Giving It Time

West Virginia’s newest wildlife management area offers outdoor recreation and wildlife viewing.

This story was originally published in the June 2025 issue of Wonderful West Virginia. To subscribe, visit wonderfulwv.com.

Written by Laura Jackson

While West Virginia’s state park system is second to none, there’s another kind of recreation waiting to be had in wildlife management areas—97 of them, to be precise, in all regions of the state, and the newest is the Little Coal River Wildlife Management Area (WMA). This 8,034-acre WMA, currently the only one in Boone County, is owned by Greenbrier Land Company and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR). The WVDNR manages the area, which includes some former coal mine sites.

Wildlife management areas were created in response to a decline in critical habitat, to provide wildlife-associated recreation activities, and, similar to state parks, to offer public access. They’re also areas of conservation and important wildlife habitat. The Statewide Wildlife Management Program’s efforts include planting trees, maintaining food plots for wildlife, and developing wetland areas. In addition, the program is responsible for maintaining access via roads and parking lots. Currently, 8% of the state’s land is dedicated to recreation based around wildlife.

The Little Coal River Wildlife Management Area was finalized in 2024, says Steven Rauch, assistant chief of game management for the WVDNR Wildlife Resources Section, and is now open to the public. “We acquired the property with pipeline mitigation dollars,” he says. “It is currently the only wildlife management area in Boone County, and it was much needed. It’s an area that will definitely benefit from some public land for wildlife-associated recreation.”

The Lay of the Land

The Little Coal River WMA is covered with heavy areas of intact, undisturbed forest, which is an unbroken stretch of natural ecosystems that have not been subject to human activity. Intact forest landscapes are vital to maintaining native biodiversity and viable populations of wide-ranging species. The eastern side of the management area, in particular, is heavily forested. “That was one of the main drawing points for acquiring it,” Rauch says. “Because that side of the WMA has not had mining impact.”

Recreational opportunities abound on a WMA, and the WVDNR sought to make West Virginia’s newest area open to activities like hiking, fishing, and hunting, activities that exist on all such state areas in different forms.

“Wildlife management areas have a variety of habitats,” Rauch says. “For example, at the Stonewall Lake WMA, there are a lot of fields, so you’ve got dove hunting. There’s something for everyone at any time of year in a wildlife management area.” Hunters at Little Coal River WMA will find deer, squirrel, turkey, and bear.

Hiking is another great way to enjoy a WMA. Hikers do need to be aware of hunting seasons, as there will be increased activity on any WMA during those times. It’s important to pay attention to season dates and to wear blaze orange when appropriate.

Keep Your Eyes Open

Wildlife viewing is the crown jewel of recreational opportunities on a WMA, and perhaps the shiniest of these is bird watching. Richard Bailey, the state ornithologist in the WVDNR Wildlife Resources Section, agrees. He says the region’s habitat is well-suited for many bird species.

“The Little Coal River Wildlife Management Area is in the Cumberland Mountains region of West Virginia,” he says. “The coalfields are incredibly rugged—probably the most rugged part of the state—and the terrain is really difficult. It’s a heavily dissected plateau. Over time the plateau has eroded, resulting in steep topography with ridges of similar prominence”

The forests in this region sit within a unique intersection of northern and southern ecosystems, where species from the south overlap with those that have more northern ranges. “You start to have an intersection of northern and southern flora, and that extends to birds as well,” Bailey says.

The geography is home to a high density of the WVDNR’s priority species, and studies are vital. In the past several years, scientists have identified and quantified the overall decline of North American birds and found that, in a drastic drop, three out of 10 species have been lost since 1970. This equates to a roughly 20% loss in the Eastern forests. Thus, intact forest landscapes are increasingly important to maintain.

“There’s a high abundance of these neotropical migratory birds and other wildlife in our forests,” Bailey says. “There are a number of species that West Virginia has really high population responsibility for, meaning we have a certain percent of the global population breeding here during the summer.”

The cerulean warbler is the highest priority species for the WVDNR. These small songbirds, named for the males’ sky-blue plumage, migrate long distances. They winter in tropical forests in South America’s Andes Mountains and travel to eastern hardwood forests in North America during breeding season. Roughly a third of the global population calls West Virginia home. Cerulean warblers forage in the top of the forest canopy and can often be spotted in gaps between foliage. They’re drawn to certain tree species, including white oaks and sugar maples.

“We try to target our work to areas that are high-quality for the species,” Bailey says. “Boone County has great habitat for cerulean warblers and a suite of other species that use mature forests. So, if you go to these WMAs and get up on the ridges, you’re definitely going to be hearing cerulean warblers.”

Other notable bird species occur with cerulean warblers, like wood thrush and Kentucky warblers. These species inhabit the understories during nesting season, and the WVDNR has prioritized their chosen landscapes.

Give It Time

WMAs are intended to look wild and feel free, but sometimes that takes a surprising amount of effort. It’s also a matter of perception and perspective, as the public has long thought of wildlife management areas mainly as hunting and fishing opportunities, but Bailey says that wildlife viewing—especially bird watching—is increasing in popularity, and the WVDNR has made public access a priority.

“There’s an access road that cuts through the property and gets up on the ridge. And there are a number of access roads along the ridges that make for great hiking, great walking, and great birding. When I was there, I heard so many good birds. Just go and explore and walk the roads. There are few visitors, and the birding is spectacular.”

Bailey has seen and heard species like Eastern whip-poor-will, blue grosbeak, grasshopper sparrow, and Eastern meadowlark, all of which are thriving on the reclaimed mine lands.

Just as the Little Coal River WMA provides important habitat, it also serves as a green space for Boone County residents, and citizens of Madison can access it directly from town. Across the entire state, the WMAs are easily accessible even in such a rugged, mountainous area. A quick drive out of Madison leads visitors along Workman’s Branch and up to the ridge. From there, walkers can stroll along the hilltops and explore where they will.

Nevertheless, it’s easy to take a look at the site and conclude that something is wrong. During the period when forest management is underway and, indeed, in the first few years after management work is completed, the area may have a rough look. The land may be muddy or look disturbed. But Bailey says looks can be deceiving.

“When folks come to WMAs or visit a state forest or other places where forest management is occurring, they’re often dismayed by what they see as damage to the land. There’s the notion that this type of management is equivalent to deforestation. But we try to reinforce that the work we do with forest management is actually intended to enhance wildlife habitat and create structural diversity in the forest.”

While the Little Coal River WMA continues to bounce back from the effects of mining, a fair amount of work still needs to be done in the coming years to further restore it and improve forest stands. The first year or two of a management project can look messy, but when habitat begins to regenerate, the area will see greater bird diversity and more abundant birds. These are working lands, in a sense. Management is intended to add value to the land, not reduce it.

“It’s in service of conservation,” Bailey says. “We want people to remember that.”

To learn more about West Virginia’s abundant wildlife management areas, visit WVdnr.gov/wildlife-management-areas.