Beury Mountain Wildlife Management Area
Encyclopedia
Beury Mountain Wildlife Management Area is located on 9232 acres (3,736.1 ha) 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.
announced they had acquired 4584 acres (1,855.1 ha) of land adjacent to New River Gorge from Mountain Top Management, Inc. The land, which borders the Gorge for 4.5 miles (7.2 km), was purchased by the Nature Conservancy for $1,000 an acre 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.
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, 1585 acres (641.4 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.
, and turkey
.
Babcock State Park
Babcock State Park is a state park located along the New River Gorge on wooded in Fayette County, West Virginia. Located near the park headquarters, the Glade Creek Grist Mill is among the most photographed tourist sites in the state of West Virginia. It was named in honor of Edward V...
and New River Gorge National River
New River Gorge National River
The New River Gorge National River is a unit of the United States National Park Service designed to protect and maintain the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia. Established in 1978, the NPS-protected area stretches for from just downstream of Hinton to Hawks Nest State Park near Ansted.New...
in Fayette County
Fayette County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 47,579 people, 18,945 households, and 13,128 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile . There were 21,616 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. Beury Mountain's sloping terrain is covered with mixed hardwoods and oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
-hickory
Hickory
Trees in the genus Carya are commonly known as hickory, derived from the Powhatan language of Virginia. The genus includes 17–19 species of deciduous trees with pinnately compound leaves and big nuts...
second growth woodlands overlooking New River Gorge. Camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
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 ResourcesWest Virginia Division of Natural Resources
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of West Virginia. While formerly known as the cabinet-level Department of Natural Resources, it is now part of the West Virginia Department of Commerce...
announced they had acquired 4584 acres (1,855.1 ha) of land adjacent to New River Gorge from Mountain Top Management, Inc. The land, which borders the Gorge for 4.5 miles (7.2 km), was purchased by the Nature Conservancy for $1,000 an acre 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.
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, 1585 acres (641.4 ha) were purchased from Greenbrier Wood Products by The Nature Conservancy. The land borders New River Gorge National River
New River Gorge National River
The New River Gorge National River is a unit of the United States National Park Service designed to protect and maintain the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia. Established in 1978, the NPS-protected area stretches for from just downstream of Hinton to Hawks Nest State Park near Ansted.New...
for 6 miles (9.7 km) and sits between National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
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.
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.Hunting
Hunting opportunities include deer, squirrelSquirrel
Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...
, and turkey
Wild Turkey
The Wild Turkey is native to North America and is the heaviest member of the Galliformes. It is the same species as the domestic turkey, which derives from the South Mexican subspecies of wild turkey .Adult wild turkeys have long reddish-yellow to grayish-green...
.