Tag: WV DNR

Elk Reintroduced to State, Logan County

The West Virginia Department of Natural Resources along with Governor Earl Ray Tomblin presented 20 Elk to Logan County Monday.

More than 140 years ago, Elk were native to the state. In 2015, legislation authorized the Division of Natural Resources to begin an active elk restoration plan, starting with finding enough suitable land to sustain a population. Through a partnership with The Conservation Fund, more than 32,000 acres of publicly accessible land was acquired and another 10,000 through lease agreements in Logan County. The DNR transferred the 20 donated elk from the western part of Kentucky last week and have them set up in a space fenced off in Logan County at the Tomblin Wildlife Management Area.

Governor Earl Ray Tomblin.

“Just after a few more days of acclimation these gates will be open and these elk will be allowed to roam freely all across these hills and valleys and southern West Virginia,” Tomlin said. “This is just the first of several carefully planned releases designed to establish self-sustaining and viable populations in the mountain state.”

West Virginia will use the elk as a tourism opportunity and could be hunted in 7-10 years. 

Bucks Killed During Gun Season Down 25 Percent

The number of bucks killed during West Virginia’s recent firearm deer season fell 25 percent compared to the 2015 period.

The Division of Natural Resources says nearly 46,000 bucks were killed during the two-week season that ended Saturday.

DNR wildlife resources chief Paul Johansen says high winds limited deer activity during part of the season.

Buck kills dropped in every DNR district.

Preston County had the most buck kills, followed by Randolph, Jackson and Greenbrier counties.

West Virginia DNR Accepting Applicants for Special Deer Hunt

The state Division of Natural Resources is accepting applications for a controlled deer hunt this fall in southern West Virginia.

The hunt is scheduled for Nov. 3, 4 and 5 at Pipestem Resort State Park.

Applications must be submitted at www.wvhunt.com and must be completed by Aug. 15. Applicants must designate whether they want to hunt with a firearm or bow.

The DNR says 40 hunters will be selected at random for each day of the hunt and will be notified after Oct. 1. Hunters must hunt from designated trees to which they are assigned and must provide their own climbing tree stand.

The hunt will be the second at the resort. One also was held there last November to reduce the high deer population.

New Wildlife Chief Excited About Elk Restoration

The state's new wildlife chief says a program to restore elk in southern West Virginia has the potential to be a big success, for hunters and non-hunters…

The state’s new wildlife chief says a program to restore elk in southern West Virginia has the potential to be a big success, for hunters and non-hunters alike.

Paul Johansen likens the program to the restoration of the state’s wild turkey population.

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and Division of Natural Resources Director Bob Fala back the elk restoration project, which also has the support of the Legislature.

Johansen was a DNR biologist for more than 33 years. He will head up the agency’s Wildlife Resources Section.

Johansen told the Charleston Gazette the return of elk will not only benefit hunters, but also those who simply want to see the majestic animals.

Elk have been reintroduced in Virginia’s coalfields section.

DNR Receives Grant for Elk Restoration

The Division of Natural Resources has received a $50,000 grant to support its effort to restore elk in West Virginia.The Charleston Daily Mail reports…

The Division of Natural Resources has received a $50,000 grant to support its effort to restore elk in West Virginia.

The Charleston Daily Mail reports that the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation presented the grant to the DNR on Sunday at the Natural Resources Commission’s quarterly meeting.

The DNR hopes to bring elk from neighboring Kentucky to restore the state’s herd. West Virginia’s last native elk was killed around 1875.

A draft management plan says elk would be released in McDowell, Wyoming, Logan, Mingo, Boone, Lincoln and Wayne counties.

Wildlife Resources Section chief Curtis Taylor says more than 90 percent of the public comments submitted to the agency support restoring elk in the state.

Could Elk Live in Southern West Virginia?

The Division of Natural Resources held a public meeting last week to gauge the interest of southern West Virginians on returning Elk to the state.A 100…

The Division of Natural Resources held a public meeting last week to gauge the interest of southern West Virginians on returning Elk to the state.

A 100 people crowded into a conference room last week at Chief Logan Lodge in Logan County. They were there to let the DNR know what they thought about returning Elk to the state of West Virginia. Elk once lived here between the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Overwhelmingly participants spoke in favor of returning the animal to the area.

The DNR says they’ve targeted southern West Virginia for a couple reasons. One, studies show that Elk could live in the southern part of the state without significant impact on the citizenry. Two, the animals are already starting to inhabit the southern part of the state as they make their way over the border from Kentucky and Virginia.

From 1997 to 2002 the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife released a total of 1,556 elk that originated from Arizona, Kansas, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon and Utah. In 2009 the herd reached the projected goal of 10,000. Virginia reintroduced 75 Elk to the state in 2012. Tennessee and North Carolina have Elk populations as well.

The response to the idea, was overwhelmingly positive. The counties represented were:

  • Logan
  • Mingo
  • Wyoming
  • Roane
  • Marion
  • Lincoln
  • Boone
  • Raleigh
  • Fayette
  • Kanawha
  • Wayne
  • Putnam
  • Harrison
  • Cabell
  • Nicholas
  • McDowell

The cited positives were a boom to the economy in southern West Virginia. The negatives included the rights to hunt on some land in the area and the possibility of a lottery system to be able to hunt elk.

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