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“First Day” Hikes scheduled at West Virginia state parks.

West Virginia DNR

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – -(Ammoland.com)- “First Day” friends and family hikes in four of West Virginia’s state parks are scheduled January 1, New Year’s Day, in 2012.

“We continue to encourage children and parents to get outdoors and enjoy nature,” said Ken Caplinger, chief of West Virginia’s state parks.

“For people looking for a new first day tradition or a reason to start a new exercise program, we think First Day hiking programs will be a popular alternative to sitting inside.”

Massachusetts state parks began offering First Day Hikes more than 20 years ago. The National Association of State Park Directors has issued a challenge to parks directors nationwide to establish First Day hikes. “Hiking can be a year-round activity and winter landscapes and temperatures are perhaps more exhilarating than spring, summer or fall hikes,” said Caplinger.

Four areas in West Virginia accepted the chief’s First Day challenge: Blackwater Falls State Park, Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, Kanawha State Forest, and Twin Falls State Park.

Individuals planning to participate in First Day hikes should arrive at least 15 minutes prior to starting time. Participants should wear layers of clothing and sturdy, warm hiking boots or shoes, as well as hats and gloves and bring water. Hikes will depart on time and return to the starting point. Additional information will be posted on www.wvstateparks.com or contact the park direct for more information.

Blackwater Falls State Park
Paulita Cousin, park naturalist, will lead the First Day Hike on the Elakala Trail. Meet at Blackwater Lodge at 10 a.m. The activity will be about one mile with some steps.

Blackwater Falls schedules hikes and nature-based activities year-round basis. The park is noted for hosting the Wildflower Pilgrimage and will be introducing new interpretative weekends in 2012 that include Mountain Biodiversity Adventures in June, Edible/Medicinal/Poisonous Plants in July, and the Nature of Dolly Sods in September with Bill Beatty, and an annual Astronomy Weekend in October.

Blackwater Falls is located near Davis in Tucker County. Canaan Valley State Park and ski area is nearby.

Blackwater Falls State Park: 304-259-5216, paulita.l.cousin@wv.gov; www.blackwaterfalls.com.

Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park
Mike Smith, park superintendent, will lead a hike departing from the Droop Mountain park office beginning at 10 a.m. Smith will have a fire going in the workshop and “maybe even some warm apple cider for when we return. Winter hikes are great!”

Smith, an avid hiker and historian, is planning three hikes in 2013 retracing the routes of various regiments of United States Civil War in November1863 as they approached Droop Mountain. To commemorate the Civil War path from Lewisburg, West Virginia (then Virgina) to arrive at Droop Mountain, Smith will depart Lewisburg at about 2 p.m. on November 5, 2013, with arrival at Droop Mountain early morning of November 6, 2013, and cover some 30 miles. Smith will welcome the most hardcore historian hikers to join him. Information and registration information will be available on the park’s website www.droopmountainbattlefield.com .

Droop Mountain is located near Hillsboro in Pocahontas County. Other state parks in the area include Cass Scenic Railroad, Beartown, and Watoga state parks and Seneca State Forest. The Greenbrier River Trail runs from Caldwell in Greenbrier County north and near these areas and ending at Cass. Watoga and Cass offer cabin and house rentals year-round.

Droop Mountain Battlefield: 304-653-4254, please leave a message; www.droopmountainbattlefield.com

Kanawha State Forest
Join assistant superintendent, Kevin Dials, office clerk Ken Long and campground volunteer Tom Turner at 2 pm at the swimming pool parking lot. “Bundle up and start the year out right – hike!” advised Dials.

Kanawha State Forest also has a Winter Hike Weekend scheduled January 21, 2012. This activity also begins at 2 p.m. as hikers meet at the swimming pool parking lot. This interpretive hike will be enlightening and educational concerning the forest activity during the winter months. There is a minimal fee to participate in the Winter Hike on January 21. The hike will be led by Doug Wood and is sponsored by the Kanawha State Forest Foundation and Mary Ingles Trail Blazers. Spring and fall hikes are also part of the special hikes conducted at Kanawha State Forest.

