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Amelia Wildlife Management
Area
This 2,217-acre WMA is located on a bend of the Appomattox River
in the northeastern part Amelia County. What was once gently rolling
farmland now consists of mature upland hardwood groves and stands
of pine with a stretch of bottomland hardwoods along the river.
Deer, turkey, and squirrel are found throughout the WMA. Amelia's
considerable amount of open land is maintained by prescribed burning
and game species such as quail and rabbit are actively managed
by the planting of food crops and hedgerows for cover. Dove fields
are also planted each year. With duck hunting along the river and
woodcocks migrating through the floodplain, Amelia WMA has a good
variety of choice game species.
Directions: Located between Routes 60 and 360, 25 miles southwest
of Richmond and 10 miles north of Amelia Courthouse. Take Route
60 to Flat Rock; turn south on 622, right onto 610, and right onto
604 to Mason's Corner.
Call: (804) 525-7522
Web page: www.dgif.state.va.us/hunting/wma/amelia.html
Briery Creek Wildlife Management Area
Forested hills slope down to Briery Creek Lake in this 3,164-acre
WMA centered on the 845-acre manmade lake in Prince Edward County.
The mixed woodlands are fairly dense, considering that the area
was once heavily farmed and timbered. There are some pure stands
of loblolly pine left over from when some of this land was owned
by corporate timber companies. Deer, turkey, and squirrel are
found here as well as some rabbit and quail in abandoned fields.
However, ducks remain the primary hunting attraction at Briery
Creek. Wood ducks shelter in out of the way coves in early fall,
giving way to mallards and diving ducks in the winter.
Directions: Take U.S. 15 south from U.S. 460 at Farmville, or take
U.S. 15 north from U.S. 360 at Keysville to Route 790.
Call: (434) 525-7522
Web page: www.dgif.state.va.us/hunting/wma/briery_creek.html
Dick Cross Wildlife Management Area
Once known as Elm Hill, this 1,400-acre WMA is named for a former
executive director of the Virginia Game Department. Reflecting
one of its namesake's passions, a nationally known bird dog field
trial facility is a centerpiece of this WMA. Much of its area,
located in Mecklenburg County along the north bank of the Roanoke
River just below the John H. Kerr Dam, once consisted of a large
cattle farm. As a result, a variety of old fields are managed
for quail and rabbit, but Dick Cross is known mainly for its
prime dove hunting. Plantings of wheat, corn, lespedeza, clover,
and millet make for excellent dove habitat (expect heavy hunting
pressure early in the season). Some 300 acres of bottomland timber
along Allen Creek and the Roanoke River also shelter deer and
turkey. This WMA is a designated waterfowl refuge so no hunting
for these birds is allowed.
Directions: From U.S. Route 58 between South Hill and Clarksville,
take State Route 4 south. The entrance is visible after about five
miles. Call: (434) 525-7522
Web page: www.dgif.state.va.us/hunting/wma/dick_cross.html
Horsepen Lake Wildlife Management Area
This 3,065-acre WMA centers on the 18-acre lake for which it is
named. Numerous springs and small streams as well as large tracts
of pine and hardwood forests support a variety of game species.
Besides deer, turkey, and squirrels, Horsepen Lake has rabbits,
woodcock, quail, and the occasional grouse. Mature oaks and hickory
are interspersed with game plantings and regenerating pines to
provide a good mixture of habitats. Nesting boxes encourage wood
ducks to breed here along the waterways. Horsepen Lake WMA is
also known for its populations of foxes, raccoons, beavers, otters,
minks, opossums, and muskrats.
Directions: Near Route 60 in Buckingham County, access is from
Route 60 at Buckingham Courthouse. West of the courthouse take
route 638 south until you see signs for the area. Call: (434) 525-7522
Web page: www.dgif.state.va.us/hunting/wma/horsepen_lake.html
Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest
Hunting is allowed in all but select areas of this 19,535-acre
Forest, the largest in the state. Virginia Department of Forestry
(VDOF) Foresters manage for sustainable timber production as
well as wildlife habitat. Deer and turkey abound, as do many
other small game species like squirrel and quail. Care is taken
to provide food and shelter through plantings of orchard grass,
sorghum, clover, wheat, and sunflower and maintenance of small
woodland openings. A network of roads and gated trails provides
good access to all areas. State Forest hunting regulations and
seasons vary from surrounding counties, so check your hunting
regulation pamphlets for special restrictions on State Forest
lands. Remember: A special hunting stamp, which can be acquired
from the State Forest office or license vendors in counties having
large State Forests, is required in addition to a valid Virginia
hunting license.
