And indeed it is. Mason not only led all counties in the District V turkey harvest parade with 447, but it also led the entire state. Mason features rolling hills, rich bottomlands, and tributaries of the Ohio River, numerous agricultural concerns, and plenty of wood lots. In short, it possesses exactly the diverse kind of habitat that biologists now know is the best for turkeys.

What's more, Mason possesses several quality public lands. The Chief Cornstalk WMA (11,772 acres) contains mostly rolling terrain that is largely covered with hardwoods. For a fee, camping sites are also available, another reason why a visit is appealing.

And, of course, Mason contains one of the most well-known and popular public hunting grounds in the Mountain State, the illustrious McClintic WMA (3,655 acres). McClintic is famous for having a wide diversity of habitat: wetlands, brushland, mixed hardwoods and farmland.

DISTRICT VI
North-Central Counties
Ryan proclaims that Ritchie County is likely the best choice in District VI. Ritchie edged out Jackson County in 2005, 340 to 333, to lead the region. Yet the virtues of the former domain go well beyond the harvest statistics.

Ritchie sports a high-quality public land in the 2,300-acre Ritchie Mines WMA. Although relatively small, the WMA is very rugged and wooded, which often results in its inner sanctums not receiving a great deal of hunting pressure, especially later in the spring when many hunters have tired of rising early.

This District VI county also contains a great deal of rural land, and it is there where the best hunting exists. The agricultural areas and cattle farms are where you should begin your quest for permission to hunt.

The final day of West Virginia's turkey season last year found me in Monroe County, observing a friend attempting to call in a bird. Earlier in the season, I had on two occasions attempted to lure in the same longbeard, but he had foiled my best efforts. To be honest, when the old tom ignored my buddy's yelps and clucks I felt a little better about my failed attempts to be successful with the stubborn bird.

That bird, and others like him all over the state, is what makes spring gobbler hunting in West Virginia such a marvelous pastime. Perhaps the counties discussed here will give you some idea on where to go this spring.