VIDALIA — Hunters from around the country converged on the Miss-Lou this weekend for Redneck Adventures eighth-annual squirrel hunt.

Throughout the year, Redneck Adventures television show participates in auctions at benefits for such charities as Ronald McDonald House, St. Jude Children’s Hospital and Outdoors Without Limits.

“They will have auctions to raise money for their charities and our contribution is auctioning off a trip to this squirrel hunt,” Redneck Adventures co-owner Jimmy Allgood said.

Hunters from as far away as Wisconsin and New York started coming in earlier in the week and rabbit hunted Friday at Sandy Creek Farms.

“That was a great rabbit and squirrel hunt where several kids took their first squirrels,” Allgood said. “The land that was hunted on was donated from various hunting clubs and land owners from Wilkinson County to Adams County.”

And it was the volunteers who really made the event go off without a hitch, Redneck Adventures co-owner Keith Rayborn said.

“The volunteers are great,” he said. “Red Owens helps us every year. We also had help from Glenville Wisner, Kent Allgood, Q.L. Fontenot and many others.”

After the hunt, the hunters gathered at Riverview Park and Resort on the Vidalia Riverfront for fellowship, good food and good music.

“We had folks donate their talent and time to entertain the hunters and Riverview donated this great building to host the event,” Rayborn said.

While the weather wasn’t so great Saturday morning with heavy rains drenching the hunters, a good amount of fun was had and many squirrels were hunted down.

The local hunting foursome of Lance Beesley, Chet Willis, Matthew Goldman and Cory Miller had the largest hunt, taking 19 squirrels and two raccoons.

“It was a great event,” Allgood said. “Everyone came and had a good time.”