Yet for waterfowl hunters in this region of the state, the Tygart Lake region provides quality habitat for waterfowl and good access for hunters. Taylor County provides access into areas known for good hunting possibilities.

The Tygart tailwaters ramp is at the Tygart dam in Grafton City Park. This is rated as a small-boats access ramp and has a 15-space parking area nearby.

Another Taylor County access is at the Camp Towles ramp three miles north of U.S. Route 50 on county Road 18/4 near the 4-H camp. This is also a small boats ramp with only five parking spaces available.

Compared with other river hunting locations, the hunting pressure is often relatively light in this area. Hunting pressure plays a major role in when and where the birds will feed. Birds will stop flying into high-pressure locations, and heavy hunting can even push the birds into nocturnal feeding habits. When this happens, early morning and late evening are the better times to take up positions for hunting.

When marshes freeze, look for birds feeding in grain fields and resting on creeks and rivers. This is the ideal time to make a float trip down an open river and find the birds.

SHENANDOAH RIVER
In the extreme eastern region of the Mountain State, the Shenandoah River offers waterfowl hunters a good opportunity for a midwinter hunt. The most recent survey shows geese sighted at 123 and ducks totaling 15, quite a variation from last year when the 2004 count produced 790 geese and 64 ducks.

In this Jefferson County section of the Shenandoah, access to the river is available at the Bloomery Bridge ramp. This ramp is off SR 9 at the bridge at the east end of Bloomery. It is a carry-down access for small boats with an eight-space parking lot.

The Millville ramp is on SR 9 and county Road 32/2 about 3 1/2 miles east and north of Bloomery Bridge. It is an all-boats access with a 20-space parking lot nearby.

When hunting the waterways of this far eastern section of the state, concealment in midwinter is a top priority for successful bird hunting. With barren trees bordering the river, camouflage is critical. Many hunters invest in camouflaged boats or elaborate blinds only to end up tipping off the birds with a bright, shining face. Concealing one's face with a head net or camouflage paint can make all the difference when birds are coming in for a landing.

The sharp-eyed crow is a good gauge of hunter concealment. Observe the way crows react when they fly over your boat or duck blind. If they detour in their flight, it means they've spotted something out of place and more camouflage needs to be added. If you doubt that your face is a giveaway, just look up at any passing crows. These birds will let you know instantly if they have spotted you.

Another tip to keep in mind is that waterfowl prefer to land into the wind. If you have flooded timber or the point of an island nearby, the birds will most likely swing around downwind to come into your decoys. Make it a clear shot for the birds to come in. If there's a wind shift, you may need to move to the opposite side of the island for a clearer shot.

NEW RIVER (Including Bluestone Lake)
The final area to be surveyed this past January was the New River and Bluestone Lake region. In this location, 76 ducks and 64 geese were spotted. The largest count in this region in recent years took place in 2003 when 398 ducks and 273 geese were recorded. And the best year overall for ducks was in 2001 when 511 ducks and geese were counted in the New River area.