Some bowhunters gravitate to the hardwood bottomlands, as the New River flows by this District IV WMA, as well. On my visits, I have always observed more deer in the rolling hill section of the WMA, but that may be because most of my hunting efforts have been concentrated there. McMillion said that some 600 to 800 feet above the waterline, the hardwood forests begin, and they are good locales to place portable stands.

I have also noted quite a few deer along the New River. Interestingly, I actually have witnessed whitetails feeding in the New River. There they seem to be consuming curly leaf pondweed that grows near the shoreline in about 3 feet of water. Watching a whitetail duck its head under the water is a fascinating experience to behold. And witnessing a fawn imitate a doe doing so is simply amazing.

The park superintendent said that October is a great time to visit the state park and stay in one of the establishment's 26 cabins or at the campground that offers 32 sites.

"Not many people visit the park then, and the ones who do are often bowhunters," he said. "The cabins are fully equipped and even have satellite TV, making them a nice place to relax at the end of a hunt. There are also places in Hinton to eat out at or buy groceries."

Archers also have the option to stay at any of the campgrounds along the New River, such as those found at Bertha, Shanklins Ferry, Cedar Branch, Bull Falls and Keatley. Lastly, the bow harvest peaked in 2002 when hunters checked in 158 whitetails. From 2003 through 2007, the harvests have been 58, 55, 87, 64 and 67 respectively.

For more information on accommodations and facilities, contact Bluestone State Park at (304) 466-2805 or www.bluestonesp.com; or the Bluestone Lake WMA at (304) 466-3398 or www.bluestonewma.com.

R.D. BAILEY LAKE WMA
Nathan Hanshaw, assistant superintendent at Twin Falls Resort State Park, maintains that the 17,280-acre R.D. Bailey Lake WMA in Mingo and Wyoming counties is a major destination in southern West Virginia.

"If a bowhunter drives up and down the roads in Mingo and Wyoming counties, he is going to find a lot of posted signs," said Hanshaw, an avid bowhunter himself. "Much of the land that is posted is leased, which often means that only a very few people are allowed to hunt there. Given the lack of private land available, bowhunters are really fortunate to have the R.D. Bailey WMA to go to."

Mingo and Wyoming are two of the four counties in the state that are bowhunting only, with Logan and McDowell counties being the other members of the quartet. Obviously, this makes R.D. Bailey WMA a bowhunting-only public land for whitetails, another reason why it is popular with stick-and-stringers. However, there is another more important reason for its fame.