DISTRICT I
Encompassing West Virginia's Northern Panhandle and a few nearby counties, District I ranks as one of the state's most deer-friendly regions.

Rolling topography and hardwood-forest habitat create ideal living conditions for whitetails. Not surprisingly, the district-wide average of 12.79 deer killed per square mile is one of the state's highest.

Several counties boast harvest numbers much higher than that. Most of them, however, are like Hancock County -- too small to accommodate many hunters.

That's not the case in Monongalia County, the district's best bet for whitetail success. The county's hunters bagged 16.25 deer per square mile last year. Best bets for public-land sportsmen include the 3,092-acre Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA) near Dellslow. Perched on the edge of the Cheat River canyon, its rugged slopes offer tough but excellent hunting. A small portion of the 12,713-acre Coopers Rock State Forest (SF) also falls within Monongalia's borders.

Most of the Coopers Rock tract, however, stretches into neighboring Preston County, where hunters bagged a respectable 10.54 deer per square mile. Other good public-land possibilities within the county include the 1,162-acre Briery Mountain WMA near Kingwood and a small corner of the Monongahela National Forest's 56,978-acre Blackwater WMA.

No mention of District I deer hunting would be complete without a mention of Wetzel County, where hunters took 14.82 deer per square mile last year. Public-land opportunities include the 13,590-acre Lewis Wetzel WMA near Jacksonburg, the Cecil H. Underwood WMA on the border with Marshall County, and the 548-acre Lantz Farm WMA near Jacksonburg.

DISTRICT II
Once one of the state's whitetail strongholds, the Eastern Panhandle counties of District II no longer sparkle with the luster they once did. The area's soaring ridges and farm-filled valleys create fine deer habitat. Heavy hunting pressure, however, keeps the deer population hovering near the statewide average.

Land posting is a problem, too. Private hunt clubs have bought or leased sizable chunks of Eastern Panhandle land. Gaining access to deer-rich properties has become a matter of knowing the right people.

Two counties enjoy a relative abundance of public hunting land. Hampshire County, for example, contains the 10,675-acre Nathaniel Mountain WMA just east of Romney, the 8,005-acre Short Mountain WMA near Augusta, the 397-acre Edwards Run WMA near Capon Bridge and the 217-acre Fort Mill Ridge WMA southwest of Romney. Small wonder, then, that the county's hunters bagged a creditable 8.37 deer per square mile in 2004.

Hampshire also harbors a small chunk of the George Washington National Forest's Wardensville WMA southwest of Capon Springs. Most of the 55,327-acre tract, however, stretches into neighboring Hardy County south and west of Wardensville.

Another fine public possibility within Hardy County is the 1,097-acre South Branch WMA, which straddles the Hardy-Hampshire line near the South Branch River's famous trough section. The property is composed of four smaller tracts that range in size from 25 to 605 acres, so it's a good idea to learn exactly where each section's boundaries are. Those public lands helped Hardy County hunters to bag a nifty 9.10 deer per square mile last year.

DISTRICT III
Contrary to popular belief, hunters haven't yet killed off all the deer in District III. The state's east-central counties produced "just" six white–tails per square mile in 2004, but that number is only disappointing when compared to the high averages of districts I and VI.

No one who hunts in the district would accuse it of being deer-poor. Winterkill rates and high antlerless harvests have taken their toll in places, but overall, the district is still a fine place to find whitetails. In fact, two of the district's eight counties can still be considered whitetail "destinations" -- Lewis and Upshur.