The Shannondale WMA lies along the main stem of the Shenandoah, and as such provides some bottomland hunting. Open fields, brush land and some rolling hills covered with mixed hardwood also characterize this Eastern Panhandle public ground.

Hall said that the Bluestone WMA (18,019 acres) in Summers, Mercer and Monroe counties offers some rabbit habitat in the form of open bottomland and brushy areas. The squirrel hunting is much better, however, as the steep hardwood slopes can provide quality habitat for squirrels. Last autumn, for example, while I was hunting turkeys on the Bluestone WMA, which lies in District IV, I encountered one West Virginian who was bowhunting for deer and another who was toting a 20-gauge in pursuit of squirrels. This is another public land that can attract quite a bit of hunting pressure.

Finally, Hall said that hunters might be able to scare up a rabbit or two on the Stonewall Jackson WMA (18,289 acres) in Lewis County. He said this District IV public land contains some fields that are gradually turning into forest, and this type of habitat can draw rabbits. Once again, though, the squirrel hunter has a much better chance at taking home his favorite quarry than a rabbit hunter does. And Hall once again emphasized that combo hunters will generally have a hard time on most public lands anywhere.

The squirrel season continues through Jan. 31; the daily bag limit is six. The cottontail rabbit season continues through Feb. 28; the daily limit is five. Neither species has a season limit.

MAST SURVEY
For the past 36 years, the DNR, in cooperation with the Division of Forestry (DOF), has annually surveyed the state to determine the mast production status of various trees and shrubs. The 2006 survey was unavailable at press time, but the 2005 survey should give at least some additional insight into bushytail and rabbit prospects for this season.

In 2005, the DNR and DOF surveyed 252 locations, covering all regions of the Mountain State. Squirrel populations are especially dependent upon favorable mast conditions, but so are to a degree such big-game animals as turkeys, deer and bears.

In 2005, for the first time in five years, the mast index was slightly above average. That was a major reason why Dick Hall was able to forecast an improvement in squirrel numbers for 2006. From 2001 through 2004, various weather-related problems combined to hurt production of both hard and soft mast species.

An important reason why mast production increased was because of favorable weather in the spring of 2005. The state as a whole experienced dry conditions during the early spring, followed by rain in late May. Also, fewer killing frosts occurred during that crucial stage when many oak trees are flowering.