes on Antler Stock 2026
Heat, Friends, Conservation, and a Rifle Winner
Some weekends remind you exactly why you volunteer.
Antler Stock 2026 was one of those weekends.
Hosted by our friend Jeff Phillips and the crew at Star City Whitetails, Antler Stock continues to grow into one of Virginia's premier outdoor gatherings. Hunters, anglers, families, conservation organizations, craftsmen, vendors, musicians, and outdoor enthusiasts all came together for one common purpose—to celebrate the outdoor lifestyle that makes our region special.
And although the Virginia summer reminded everyone exactly how hot July can be, there wasn't a lack of smiles anywhere on the grounds.
The Heat Couldn't Stop the Fun
To be honest...
It was hot.
Really hot.
Temperatures climbed throughout the day, and finding shade became almost as important as finding the next booth to visit. Thankfully, plenty of folks gathered beneath the large event tents, swapping hunting stories, checking out handcrafted gear, enjoying great food, and catching up with old friends.
The atmosphere never slowed down.
Live music filled the air, vendors stayed busy all day, and the crowds continued to roll through despite the summer heat.
Events like this remind us that the outdoor community isn't just about hunting season—it's about the people.
Congratulations to Jordan Thompson!
One of the highlights of the weekend came during our rifle raffle drawing.
Congratulations to Jordan Thompson, who walked away as the winner of our rifle giveaway!
Seeing the excitement on a winner's face is one of the best parts of hosting these raffles. Not only does someone head home with a great prize, but every ticket purchased helps support the mission of SWVA Sportsmen—protecting wildlife, supporting conservation, and continuing the restoration of Virginia's elk herd.
Congratulations again, Jordan!
We hope you enjoy it for many years to come.
We Never Even Made It Inside
One funny part of the weekend...
We actually never made it inside the main show building.
Between talking with visitors, catching up with friends, meeting new supporters, and simply enjoying everything happening outside, we stayed busy from start to finish.
Sometimes that's exactly how these events go.
The best conversations don't always happen in front of a display—they happen standing beside a truck, under a tent, while admiring someone's handcrafted work, or while sharing stories about your latest hunt.
Those are the moments that build lasting friendships.
A Weekend Full of Great People
One of the biggest takeaways from Antler Stock wasn't a raffle or a purchase.
It was the people.
Everywhere we looked there were families introducing their children to the outdoors, hunters talking about upcoming seasons, craftsmen displaying incredible handmade work, and organizations working together to preserve our outdoor heritage.
That's exactly what SWVA Sportsmen is all about.
Our mission has always been bigger than elk.
It's about building a stronger outdoor community while helping ensure that future generations experience the same wildlife, public lands, and hunting traditions we've all grown to love.
Weekends like Antler Stock remind us that conservation succeeds because of people willing to get involved.
Thank You, Jeff Phillips
A huge thank you goes out to Jeff Phillips and everyone with Star City Whitetails for inviting us to be part of another outstanding event.
Putting together a gathering of this size takes countless hours of planning, volunteers, sponsors, vendors, and behind-the-scenes work that most attendees never see.
It showed.
Everything came together to create a fun, welcoming atmosphere for outdoor enthusiasts from across the region.
We're already looking forward to the next one.
Next Stop: Richmond
There isn't much time to rest.
Our trailer is already being packed back up as we prepare for our next adventure.
Next stop...
The 43rd Annual Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show in Richmond.
We'll be bringing the SWVA Sportsmen Virginia Elk Base Camp, conservation displays, raffle opportunities, giveaways, and plenty of information about Virginia's incredible elk restoration story.
If you're planning to attend the Richmond show, be sure to stop by and introduce yourself.
Whether you're interested in elk conservation, volunteering, our upcoming banquet, or simply want to swap hunting stories, we'd love to meet you.
We have some exciting new displays, new prizes, and plenty of surprises waiting for everyone who visits our booth.
Until Next Time...
Antler Stock reminded us that conservation isn't built in board rooms.
It's built in conversations.
It's built through friendships.
It's built by volunteers.
It's built by organizations working together.
Most importantly, it's built by people who care enough to spend their weekends supporting wildlife and the outdoor traditions we all cherish.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by to visit us.
Thank you to everyone who purchased raffle tickets.
Thank you to everyone who supports SWVA Sportsmen throughout the year.
We'll see you soon in Richmond.
The adventure continues.
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