WV DNR News Releases

Trout Stocked the Week of Feb. 1-5, 2010

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:25:45 GMT

The following waters were stocked the week of February 1, 2010.

West Virginia DNR Announces Public Meetings in March to Discuss Proposed Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Regulations

Curtis Taylor, Wildlife Resources Section 304-558-2771 wildlife@wvdnr.gov — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:55:36 GMT

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold 12 public meetings across the state in March to provide hunters, trappers, anglers, landowners and other interested parties an opportunity to review and comment on proposed 2010 hunting regulations for white-tailed deer, wild turkey, boar and black bear; proposed 2011- 2012 general hunting and trapping regulations; and proposed 2011 fishing regulations. These meetings will be held from 6 – 8 p.m. on March 15 and 16, 2010, and the public is encouraged to attend.

West Virginia's Mid-winter Waterfowl Survey Completed Duck and Geese Numbers Up from 2009

Steve Wilson, Wildlife Resources Section 304-637-0245 wildlife@wvdnr.gov — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:53:11 GMT

Wildlife biologists counted 2,868 ducks and 7,789 Canada geese during the annual mid-winter waterfowl survey in early January, according to Steve Wilson, Waterfowl Biologist for the Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

Pipestem State Park hosts Gift Buyers Marketplace Feb. 8-10

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:20:29 GMT

A trade show for gift and souvenir buyers is scheduled at Pipestem Resort State Park, Monday through Wednesday, Feb. 8-10. An annual event, the trade show brings wholesale vendors and gift shop buyers together under one roof for three days. Buyers must register in advance or at the door. There is no charge for buyers to attend.

Trout Stocked the Week of January 25-29, 2010

Mike Shingleton, Wildlife Resources Section (304) 637-0245 wildlife@wvdnr.gov — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:52:05 GMT

The following waters were stocked the week of January 25, 2010.

W.Va. Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program Plans Spring Workshop April 23-25

Billie Shearer, Wildlife Resources Section 304-558-2771 Billie.J.Shearer@wv.gov — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:15:06 GMT

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources announces that the spring Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Workshop at Canaan Valley Resort State Park will be April 23-25, 2010.

Trout Stocking to Resume at Hurricane Lake in Putnam County

Curtis I. Taylor, Wildlife Resources Section 304-558-2771 wildlife@wvdnr.gov — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:12:31 GMT

Hurricane Lake in Putnam County is again being stocked with trout beginning in January, according to Curtis I. Taylor, Chief of the Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The lake will be stocked once in January and again in March.

West Virginia State Wildlife Center to Celebrate Groundhog Day Feb. 2

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:10:43 GMT

West Virginia State Wildlife Center’s official weather prognosticator French Creek Freddie is poised to forecast the onset of spring on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at 10 a.m. French Creek Freddie has undertaken his annual ritual at the West Virginia State Wildlife Center since 1978.

An American Idol in the 1850s – Jenny Lind – is portrayed at Hawks Nest State Park Dinner Theater Feb. 6

Megan Hash, Hawks Nest State Park, 304 658-5212 meganhash@wvdnr.gov — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:08:18 GMT

Johanna Maria Lind, known as Jenny Lind, was Swedish, young, a beauty, and talented. She took singing in the United States to a different level in 1850. One hundred and sixty years later, when television shows like American Idol continue to change history in staging talent, Hawks Nest State Park re-introduces a character that forever changed music. “Jenny Lind” is a dinner theater play at Hawks Nest on Feb. 6.

"Beach Blanket Bump-Off" is featured Murder Mystery at West Virginia State Parks 2010 Dinner Theaters

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:06:28 GMT

It may be wintry outside, but indoors at West Virginia State Parks’ dinner theaters, things heat up quickly as beach bars and babes set the stage for this season’s murder mystery, “Beach Blanket Bump-Off.”

Trout Stocked the Week of January 18-22, 2010

Mike Shingleton, Wildlife Resources Section (304) 637-0245 wildlife@wvdnr.gov — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:18:13 GMT

The following waters were stocked the week of January 18, 2010.

Sixteen Additional Deer Test Positive for Chronic Wasting Disease in Hampshire County, West Virginia

Paul Johansen, Wildlife Resources Section 304-558-2771 wildlife@wvdnr.gov — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:02:07 GMT

Preliminary test results indicate the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) agent was present in 16 hunter-harvested deer collected in Hampshire County during the 2009 deer firearms hunting season.

