Division of Natural Resources Director Frank Jezioro (left) and Ken Freel, editor of West Virginia Game & Fish magazine, admire a fall turkey that Jezioro harvested. Photo by Ron Sinfelt

The dog days of August are a great time to cool off by taking an evening trip down to the river to try to jerk the jaws of a few channel catfish. Or maybe go on an overnight float trip to see if you can trick a muskie or two to rise up for a stick bait? Or plan the season's hunting trips. Hunting trips? That's right. Though the mercury might still be high, it won't be long before the oak and hickory ridges of the state will be aflame with color. And to make best use of the state's ample hunting opportunities, it's wise to take some time now to plan at least some of your hunts for the coming season.

West Virginia has hunting opportunities that span a six-month time frame. Admittedly, the choices are a bit fewer during each end of this period, with lots of options available during the middle months. It's all the more reason to carefully think things out beforehand.

What follows is a six-month planner meant to profile a selection of quality hunting trips, as well as inspire you to think of similar trips that may be closer to home. With this spirit in mind, West Virginia Game & Fish presents its 2005 Hunting Calendar.

SEPTEMBER
Kanawha River
Resident Canada Geese
Though the dates won't be set until next month, during recent years the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) has administered an early fall goose hunt aimed at reducing the numbers of resident Canada geese in the state. Typically, those hunts are conducted during the first two weeks of September. Assuming the same hunt is conducted this year, the fertile Kanawha River valley will be a good place to partake in some early-season waterfowling.

The key area along this waterway is found in Mason and Putnam counties. Along this section of the waterway, which is downstream of the developed area near Charleston, one will find a more rural setting. Fertile farmlands lie along both sides of the river. Geese find the area to their liking, given the abundant roosting areas on the river and feeding areas in nearby agricultural fields. Some of the better roosting areas can be found by locating the numerous embayments that are formed at the mouths of merging creeks.

As with most any hunting activity, the odds will favor the hunter who does his or her pre-season scouting. While some birds can be taken by jump-shooting early and late in the day along the river, throughout much of the daylight hours it is likely the birds will be feeding in the fields. Serious hunters will want to come up with a list of places to hunt during these hours.

Along the Kanawha River one will find numerous farms. Being private land, one of the first duties is to obtain permission to hunt the area. U.S. Route 35 and state Route 62 parallel much of the river on each side. Use binoculars to find feeding birds, and then seek permission from the landowner to hunt the area once the season begins. Birds will often change their patterns when the bite of hunting pressure kicks in, so it's wise to have a list of several areas, as well as the willingness to seek out new spots during the actual season.

Hunting along this area of the Kanawha River is not completely limited to private land. The Amherst/ Plymouth WMA is located along this section of river, though most of the hunting opportunities found there are in the form of jump-shooting along the river's edge. Be aware that the terrain off the river is steep and wooded.