By West Virginia hunter Chris Ellis finds inspiration in fellow hunter Randy Benear.
A Wildlife Enthusiast’s Wish Come True
The state Division of Natural Resource’s recent efforts significantly increased wildlife management areas in one district where they’ve been scarce.
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
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
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
Hunting for Poachers
Poachers steal from the state’s residents. They can also upset population balances that the state’s hunting, fishing, and trapping rules aim to maintain. Natural Resources Police officers keep poaching in check. When a tip about night hunting led Division of Natural Resources law enforcement to do surveillance at a camp
The Sportsman
This story was originally published in the August 2018 issue of  Wonderful West Virginia. To subscribe, visit  wonderfulwv.com. Glenn Jones has been providing new hunters with safety training for nearly four decades. Glenn Jones completed his first hunter safety course in 1980, the second-ever hunter education class taught in West
A Boy and His Bird
The ancient art of falconry lives on with a West Virginia teenager. For more than a millennium, people in Japan and China have used aquatic birds called cormorants to help them catch fish. A fisherman ties a hemp snare around a trained bird’s throat so that, when the animal dives
Dogs, by Design
Writer, illustrator, and dedicated outdoorsman George Bird Evans couldn’t find a bird dog he liked, so he decided to come up with his own breed. Look around Old Hemlock, the historic Preston County home of writer and illustrator George Bird Evans and his wife Kay, and it doesn’t take long
