Bluestone Wildlife Management Area | |
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Location | West Virginia, United States |
Coordinates | 37°33′32″N80°52′49″W / 37.55889°N 80.88028°W [1] |
Area | 18,019 acres (72.92 km2) [2] |
Elevation | 1,732 ft (528 m) [1] |
Visitors | 168,587 [3] |
Operator | West Virginia Division of Natural Resources |
Bluestone Wildlife Management Area [4] (also known as Bluestone Lake Wildlife Management Area [5] ) is a wildlife management area in southern West Virginia surrounding Bluestone Lake and the New River. The section of the lake from just upstream of the Bluestone River to Bluestone Dam is in Bluestone State Park; the rest of the lake in West Virginia basin comprises Bluestone WMA. [6] All together, the WMA comprises 18,019 acres (72.92 km2) of land and water. [2]
The wildlife management area is operated by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Section to provide hunting and fishing opportunities to the public and to protect the natural resources of the land. The land is owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and leased to WVDNR.
With the exception of camping, there are no fees for using the Wildlife Management Area. Day-use recreational opportunities include: [7]
Free boat launches provide access to Indian Creek, the New River, and Bluestone Lake.
There are seven camping areas spread along 12 miles (19 km) of the New River and Bluestone Lake. All together, these sites provide 330 primitive campsites: [8]
The Sherman Ballard Recreation Area has a cabin and barn which offers rustic accommodations. The cabin is an open air construction offering five bunk beds sets, a full kitchen, full enclosed bathroom, and covered porch. [7]
The barn is the only one in the West Virginia State Parks system allowing users to bring their own horses rather than renting horses from a concessionaire.[ citation needed ] At one time, WVDNR biologists tried to ban horses from the WMA but were rebutted by a public outcry.[ citation needed ]
Edwards Run Wildlife Management Area is located on 397 acres (1.6 km2) two miles (3 km) north of Capon Bridge on Cold Stream Road near Cold Stream in Hampshire County, West Virginia. Edwards Run WMA is owned by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
Nathaniel Mountain Wildlife Management Area is located on 10,675 acres (43.20 km2) south of Romney in Hampshire County, West Virginia. The wildlife management area's principle access road is off Grassy Lick Road. Nathaniel Mountain is owned by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR), and is one of West Virginia's largest wildlife management areas. The WMA was expanded in November 2003 after the WVDNR purchased 1,800 acres (7.3 km2) from the MeadWestvaco Corporation.
Short Mountain Wildlife Management Area is located on 8,005 acres (32.40 km2) eight miles (13 km) south of Augusta off Augusta-Ford Hill Road in Hampshire County, West Virginia. Short Mountain WMA is owned by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
The Allegheny Wildlife Management Area is located on 6,202 acres (25.1 km2) on two separate tracts of mixed oak-hickory woodlands in western Mineral County along the Allegheny Front. The large land tract of 5,034 acres (2,037.2 ha) is accessible via Pinnacle Road and Pine Swamp Road four miles (6 km) southwest of Keyser. The smaller tract of 1,168 acres (4.7 km2) is accessed by West Virginia Route 46 and Barnum Road about 6 miles (10 km) north from Elk Garden. The Barnum Road tract consists of old farm fields along the river and the ridgetop, connected by steep slopes.
Big Ditch Wildlife Management Area is a protected area located in Webster County, West Virginia near the town of Cowen. The WMA is 388 acres (157 ha) in size and is centered on Big Ditch Lake, a 55-acre (22 ha) man-made reservoir.
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of West Virginia. While formerly known as the cabinet-level Department of Natural Resources, it is now part of the West Virginia Department of Commerce. The WVDNR is responsible for wildlife management, hunting and fishing regulations, and boater safety and also oversees state parks and resorts. It also operates the West Virginia State Wildlife Center, a zoo in French Creek that exhibits West Virginian wildlife.