Directions: East on Route 460 from Lynchburg through Appomattox.
Take Route 24 to Route 636.
Call: (434) 983-2175
Web site: www.state.vipnet.org/dof/stforest/stforest.htm#indsf
Cumberland State Forest
Bordered on the west by the Willis River, the Cumberland State
Forest is 16,233 acres of piedmont woodlands and old fields.
Except for designated safety zones, almost all the Forest is
open to hunting. Types of game include raccoon, rabbit, dove,
quail, squirrel, deer, and turkey. Remember: A special hunting
stamp, which can be acquired from the Forest office or license
vendors in counties having large State Forests, is required in
addition to a valid Virginia hunting license.
Directions: North of State Route 60, west of State Route 45.
Take Route 60 to 629 and find the Forest office at the intersection
of 628 & 629. Call: (804) 492-4121
Web site: www.state.vipnet.org/dof/stforest/stforest.htm#indsf
Prince Edward-Gallion State Forest
Hunting is allowed in most of this 6,970 acre Forest in Prince
Edward County. It offers hunting that is typical of the southern
Virginia piedmont, with deer, turkey, and squirrel the most common
game species. Hunting is not allowed in the 588-acre Gallion
portion which is a wildlife sanctuary. Remember: A special hunting
stamp, which can be acquired from the Forest office or license
vendors in counties having large State Forests, is required in
addition to a valid Virginia hunting license.
Directions: 15 miles southeast of Farmville on Route 360, five
miles southeast of Burkeville along State Route 696 & 613
Call: (434) 983-2175
Web site: www.state.vipnet.org/dof/stforest/stforest.htm#indsf
Occoneechee State Park
This 2,100-acre state park is on Buggs Island Lake, which just
happens to be Virginia's largest lake (also known as John H.
Kerr Reservoir). The state leases the park's land from the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, but no special hunting permit is required.
Hunting is, however, restricted to designated areas, and when
traveling through state park areas not designated for hunting,
guns must be unloaded and cased. Contact the park for more information.
Directions: Near Clarksville, 1.5 miles east on U.S. 58 east near
the U.S. 15 intersection.
Call: (434) 374-2210 or (434) 786-1712 for general information.
Web site: www.state.va.us/%7Edcr/parks/occoneec.htm#General
Fort Pickett Military Reservation
Military areas in Virginia are
generally open to hunting, and, at 45,198 acres, Fort Pickett is
the ticket in Southside. Sprawling
across Brunswick, Dinwiddie, and Nottoway counties, a hunter can
use this vast acreage to pursue deer, turkey, squirrel, rabbit,
raccoon, quail, woodcock, dove, and duck. Trapping is limited to
specific areas. Besides a valid hunting license, a Fort Pickett
Hunting Permit is required. They may be purchased at the Fort Pickett
Game Check Station (off Military Road, building 420) or Bevills
True Value Hardware in Blackstone. All hunters must register to
check in and out of the reservation at the Game Check Station.
Note: Certain areas of Fort Pickett may be closed at any time for
troop training activities, so call ahead.
Directions: Located south of U.S. 460, north and south of State
Route 40, east of Blackstone, Va. Call: (434) 292-2618
John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir (Buggs Island Lake)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers operates 26 wildlife management
areas surrounding the reservoir in Charlotte, Halifax, and Mecklenburg
counties. With 40,000 acres of prime Virginia piedmont bordering
the largest lake in the state, these varied WMAs offer a wide
range of hunting opportunities. Besides hardwood and pine forests,
bottomland forests, and open fields, the WMAs contain a sizable
number of beaver swamps. Populations of deer and turkey are good,
while small game inhabits the fields and open spaces. There are
fine opportunities for waterfowl hunting on the reservoir and
on the many beaver ponds. Hunting is allowed everywhere except
in developed recreation areas, waterfowl refuges, and near buildings.
No special permit is required except for a Virginia hunting license.
Directions: For a map and management area guide, write: Reservoir
Manager, Route 1, Box 76, Boydton, VA 23917.
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