Beury Mountain Wildlife Management Area

Beury Mountain WMA
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Wild turkey, Meleagris gallopavo, is found in the Beury Mountain WMA
Map showing the location of Beury Mountain WMA
Map showing the location of Beury Mountain WMA
Location of Beury Mountain Wildlife Management Area in West Virginia
LocationFayette, West Virginia, United States
Coordinates37°58′6″N 80°58′24″W / 37.96833°N 80.97333°W / 37.96833; -80.97333
Area9,232 acres (37.36 km2)[1][2]
Elevation2,850 ft (870 m)
OperatorWVDNR, Wildlife Resources Section
WebsiteWVDNR District 4 Wildlife Management Areas

Beury Mountain Wildlife Management Area is located on 9,232 acres (3,736 ha)[1][2] near Babcock State Park and New River Gorge National River in Fayette County, West Virginia. Beury Mountain's sloping terrain is covered with mixed hardwoods and oak-hickory second growth woodlands overlooking New River Gorge. Camping is not allowed at Beury Mountain WMA, but is available at nearby Babcock State Park.

Expansion

In January 2008, The Nature Conservancy and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources announced they had acquired 4,584 acres (1,855 ha) of land adjacent to New River Gorge from Mountain Top Management, Inc.[3] The land, which borders the Gorge for 4.5 miles (7.2 km), was purchased by the Nature Conservancy for $1,000 an acre[4] and leased to the Division of Natural Resources. The State has committed to purchase the land and reimburse the Conservancy over a period of three years. WVDNR has expressed interest in constructing a rifle range and improving habitat along upper Buffalo Creek in the tract.[5]

In February 2010, The Nature Conservancy and WVDNR again announced plans for an expansion of Beury Mountain through a new land purchase. In this new agreement, 1,585 acres (641 ha) were purchased from Greenbrier Wood Products by The Nature Conservancy. The land borders New River Gorge National River for 6 miles (9.7 km) and sits between National Park Service property and the existing WMA land. WVDNR will take title control of the land as it reimburses The Nature Conservancy for the purchase price through 2012.[2]

Directions

Beury Mountain WMA is immediately south of Babcock State Park. To reach the area from U.S. Route 60, turn south on WV Route 41 at Lookout, and turn onto Sewell Road (County Road 19/33) and follow 3 miles (4.8 km) to the Beury Mountain WMA. Alternatively, take West Virginia Route 41 to Chestnut Knob Road at Layland, and then follow Beury Mountain Road to access the newer tract.[5]

Hunting

Hunting opportunities include deer, squirrel, and turkey.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Beury Mountain WMA in Fayette County Extended; National Wild Turkey Federation Supports Land Acquisition". West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. 2008-10-17. Archived from the original on 2012-02-13. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  2. ^ a b c "New River Gorge land to be added to preserve". Charleston Gazette. February 2, 2010. Archived from the original on July 27, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2010.
  3. ^ Pace, Fred (February 12, 2008). "Conservancy adds land for Beury Mountain WMA". The Fayette Herald. Archived from the original on April 16, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
  4. ^ Tuckwiller, Tara (January 10, 2008). "Nature Conservancy buys Gorge land". Charleston Gazette. Archived from the original on May 27, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
  5. ^ a b Steelhammer, Rick (February 7, 2008). "Tract nearly doubles wildlife area". Charleston Gazette. Archived from the original on February 8, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
  6. ^ Wildlife Management Areas West Virginia Division of Natural Resources