HOTLINES

Hunting & Fishing Hotline

Call for our recorded message which brings you the latest places and prospects for good hunting and fishing -- (304) 558-3399.

DNR Hunter Education Classes

No person born on or after January 1, 1975, may purchase a hunting license without proof of completing a certified hunter education course, and any person who purchases a lifetime hunting license before their 15th birthday must complete a certified hunter education course before using the license. For information on hunter education classes -- 1 (800) 243-9968.

Fish and Wildlife Law Violations

To report any fish and game law violation anywhere in West Virginia -- 1 (800) NET-GAME (1-800-638-4263).

Spring Gobbler Survey

The Division of Natural Resources conducts an annual spring gobbler survey. Spring turkey hunters interested in participating in the survey should contact the following office:

Division of Natural Resources
Operations Center
c/o James Pack
P. O. Box 67
Elkins, WV 26241
(304) 637-0245

Hunters Helping Hungry

Donate your deer to help feed the hungry. West Virginia hunters and state meat processors can help provide nutritious meals for needy people throughout the state by participating in the "Hunters Helping the Hungry" program.

All sportsmen who legally harvest a deer during the first week of the 1997 bow season, and the entire 12-day buck, 3-day antlerless and 6-day muzzleloader seasons can deliver the deer to the nearest participating meat processor who will prepare the meat for pick-up by the Mountaineer Food Bank of Gassaway, West Virginia.

The Mountaineer Food Bank is the only West Virginia certified member of Second Harvest, a national network committed to feeding the hungry. The Food Bank is a non-profit organization inspected and approved by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture. The Mountaineer Food Bank will be distributing the ground venison to the needy through their network of qualified charitable agencies.

Hunters wishing to donate a deer this season can get information about cooperating meat processors by contacting the nearest District Game Biologist or:

Jack I. Cromer
Supervisor of Game Management Services
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
P. O. Box 67
Elkins, WV 26241
(304) 637-0245

With the steady growth of wildlife populations and shooting sports, there arose a corresponding growth in the need to provide convenient and safe public shooting ranges. The West Virginia Wildlife Resources Section has constructed these ranges and funds their building, operation and maintenance from the sale of fishing, hunting and trapping licenses and Conservation Stamps.

To view the district map, click on the small map.

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Facilities by district include:

District 1
*Lewis Wetzel Wildlife Management Area -- A 100-yard range with six covered shooting benches located four miles south of Jacksonburg on county Rt. 82 in Wetzel County.

*Hillcrest Wildlife Management Area -- Located in Hancock County on state Rt. 14, the range has seven covered shooting benches with a maximum backstop distance of 100 yards.

*Moundsville Public Range -- The Moundsville Rifle and Pistol Club operates the indoor range with eight 50-foot shooting stations. Only .22 caliber rifles and handguns are used. A 35-foot archery range is also available. The range is located in Marshall County at Moundsville.

*Pleasants Creek Wildlife Management Area -- Located in Barbour County six miles north of Philippi on U.S. Rtes. 119 and 250, the range has two covered benches that accommodate 16 shooters, with a maximum backstop distance of 200 yards.

White Horse Range -- Leased by the West Virginia Rifle and Pistol Association, the 100-yard range is located 10 miles north of Buckhannon on state Rt. 20 in Barbour County.

District 2
Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area -- Eight covered shooting benches, with a maximum backstop distance of 200 yards is located in Berkeley County off county Rt. 826.

Brandywine Public Range -- Located on Shenandoah Wildlife Management Area in the George Washington National Forest, the range has eight covered shooting benches, with a maximum backstop distance of 100 yards.

District 3
Elk River Wildlife Management Area -- The Spruce Fork Range has eight covered shooting benches with a 100-yard backstop, archery targets, out to 40 yards, and a 15-foot tower to simulate shooting from a tree stand. The range is located five miles south of Sutton on old U.S. Rt. 19 in Braxton County.

