Beury Mountain Wildlife Management Area

Expansion

In January 2008, The Nature Conservancy and West Virginia Division of Natural Resources announced they had acquired 4584 acre of land adjacent to New River Gorge from Mountain Top Management, Inc. The land, which borders the Gorge for 4.5 mi, 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 acre were purchased from Greenbrier Wood Products by The Nature Conservancy. The land borders New River Gorge National River for 6 mi 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.

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 mi 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, squirrel, and turkey.

References

References

1. (2008-10-17). "Beury Mountain WMA in Fayette County Extended; National Wild Turkey Federation Supports Land Acquisition". [[West Virginia Division of Natural Resources]].
2. (February 2, 2010). "New River Gorge land to be added to preserve". [[Charleston Gazette]].
3. Pace, Fred. (February 12, 2008). "Conservancy adds land for Beury Mountain WMA". The Fayette Herald.
4. Tuckwiller, Tara. (January 10, 2008). "Nature Conservancy buys Gorge land". [[Charleston Gazette]].
5. Steelhammer, Rick. (February 7, 2008). "Tract nearly doubles wildlife area". [[Charleston Gazette]].
6. [http://www.wvdnr.gov/Hunting/WMAAreas.shtm Wildlife Management Areas] West Virginia Division of Natural Resources