For many West Virginia deer hunters, including this writer, the bow season is our favorite time to pursue whitetails. And it's not a bad time to tag a deer, either. In 2007, the archery brigade downed 26,965 deer, which was about 7 percent above the 2006 harvest of 25,219. In fact, the 2007 harvest also eclipsed the 2005 take of 21,949 and the 2004 take of 26,227. We have to look back to the halcyon years of 2002 and 2003 when there were harvests of 37,144 and 29,790, respectively, before we encounter better harvests.

In any given year, as was true in 2007, the majority of those whitetails were arrowed on private land. Indeed, many state archers, again including this writer, spend a considerable amount of time during the pre-season, especially in August and September, either scouting farms where we currently have permission or seeking to gain access to new private land properties.

But West Virginia sportsmen are also blessed that they can go hunting in a state that contains numerous quality public lands. Let's look at some of the public possibilities for this year, and how they have performed over the past six years.

BLUESTONE LAKE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA (WMA)
Bluestone Lake WMA's 18,019 acres are in southern West Virginia's Summers, Mercer and Monroe counties. This WMA is one of my favorite public lands in the Mountain State. On one of my forays to this WMA, I observed one of the biggest bucks I have seen anywhere -- a 10-pointer that walked within 10 feet of me. Unfortunately, I was fall turkey hunting at the time, but the event was still a memorable one.

Brett McMillion, superintendent of Bluestone State Park, which adjoins the WMA, believes the WMA will be a quality destination this October.

"The Bluestone Lake WMA has been a popular place for bowhunters, but I believe it will become incredibly more popular," he said. "We now have a 14-inch minimum outside antler spread requirement, and I look for that regulation to attract even more bowhunters. A few years down the road, after some of these bucks have had a chance to grow, I believe we will start to see bigger bucks. Typically, now, we are seeing some nice bucks checked in."

McMillion is referring to the regulation that requires that all antlered deer taken on the Bluestone, Beech Fork Lake, Burnsville Lake and McClintic WMAs, and Coopers Rock State Forest, must have a minimum outside antler spread of 14 inches (ear tip to ear tip). Annually, for all seasons combined, only one antlered deer can be taken on these five public lands. Additionally, it is illegal to bait or feed wildlife on these areas.

"I think another plus about the Bluestone Lake WMA is that the DNR has done a lot of good habitat work here," continued McMillion. "Food plots have been created and well maintained, a number of openings have been created, and various plantings have taken place. The deer have both a number and variety of food sources. It just seems that the deer population has been good and is becoming better." (Continued)

McMillion added that the topography is as varied as are the food sources. In many places, Bluestone Lake WMA is extremely mountainous with oak-hickory forests characterizing the landscape. Yet, there are also places where rolling hill country exists with many of the aforementioned openings and food plots interspersed.