*Elk River Wildlife Management Area -- Adjacent to Braxton County Airport, this public range has eight covered shooting benches with a maximum backstop distance of 175 yards.

*Stonewall Jackson Wildlife Management Area -- Located in Lewis County just of U. S. Rt. 19, three miles east of I-79 from exits 91 and 96, the range has ten covered shooting benches with a maximum backstop distance of 300 yards.

*Summersville Lake Wildlife Management Area -- With a 28 station bow hunting range and a 50-yard field archery range with target frames at 10-,20-,30-,40- and 50-yards, this public archery range is located three miles south of Summersville on U.S. Rt. 19 on Long Point Ridge Road, just past the Summersville Airport.

District 4
BluestoneWildlife Management Area -- Located in Summers County on county Rt. 33/2 at Indian Mills, the range has six covered shooting benches with a maximum backstop distance of 100 yards.

Panther State Forest -- Five covered shooting benches with a maximum backstop distance of 100 yards are located near the park headquarters near Panther in McDowell County.

*Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area -- Located in southern Fayette County near Pax, this range has six covered shooting benches with a maximum backstop distance of 175 yards. Exit the WV Turnpike at Pax or Mossy interchange and take state Rtes. 23 and 23/1.

*R. D. Bailey Wildlife Management Area -- Six covered shooting benches with a maximum backstop distance of 200 yards is located on Moccasin Creek in Wyoming County just off state Rt. 97.

District 5
*Beech Fork Wildlife Management Area -- Located in Wayne County on state Rt. 17 behind the WMA maintenance building on Miller's Fork, the range has six covered shooting benches with a maximum backstop distance of 100 yards.

*Big Ugly Wildlife Management Area -- Six covered shooting benches with a maximum backstop distance of 100 yards are in Lincoln County on Delta Rt. 11 above the area office.

*Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area -- Located in Mason County on country Rt. 40 off U.S. Rt. 35 near Beech Hill, the range has eight covered shooting benches with a maximum backstop distance of 200 yards. A 50-yard archery range is also available.

*Fork Creek Wildlife Management Area -- Located in Boone County three miles northwest of Nellis on county Rt. 802, this WMA offers six covered shooting benches with a backstop at 100 yards.

*Kanawha State Forest -- Eleven covered shooting benches are provided with a maximum backstop distance of 100 yards at this state forest located in Kanawha County seven miles south of Charleston on Davis Creek off county Rt. 23.

*McClintic Wildlife Management Area -- Located north of Pt. Pleasant, Mason County, on state Rt. 62, eight covered shooting benches are available with a maximum backstop distance of 100 yards.

District 6
Conaway Run Lake Wildlife Management Area -- Located in Tyler County southeast of Middlebourne on county Rt. 48 off state Rt. 18, the range has two covered shooting benches with a maximum backstop distance of 100 yards.

Elizabeth Public Shooting Range -- Five covered shooting benches with a maximum backstop distance of 100 yards is provided in Wirt County 1/2 mile south of Elizabeth on county Rt. 1.

*Frozen Camp Wildlife Management Area -- The shooting range has eight covered shooting benches with a maximum backstop distance of 200 yards and is located in Jackson County seven miles east of Ripley off state Rt. 33, on county Rt. 28.

Glenville Public Shooting Range -- Located one mile north of state Rt. 5 at Glenville, Gilmer County on state Rt. 35/15 near the Gilmer County Recreation Center, the range has seven covered shooting benches, with a maximum backstop distance of 100 yards. A 50-yard pistol range with 8 covered benches is also available.

Harrisville Public Shooting Range -- A 25-yard pistol range with three covered shooting benches and a 100-yard rifle range with four covered benches are located in Ritchie County one mile north of Harrisville.

*Mountwood Park Public Shooting Range -- Located in Wood County 12 miles east of Parkersburg, the range has five covered shooting benches with a maximum backstop distance of 100 yards.

*These ranges have a handicap accessible shooting bench, but handicapped users may need assistance in placing and retrieving targets.

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