By The Carriage House Museum in Union offers a glimpse of the town’s stylish past. Before the American Civil War, Monroe County was a playground for genteel southerners. Favored with bountiful farmland as well as wool mills, gristmills, and sawmills, Monroe was also blessed with mineral springs that quickly became major
Snared by Tradition
One of the oldest pursuits in the Appalachian Mountains, trapping looks for a new generation to carry on its legacy. For an occupation that’s been around since the earliest days of human existence, trapping is still pretty misunderstood. “People think it’s easy,” says John Pingley, president of the West Virginia
The Giving Season
Fall’s deer hunt has an altruistic side. A light snow falls on the bright orange brim of a hunter’s cap as he steadies his rifle against the massive oak tree that has hidden his body since sunrise. His heart begins to pound as a 10-point buck ambles into his crosshairs
Catch and Release
Behind the scenes of a once-in-a-lifetime hunting trip—to catch elk for West Virginia’s reintroduction program. This story was originally published in the November 2017 issue of  Wonderful West Virginia. To subscribe, visit  wonderfulwv.com Written by Zack Harold Marcus Constantino had come to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area as
Grin and Bear It
Tooth extraction gives biologists crucial information about West Virginia’s black bear population. Hunters, be aware if you plan to bag a bear—one regulation has more teeth than it used to. State bear hunting regulations require hunters to extract and submit a black bear’s first premolar tooth. Hunters have until January
Going Primitive
Old-school hunters enjoying the new Mountaineer Heritage Season. This story was originally published in the December 2019 issue of Wonderful West Virginia. To subscribe, visit wonderfulwv.com. written by Dave Lavender photographed by Toril Lavender Photography In January, hunters in most states are usually home sitting by their fires, cleaning their guns, and
Steam in Their Blood
Cass Railroad workers keep the trains running and family legacies alive. Small beads of sweat roll from under the edge of Danny Seldomridge’s black cap and rest upon his brow. The morning sun shines down, breaking the chill of the early autumn air in the valley, where the fall colors
To Rule the Roost
Turkey hunters across the state feel a strong passion and love for the outdoor tradition. Wade Boyles wakes up at 3:30 a.m. on a brisk fall morning. He finds himself more amazed that he was able to get to sleep than that he woke up on time to get out
Home is Where the Hearth is
There was no such thing as fast food on the Appalachian frontier. Jacob Prickett decided to build his family’s cabin on a flat, elevated piece of land with just a short walk to get down to the Monongahela River. For a settler in the 18th century, claiming a large swath
Cat Tales
West Virginia is home to big cats and tall tales. Can you tell the difference? WRITTEN BY MIKENNA PIEROTTI PHOTOGRAPHED BY STEVE SHALUTA PHOTOGRAPHY The crows were a dead giveaway. Their sharp calls echoed easily through the clear-cut swath of autumn forest where Jeff McCrady stood listening. He reasoned the
