wma district 1

Bear Rock Lakes WMA (242 acres) Ohio County. Located off U.S. Route 40 near Valley Grove, 13 miles east of Wheeling and two miles from the Dallas Pike Interchange of I-70. Visitors may take West Alexander Road to Stoolfire Road to Park Hill Road to Bear Rock Lakes WMA. Mixed hardwoods and open fields cover most of the area. HUNTING IS LIMITED DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE AREA. Deer, rabbit, squirrel and turkey are the principal game species. Four lakes are located on the area: Bear Lake, 8 acres; Rock Lake, 4 acres; Baker Lake, 3.4 acres; and Wood Pond, 0.5 acres, which has physically challenged access. A boat launch ramp is located on Bear Lake. A level path surrounding one-half of Bear and Rock lakes makes fishing for warmwater species and trout particularly appealing to children, the elderly and the physically challenged. Overnight camping and open fires are not permitted. Toilet facilities are available. Owned and managed by the WVDNR.

Briery Mountain WMA (1,057 acres) Preston County. Access is by Whetzell Settlement Road which intersects state Route 7 approximately 1.5 miles east of Kingwood. Terrain is moderate to steep, ranging in elevation from 1,880 to 2,880 feet. The area is almost entirely forested with mixed hardwood species. Turkey, deer, squirrel and grouse are the principal species available. No camping is permitted on the area. A FREE ANNUAL HUNTING PERMIT IS REQUIRED BY THE WV STATE ARMORY BOARD. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT THE NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE AT CAMP DAWSON (304-329-4417) OR THE DNR DISTRICT 1 OFFICE IN FAIRMONT (304-367-2720). Owned by the West Virginia State Armory Board and managed in cooperation with the WVDNR.

Burches Run Lake WMA (55 acres) Marshall County. Access is by county Route 14, which intersects state Route 88 approximately six miles south of Wheeling. County Routes 5 and 16 also provide access to the area. Terrain is generally rolling hillsides ranging in elevation from 780 to 900 feet and a mature oak-hickory forest covers most of the area. HUNTING IS LIMITED DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE AREA. Deer, grouse, squirrel and raccoon are the principal game species available. A 16-acre impoundment provides excellent fishing for trout, largemouth bass, sunfish and channel catfish. Muskellunge and northern pike have been stocked. Toilet facilities are available. Overnight camping and open fires are not permitted. Owned and managed by the WVDNR.

Castlemans Run Lake WMA (486 acres) Brooke and Ohio counties. Located off U.S. Route 40 near Potomac Settlement in Brooke County, the area is approximately three miles south of Bethany along county Route 32. It is comprised of mixed hardwoods, brushland and open fields. Good hunting opportunities exist for deer, turkey, grouse, raccoon and squirrel. Castlemans Run Lake, 22 acres, provides fishing for bluegill, catfish, muskellunge, northern pike and trout. A boat launch ramp is located on the area. Overnight camping and open fires are not permitted. Toilet facilities are available. Owned and managed by the WVDNR.

Cecil H. Underwood WMA (2,072 acres) Marshall and Wetzel counties. Located 10 miles south of Cameron along U.S. Route 250. Access is by way of county Routes 89 and 250/13 (Rice Ridge Road). The rugged terrain ranges in elevation from 800 feet along the West Virginia Fork of Fish Creek to 1,510 feet. Oak-hickory and cove hardwoods dominate the forest canopy, and are interspersed with numerous access trails and forest clearings. Deer, turkey, squirrel and ruffed grouse are the primary game species. Limited fishing opportunities can be found in the WV Fork of Fish Creek. No camping is permitted on the area. Owned and managed by the WVDNR.

Center Branch WMA (974 acres) Harrison County. Located along state Route 20 at Stonewood and county Route 25, north of Mt. Clare. Access can also be gained by way of county Route 20/10 (Turkey Run Road). Topography varies from strip-bench flats to steep slopes and scattered high walls rising in elevation to 1,520 feet. Vegetation consists primarily of oak-hickory and cove hardwood forests in pole timber to early saw timber stages. Forest game species such as deer, turkey, grouse and squirrel are abundant on the area. Overnight camping and open fires are not permitted. Owned and managed by the WVDNR.

Cross Creek WMA (2,081 acres) Brooke County. Located approximately 6 miles northeast of Wellsburg along county Route 7 at Virginville. Additional access can be gained from county Routes 7/3, 7/4 and 27/5. Terrain is gently rolling (reclaimed surface mine areas) to moderately steep slopes, with scattered high walls rising in elevation to 1,250 feet. The area primarily consists of mixed hardwoods, reclaimed strip mined areas, beaver ponds and strip benches. Deer, turkey, ruffed grouse and waterfowl are the primary game species. No camping is permitted on the area. Owned by the WVDNR and Starvaggi Industries. Managed by the WVDNR.

Dunkard WMA (470 acres) Marshall County. The area is located in northeastern Marshall County along the Pennsylvania state line, and it can be accessed by West Virginia County Route 15. The wildlife management area is primarily forested with a 49-acre lake serving as the primary attraction for the area. Dunkard Fork Lake, which is located primarily in West Virginia with a small upstream portion in Pennsylvania, provides excellent warmwater fishing opportunities for channel catfish, bluegill and black bass (catch and release). The lake is also stocked with trout from January through May of each year. Consult your West Virginia Regulations for special fishing regulations. The lake has a boat ramp and fishing pier constructed along the primary access road. In addition, the area provides limited hunting opportunities for wild turkey, waterfowl, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse and other forest game species. Owned by the WVDNR.

