Will Reedy
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Hunters seeking an opportunity to pursue white-tailed deer in some of West Virginia’s most scenic public lands can now apply for a series of controlled lottery hunts designed to manage deer populations while protecting forests and native wildlife habitat. The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources in Charleston has opened applications for its … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Every autumn, millions of birds stream south across eastern North America, filling Appalachian forests, farm fields, and wetlands with migrants bound for warmer climates. Among them are mourning doves, American woodcock, Wilson’s snipe, and elusive marsh birds known as rails, whose annual journeys have long signaled the start of West Virginia’s migratory … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Summer travelers looking for an easy way to experience West Virginia’s outdoors have a new reason to pack a fishing rod. State wildlife officials have stocked channel catfish in more than 50 lakes and ponds across the Mountain State, giving families, beginning anglers, and experienced fishermen fresh opportunities to catch one of … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — More than 170 miles of West Virginia mountain streams that support the state’s native brook trout have been newly recognized as protected “trout waters,” expanding safeguards for some of Appalachia’s coldest and cleanest waterways. The designation, announced through a partnership involving Trout Unlimited, the W.Va. Rivers Coalition, the W.Va. Division of Natural … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia wildlife officials are proposing new regulations to slow the spread of diseases such as chronic wasting disease, with changes that could affect how hunters, landowners, and even backyard wildlife enthusiasts feed wildlife and transport harvested deer. The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources is accepting public comments through July 27 on … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Hunters planning to head into West Virginia’s woods this fall should review the state’s newly released hunting regulations, as several changes could affect where, when, and how they hunt during the 2026-27 seasons. The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources has released its annual Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary, outlining season dates, licensing … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — It wasn’t long ago that hearing the gobble of wild turkeys at daybreak was a rare experience across much of West Virginia. By the early 1900s, unregulated hunting and widespread logging had pushed the state’s wild turkey population to dangerously low levels. In many areas, the birds had disappeared altogether. Today, they … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia is not the largest state east of the Mississippi River. It does not have the region’s tallest mountains, largest national park, or most extensive wilderness system. Even so, the Mountain State can make a strong case as one of the wildest places in the eastern United States. Nearly four-fifths of … Read more
RICHWOOD, W.Va. — Visitors planning trips to the Cranberry and Williams River regions of the Monongahela National Forest this summer should prepare for detours and temporary road closures as the U.S. Forest Service begins repairs to flood-damaged forest roads serving some of the area’s most popular recreation destinations. Construction is expected to begin in late … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Across West Virginia’s mountains, valleys, farm fields, and suburban neighborhoods, a new generation of baby deer is quietly entering the world. June is the peak month for fawning season in the Mountain State, and residents are increasingly encountering spotted fawns curled motionless in tall grass, woodland edges, hayfields, and even backyards. While … Read more