Kanawha State Forest is located in Charleston, Kanawha County. Known for its hiking and biking trails, the forest is open year-round for outdoor use. The campground is open seasonally.

Kanawha State Forest: 304-558-3500; kanawhasf@wv.gov; www.kanawhastateforest.com

Twin Falls State Park
Join naturalist Bryan Danford at Twin Falls State Park at 2 p.m. at the campground store front. Parking will be on the road access to the building. The hike sets off following the campground road leading to and continuing on the Huckleberry Trail. Danford anticipates the hike to last about two hours.

Lore and Tracking Weekend at Twin Falls is scheduled for January 13 – 15, 2012. The weekend steps back in time to the 18th century, when American Indians and European Americans lived closer to nature. Learn some of the skills that were necessary for everyday life, and learn of the cultural sharing that has made our modern lives richer. Enjoy nature, drama, tracking, and history in outdoor and indoor settings. Techniques on animal tracking and identification are part of the weekend. Registration is required for this event and overnight accommodations, activities and meals are included.

Twin Falls Resort is a year-round destination near Mullens and Pineville in Wyoming County. The golf course is open as weather permits. The lodge and vacation cabins are available for rent year-round and offer special rates and deals frequently. The campground is open as weather permits. Hiking and biking are popular due to the rugged terrain.

Twin Falls State Park, 304-294-4000, twinfallssp@wv.gov; www.twinfallsresort.com

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Deer Hunters In West Virginia Harvest 59,835 Bucks During The Buck Firearms Season

West Virginia DNR

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – -(Ammoland.com)- Preliminary data collected from game checking stations across the state indicate deer hunters in West Virginia harvested 59,835 bucks during the two-week buck firearms season, which ran from November 21 through December 3, according to Frank Jezioro, Director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR).

The 2011 buck harvest was 38 percent more than the 2010 harvest of 43,461. The top 10 counties for buck harvest were as follows: Preston (2,162), Randolph (2,039), Jackson (1,960), Mason (1,931), Greenbrier (1,803), Roane (1,743), Wood (1,703), Hampshire (1,661), Upshur (1,596) and Hardy (1,574).

This year’s buck harvest is significantly higher than last year, with increases occurring across all DNR districts. The largest percentage increases occurred in the western and southern counties. This year’s preliminary buck harvest remains 3 percent below the previous five-year average of 61,428.

Wildlife biologists and wildlife managers collected age-specific biological information at checking stations in 12 counties this year. Preliminary analysis indicates antler development was good and many hunters harvested older-aged bucks. Other contributing factors such as the exceptional acorn crop in the fall of 2010 and deer densities more in balance with the habitat in many areas combined to make this year’s deer season successful for many hunters.

“White-tailed deer are a product of the environment,” Jezioro said. “Too many deer on a given tract of land will result in loss of body weight, reduction in antler development, decrease in reproduction and sometimes death due to starvation during winter months. Hunters and landowners must continually assess their expectations of the proper number of deer sightings versus the visible impacts deer have on vegetation. We need help managing the state’s deer herd by participating and encouraging antlerless deer harvests where needed to benefit not only the deer herd, but all wildlife dependent on our state’s woodland habitat.”

Wildlife Biologists will analyze data from the combined 2011 deer seasons (i.e., buck, antlerless, archery and muzzleloader) before making appropriate recommendations for next year’s deer seasons. These recommendations will be available for public review at 12 regulations meetings scheduled for March 12 and 13, 2012 (see current 2011 – 2012 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary page 5 or visit the WVDNR website at www.wvdnr.gov for scheduled times and places).

Director Jezioro reminds hunters that the traditional six-day antlerless deer season in selected counties on both public and private land ends Saturday, December 10. Muzzleloader deer season begins December 12 and runs through December 17. The Youth and Class Q/QQ antlerless deer season will be open on Monday and Tuesday, December 26 and 27 in any county with a firearms deer season, and will be followed by a four-day reopening of antlerless deer season (December 28 – 31) in 42 counties or portions of counties (see 2011 – 2012 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary or visit the DNR Web site at www.wvdnr.gov for county and area listings).

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