Trout Stocked the Week of January 11-15, 2010

Mike Shingleton, Wildlife Resources Section (304) 637-0245 wildlife@wvdnr.gov — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:58:21 GMT

The following waters were stocked the week of January 11, 2010.

West Virginia Hunters Harvest 154,524 Deer in 2009

Curtis Taylor, Wildlife Resources Section 304-558-2771 wildlife@wvdnr.gov — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:01:51 GMT

Preliminary counts of game checking tags indicate West Virginia hunters harvested a total of 154,524 white-tailed deer during the recently completed bucks-only, antlerless, muzzleloader, archery and youth/Class Q deer seasons, according to West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Director Frank Jezioro. This year’s total harvest was 5.5 percent below the 2008 deer harvest of 163,603. Hunters killed a total of 63,590 bucks during the firearms deer season, 54,617 antlerless-season deer, 27,558 archery-season deer and 8,759 muzzleloader-season deer during the 2009 deer hunting seasons.

2009 West Virginia Fall Turkey Harvest Increases

Paul Johansen, Wildlife Resources Section 304-558-2771 wildlife@wvdnr.gov — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:57:51 GMT

Preliminary figures for the 2009 fall turkey hunting season show a harvest of 1,244 turkeys. This is slightly higher than the 1,206 turkeys checked in during the 2008 fall season. The eastern Mountain Region of the state reported a fall turkey harvest increase, with District 3 mountain counties up 16 percent and District 4 mountain counties up 20 percent. The fall turkey harvest declined 10 percent in the northern counties of District 1 and declined 15 percent in the eastern panhandle counties of District 2. The top five counties for fall turkey harvests were Monroe (116), Nicholas (114), Greenbrier (99), Preston (82) and Mason (81).

West Virginia Hunters Harvest 1,828 Black Bears in 2009

Chris Ryan, Wildlife Resources Section 304-558-2771 wildlife@wvdnr.gov — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:54:34 GMT

West Virginia hunters harvested 1,828 black bears during the combined 2009 archery and firearms seasons, according to Chris Ryan, Supervisor of Game Management Services for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The preliminary harvest data for the combined seasons in 2009 is the second highest harvest on record behind only 2008.

January Weekends are Magical at West Virginia State Parks

Sissie Summers, Programming Coordinator 304-558-2764 sissiesummers@wvdnr.gov — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:06:59 GMT

A variety of themes and weekends are planned at many of West Virginia’s state parks lodges in January to ward of the wintertime blues. Couples, family and friends will find affordable fun when attending these events:

WVDNR Physically Challenged Advisory Board to Meet at South Charleston Headquarters on April 6 at 3 p.m.

Lt. Tim Coleman, Law Enforcement Section 304-558-2784 law@wvdnr.gov — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 19:03:51 GMT

The next regular meeting of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Physically Challenged Advisory Board (PCAB) is scheduled for Tuesday, April 6, at 3 p.m. at the WVDNR Headquarters at 324 4th Avenue in South Charleston. Items to be discussed are:

Mammoths, Maize, and More are Topics at Blennerhassett Museum Winter History Series in February

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:28:49 GMT

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. – What is the real history of man in the Wood County area? A lecture series, “From Mammoths to Maize: Human Colonization of the Mid-Ohio Valley,” is scheduled at the Blennerhassett Island Museum of Regional History over the course of four Thursday afternoons in February, according to Pam Salisbury. “If you enjoy ancient history, the Blennerhassett Museum and Friends of Blennerhassett invite you to attend this upcoming four-week winter lecture series.

WVDNR Seeks Paintings for 2011 Wildlife Calendar

Curtis Taylor, Wildlife Resources Section 304-558-2771 wildlife@wvdnr.gov — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:25:50 GMT

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Section is requesting original wildlife art for the 2011 edition of the award-winning DNR Wildlife Calendar, according to Curtis Taylor, Chief of the Wildlife Resources Section of the Division of Natural Resources. The deadline for submission of artwork is Feb. 15, 2010. A 35-mm color slide or a high resolution electronic image of each entry must be submitted by this date. Artists may send in multiple entries.