Virginia_Wildlife_Management_Areas

Virginia Wildlife Management Areas

Virginia Wildlife Management Areas

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Virginia Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are state-managed protected areas that exist primarily for the benefit of wildlife. Within the Commonwealth of Virginia, 46 tracts of land have been protected as WMAs, covering a total of over 216,000 acres (338 sq mi; 870 km2). They are managed and maintained by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.[1]

Phelps Pond, within the Chester F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area in Fauquier and Culpeper counties, Virginia

Purpose

Virginia Wildlife Management Area boundary sign

WMAs in Virginia differ from other state-managed protected areas in that they are solely intended to preserve and improve wildlife habitat, with a particular focus on game animals, and to provide public space for hunting and fishing activities. Other protected areas in the state, such as state parks, state forests, and natural area preserves, may protect habitat but are also expressly managed to provide space for public recreation, research, timber production, and/or rare species conservation.[2]

Land acquisition and maintenance funds for WMAs are ultimately provided by hunters and anglers, through license fees and taxes levied on gear. These fees are collected on a national level through the Pittman–Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, and distributed proportionally to individual states. Some WMA lands were originally donated to the state for wildlife purposes, rather than purchased.[2]

Public use and access

Although maintained for the primary benefit of hunters and anglers, other recreational pursuits are permitted within Virginia's WMAs. Hiking, primitive camping, horseback riding, and bird-watching is allowed on many WMA properties. Prohibited activities include swimming, mountain biking, organized sports, and ATV use. Boats, when permitted, must typically be non-motorized.[2]

To utilize WMA land for any purpose, visitors ages 17 or older must possess a valid hunting or fishing permit, or a current Virginia boat registration. In the absence of these documents, visitors must obtain a daily or annual WMA Access Permit that allows entry to WMA lands.[3]

List of Virginia Wildlife Management Areas

The following table lists Virginia's 46 WMAs as of 2023.[4]

More information WMA name, City, county or counties ...

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Wildlife Management Areas". Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  2. [2]
    Gooch, Bob (2000). Enjoying Virginia Outdoors: A Guide to Wildlife Management Areas. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia. pp. 1–5. ISBN 0813919614.
  3. [3]
    "Access Permit". Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  4. [4]
    "Virginia WMA Locator" (PDF). Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  5. [5]
    Unless otherwise noted, information included in this column is sourced from individual pages listed at: "Wildlife Management Areas". Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  6. [6]
    Clarkson, Tee (November 17, 2016). "VDGIF purchases Parker's Branch". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  7. [7]
    "Lake Thompson". Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  8. [8]
    "Mattaponi Wildlife Management Area". For the Love of the Land - 100 Conservation Stories from Across Virginia (PDF). Piedmont Environmental Council. p. 21. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  9. [9]
    "Smith Mountain Cooperative WMA". Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  10. [10]
    Martz, Michael (17 October 2018). "Dominion pays for transfer to state of scenic property in Nelson to compensate for pipeline's impact on state land". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
  11. [11]
    "Weston WMA". Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
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