Amherst-Plymouth Wildlife Management Area is a 7,061-acre (2,857 ha) protected area located in Putnam County, West Virginia. The site is along the banks of the Kanawha River and is popular for hunting Canada geese in the fall. Access is from West Virginia Route 62 between Bancroft and Hometown and from Manilla Creek Road and Heizer Creek Road off WV 62 north of Poca, West Virginia. Manilla Creek Road cuts across the north side of the Amherst-Plymouth WMA, and WV 62 follows the southern edge of the area alongside the Kanawha River.
Bear Rock Lakes Wildlife Management Area is a 242-acre (98 ha) protected area located in Ohio County, West Virginia, about 8 miles (13 km) east of Wheeling. The terrain at Bear Rock Lakes is rolling hills covered by a combination of hardwood forest and open fields.
Beury Mountain Wildlife Management Area is located on 9,232 acres (3,736 ha) near Babcock State Park and New River Gorge National River in Fayette County, West Virginia. Beury Mountain's sloping terrain is covered with mixed hardwoods and oak-hickory second growth woodlands overlooking New River Gorge. Camping is not allowed at Beury Mountain WMA, but is available at nearby Babcock State Park.
Big Ugly Wildlife Management Area is located on 3,061 acres (1,239 ha) near Logan in Lincoln County, West Virginia. The Big Ugly's steep terrain is covered with mixed hardwoods second growth woodlands. Camping is not allowed at Big Ugly WMA, but is available at nearby Chief Logan State Park.
Castleman Run Lake Wildlife Management Area is located on 486 acres (197 ha) near in Brooke and Ohio counties near Bethany, West Virginia. The moderate slopes are covered with mixed hardwoods, brushy vegetation, and open fields. The WMA is located about 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Bethany on Castleman Run Road.
Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area is located on 11,772 acres (4,764 ha) in Mason County near Southside, West Virginia. Second growth oak-hickory and mixed hardwoods forests cover much of the rolling and moderately steep slopes. Chief Cornstalk WMA can be reached either on Nine Mile Creek Road off US 35 near Southside, or by Crab Creek Road from State Route 2, south of Gallipolis Ferry.
Conaway Run Lake Wildlife Management Area is located on 630 acres (250 ha) in Tyler County near Middlebourne, West Virginia. Mixed hardwoods forests and brush cover much of the hillsides surrounding the 30-acre Conaway Run Lake. Conaway Run Lake WMA can be reached on Conaway Run Road off West Virginia Route 18, about 10 miles (16 km) south of Middlebourne.
Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area is located in Wyoming County near Pineville, West Virginia. Located on 47.9 acres (19.4 ha) that includes a small lake, the open fields of the WMA are bordered by steep hardwood forest.
Hughes River Wildlife Management Area is located in Wirt County and Ritchie County near Parkersburg, West Virginia. Located on 10,000 acres (4,000 ha) that border both the Little Kanawha River and the Hughes River. The WMA terrain varies from river bottom to steep hillsides covered with second growth oak-hickory hardwood stands and younger pine-hardwood woodlots.
Lewis Wetzel Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is located in Wetzel County, West Virginia, USA, about 0.75 miles (1.21 km) south of Jacksonburg on County Route 82. It is located on 13,590 acres (5,500 ha) of steep terrain with narrow valleys and ridgetops. The WMA second growth mixed hardwoods and hemlock with a thick understory of mountain laurel and rhododendron.
Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area, is located near Pax, West Virginia in Fayette county. Located on 3,201 acres (1,295 ha) land that varies from wetlands to steeply forested woodlands, the Pleasant Creek WMA rises to an elevation of 1,600 feet (490 m).
Teter Creek Lake Wildlife Management Area is located about 6 miles (9.7 km) northeast of Belington in Barbour County, West Virginia. It is located on 137 acres (55 ha) of sloping terrain along the shores of Teter Creek Lake.
Thorn Creek Wildlife Management Area, is located about 7 miles south of Franklin, West Virginia in Pendleton County. Thorn Creek WMA is located on 528 acres (214 ha) of steep terrain along hills above Thorn Creek.