Bluestone Wildlife Management Area
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Bluestone Wildlife Management Area (also known as Bluestone Lake Wildlife Management Area) is a
wildlife management area A Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a protected area set aside for the conservation of wildlife and for recreational activities involving wildlife. New Zealand There are 11 Wildlife Management Areas in New Zealand: * Horsham Downs Wildlife Ma ...
in southern
West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bur ...
surrounding
Bluestone Lake Bluestone Lake is a flood control reservoir located on the New River near Hinton, West Virginia. At its normal pool level, Bluestone Dam impounds a stretch of the New and its tributary, the Bluestone River. Normally approximately in size, ...
and the New River. The section of the lake from just upstream of the
Bluestone River The Bluestone River is a tributary of the New River, 77 mi (124 km) long, in southwestern Virginia and southern West Virginia in the United States.Bluestone State Park Bluestone State Park is a state park in Summers County, West Virginia. The park is located along the western shore of Bluestone Lake, an impoundment of the New River built and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The park and lake ar ...
; the rest of the lake in West Virginia basin comprises Bluestone WMA. All together, the WMA comprises of land and water. The wildlife management area is operated by the
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) is an agency of the government of the U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state ...
Wildlife Resources Section to provide hunting and fishing opportunities to the public and to protect the natural resources of the land. The land is owned by the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers , colors = , anniversaries = 16 June (Organization Day) , battles = , battles_label = Wars , website = , commander1 = ...
and leased to WVDNR.


Recreation

With the exception of camping, there are no fees for using the Wildlife Management Area. Day-use recreational opportunities include: *
Fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...
(with required state license), including stocked trout on Indian Creek *
Hunting Hunting is the human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, or killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to harvest food (i.e. meat) and useful animal products (fur/hide (skin), hide, ...
(with required state license) *
Hiking Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...
with of trails *
Horseback riding Equestrianism (from Latin , , , 'horseman', 'horse'), commonly known as horse riding (Commonwealth English) or horseback riding (American English), includes the disciplines of riding, driving, and vaulting. This broad description includes the ...
*
Canoeing Canoeing is an activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. Common meanings of the term are limited to when the canoeing is the central purpose of the activity. Broader meanings include when it is combined with other acti ...
*
Boating Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether Motorboat, powerboats, Sailing, sailboats, or man-powered vessels (such as rowing and paddle boats), focused on the travel itself, as well as sp ...
*
Rock climbing Rock climbing is a sport in which participants climb up, across, or down natural rock formations. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a usually pre-defined route without falling. Rock climbing is a physically and ...
Free boat launches provide access to Indian Creek, the New River, and
Bluestone Lake Bluestone Lake is a flood control reservoir located on the New River near Hinton, West Virginia. At its normal pool level, Bluestone Dam impounds a stretch of the New and its tributary, the Bluestone River. Normally approximately in size, ...
.


Camping

There are seven camping areas spread along of the New River and
Bluestone Lake Bluestone Lake is a flood control reservoir located on the New River near Hinton, West Virginia. At its normal pool level, Bluestone Dam impounds a stretch of the New and its tributary, the Bluestone River. Normally approximately in size, ...
. All together, these sites provide 330 primitive campsites: * Bertha – 55 lakefront sites * Bull Falls – 15 lakefront sites * Cedar Branch – 45 riverside sites * Indian Mills – 15 sites * Keatley – 15 sites * Mouth of Indian Creek – 94 riverside sites * Shanklin's Ferry – 91 riverside sites


Sherman Ballard Recreation Area

The Sherman Ballard Recreation Area has a cabin and barn which offers rustic accommodations. The cabin is an open air construction offering five bunk beds sets, a full kitchen, full enclosed bathroom, and covered porch. The barn is the only one in the
West Virginia State Parks There are 37 state parks in the U.S. state of West Virginia . The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) West Virginia Division of Natural Resources#Parks and Recreation Section, Parks and Recreation Section is the governing body ...
system allowing users to bring their own horses rather than renting horses from a concessionaire. At one time, WVDNR biologists tried to ban horses from the WMA but were rebutted by a public outcry.


References

{{Protected areas of West Virginia Campgrounds in West Virginia Protected areas of Mercer County, West Virginia Protected areas of Monroe County, West Virginia Protected areas of Summers County, West Virginia Wildlife management areas of West Virginia IUCN Category V