Hillcrest WMA (2,212 acres) Hancock County. Located off state Route 8 along county Route 42 (Middle Run Road). Topography ranges from flat bottomlands to rolling uplands with elevations ranging from 1,000 to 1,280 feet. The area primarily consists of old fields, orchards, croplands and scattered woodlots. The abundant farm game habitat provides excellent hunting for ring-necked pheasant, rabbit, turkey, mourning dove and deer. Squirrel and grouse populations are limited due to the small percentage of forested cover. Camping and open fires are not permitted. Tomlinson Run State Park, located 1.5 miles southwest of the area, offers camping facilities for a nominal fee. A 100-yard shooting range, which is accessible to the physically challenged, is located on the area. Owned and managed by the WVDNR.

Lantz Farm and Nature Preserve (540 acres) Wetzel County. Located along U.S. Route 20 at Jacksonburg. Additional access is by way of county Route 82 (Buffalo Run Road). Terrain is gently rolling to moderately steep and ranges in elevation from 736 feet to 1,475 feet. The area is dominated by old growth oak-hickory and cove hardwood forests and large open fields. A portion of the area is safety zoned from hunting due to recreational facilities (i.e., interpretive nature trail, fishing pond). Deer, squirrel and turkey are the primary game species. Trout are stocked in the South Fork of Fishing Creek which runs through the area. No camping facilities are present on the area. Owned by Wheeling Jesuit University and cooperatively managed by the WVDNR.

Lewis Wetzel WMA (13,388 acres) Wetzel County. Located 3/4 mile south of Jacksonburg on Buffalo Run Road. Another access is via Indian Creek Road (county Route 13), approximately 14 miles east of its intersection with state Route 18. The rugged terrain ranging in elevation from 736 to 1,560 feet has an abundance of oak, hickory and beech trees. Deer, turkey, squirrel, raccoon and ruffed grouse are the primary game species. Trout are stocked in the North and South Forks of Fishing Creek and a good smallmouth bass population is available from Pine Grove to Smithfield. A campground with twenty tent and trailer sites includes charcoal grills, picnic tables and pit toilets. Nominal fees are charged for camping and firewood. A 100-yard shooting range, which is accessible to the physically challenged, is located on the area. Owned and managed by the WVDNR.

Pleasant Creek WMA (3,030 acres) Barbour and Taylor counties. Located along U.S. Routes 119 and 250, six miles north of Philippi and nine miles south of Grafton. Habitats vary from wetland to mixed hardwood forest and slopes are moderately steep, rising to 1,600 feet. Deer, turkey, waterfowl, grouse, squirrel and rabbit are the primary game species. Tygart Lake offers anglers a wide variety of warmwater fish species, with walleye, smallmouth bass, crappie and channel catfish providing excellent fishing opportunities. Pleasant Creek and Doe Run Impoundment provide good bank fishing opportunities. A campground with forty tent and trailer sites includes fireplaces, picnic tables, well water and pit toilets. Nominal fees are charged for camping and firewood. A 200-yard rifle range, which is accessible to the physically challenged, is located on the area. Owned by the WVDNR and U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. Managed by the WVDNR. For additional information contact: Resource Manager, Tygart Lake, Route 1, Box 257, Grafton, West Virginia 26354, (304) 265-1760. Lake and recreation information (304) 265-5953.

Pruntytown State Farm WMA (1,764 acres) Taylor County. Located 0.5 mile west of Pruntytown off U.S. Route 50 and county Routes 38, 16 and 10. Vegetation consists of early succession oak-hickory forests and farm game habitat. Deer, turkey, ruffed grouse, rabbit and mourning dove are the principal game species. A safety zone is maintained around the farm buildings. Owned by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture and cooperatively managed with the WVDNR.

Snake Hill WMA (2,000 acres) Monongalia County. Located three miles north of Dellslow and accessed by county Routes 75 and 75/2 (Snake Hill Road), this area is directly across the Cheat River from the Coopers Rock State Forest overlook. Vegetation consists primarily of oak-hickory and cove hardwoods with scattered clearings and gas well locations. Terrain ranges from gently rolling to very steep slopes in the Cheat River canyon with elevations ranging from 900 feet to 2,200 feet. Principal game species are deer, turkey, squirrel, raccoon and ruffed grouse. Camping is not permitted on the area. Owned and managed by the WVDNR.

Teter Creek Lake WMA (137 acres) Barbour County. Located nine miles north of Belington. Access is by way of county Route 9 from state Route 92 at Meadowville. Teter Creek lies in the Allegheny Plateau and has an average elevation of 1,800 feet. Vegetation consists of oak-hickory forests on gentle slopes, abandoned farmlands and mixed conifer plantations. Squirrel, turkey, waterfowl, ruffed grouse, raccoon and deer are the principal game species. HUNTING IS LIMITED DUE TO THE SIZE OF THE AREA. Teter Creek Lake, 35 acres, provides fishing for trout and warmwater species such as largemouth bass, rock bass, bluegill and channel catfish. A boat launch ramp and physically challenged fisherman trail are located on the area. A campground with twenty tent and trailer sites includes charcoal grills, well water, picnic tables and pit toilets. Nominal fees are charged for camping and firewood. Owned and managed by the WVDNR.
Upper Deckers Creek WMA (56 acres) Preston County. Located one mile north of Reedsville via state Route 92 and county Route 27/3. The area consists of two man-made wetlands comprising 16 acres. Hunting Opportunities Are Extremely Limited Due To The Size Of The Area And Adjacent Houses. Camping and open fires are not permitted on the area. Owned and managed by the WVDNR.