England said he anticipates that a number of archers and gun hunters will want to participate in the special hunt. Interested individuals must apply, and a lottery will determine the participants. Although the hunt was planned with the goal of the DNR being to reduce the number of antlerless deer present, England stated that a drawing for buck tags will be held each morning before hunters go afield.

Ten percent of the individuals who show up and whose names are drawn that morning will be allowed to kill a deer of either sex. The superintendent states that to ensure a quality hunt, the DNR will only 40 to 50 hunters on the park per day.

Of course, the bowhunting should be of high quality on the WMA, as well, in October. And there is an interesting way for archers to separate themselves from their peers.

"Some of the highest quality bowhunting on the WMA takes place deep in the backcountry," England continued. "One of the best ways to access those hidden spots is by boat. Bowhunters can rent a boat from the park or use their own johnboats, canoes or other craft to escape the crowds. Very few people are currently taking advantage of boating into the backcountry."

England described the topography of Stonewall Jackson as rolling hills country for the most part. The WMA is no "Pocahontas County, terrain wise," he said; still, some steep real estate exists particularly in a few sections that border the lake. Gas well openings and roads add variety, as do bottomlands along the river; and a number of old farms and openings dot the public land, too.

I have hunted on Stonewall Jackson Lake WMA in October and have been impressed with the habitat variety. Oak-hickory stands also exist and when the red oaks bear, they are a major food source for the whitetails. A prudent tactic is for bowhunters to place a portable stand along the edge where, for example, a red oak grove abuts an opening of some sort.

The park offers 198 lodge rooms, 10 cabins, and 45 campsites. My wife and I have stayed in the rooms and came away favorably impressed with their spaciousness and comfortable nature. A restaurant is also on-site. For more information on accommodations and facilities, contact Stonewall Jackson Lake Resort State Park at (888) 278-8150 or online at www.stonewallresort.com.

Many times, private land will be the primary destination choice of Mountain State bowhunters and that's understandable. But don't forget the fact that the state also boasts a number of quality WMAs. The five WMAs highlighted here are some of our state's best!