Getting down to the southwestern coalfields District V, Mingo County’s 13,000-acre Laurel Lake WMA is a big woods amid a smattering of nearby surface coal mines, a hunting tip that can pay dividends in those parts. Don’t let Mingo County’s relatively low turkey kill numbers fool you. Why? They likely reflect a lack of hunting pressure. For the ATV riders, the Hatfield-McCoy Trail is nearby in the event you get your gobbler early in the hunt. But note that ATVs are not permitted on WMAs.

Last but not least is west-central West Virginia’s District VI. The popular Hughes River WMA is in the heart of that Ohio River and turkey bounteous country mentioned earlier. It lies in Ritchie and Wirt counties, perennial blockbusters in the turkey kill per square mile business.

DeLorme or West Virginia state maps show all these WMAs. The DNR Web page at < ahref="http://www.wvdnr.gov/" target="_blank">WVDNR.gov offers additional information and basic maps for some WMAs.

That’s the wrap on the 2007 spring gobbler situation. It looks like no one is predicting a new state record. However, our state still has many turkeys and plenty of places to hunt them!

Find more about West Virginia fishing and hunting at: WVgameandfish.com.