West Virginia has long been known for having the best hunting in the east, and with a successful Wildlife Management Program, this is still true today. The Driftwood Lodge and the Carnifex Ferry Cottages are at the heart of two Wildlife Management Areas (WMA).
Wildlife Management Areas The Summersville Lake WMA (5,974-acres) in Nicholas County is located three miles south of Summersville on US RT. 19. The terrain ranges from rolling hills to vertical rock cliffs. Primarily forested, this area offers hunting for deer, turkey, squirrel, and grouse. The fish population in 2,979-acre Summersville Lake includes smallmouth and largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, walleye, and channel catfish. Rainbow trout are occasionally taken. The tailwaters are also stocked with trout. Facilities available include picnic areas, restrooms, showers, trailer disposal stations, and hiking areas. A public archery range is also available. The area is owned by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers and managed by the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources.
The Cranberry WMA (160,990-acres) encompasses areas of Nicholas, Webster, Pocahontas, and Greenbrier Counties. State Routes 150, 39, 7, 48, and 46 provide access to the area. Located in the Monongahela National Forest, elevations range from 1,900 to 4,600 feet in mountainous terrain covered with mature hardwood forests. Hunting for bear, turkey, deer, snowshoe hare, and squirrel is very productive, as is trapping for raccoon, beaver, fox, mink, and muskrat. Summit Lake, 42-acres, North and South forks of the Cherry River, Williams River, and Cranberry River provide excellent trout fishing. The area contains the Cranberry Wilderness Area, totaling 35,864-acres. It is owned by the U.S. Forest Service. |
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