Virginia Wildlife Management Areas


Virginia Wildlife Management Areas are state-managed protected areas that exist primarily for the benefit of wildlife. Within the Commonwealth of Virginia, 41 tracts of land have been protected as WMAs, covering a total of over. They are managed and maintained by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Purpose

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.
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.

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.
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.

List of Virginia Wildlife Management Areas

The following table lists Virginia's 41 WMAs, as of 2016.
WMA nameCity, county or countiesAreaMajor waterbodiesNotes
AmeliaAmeliaAppomattox River
Big SurveyWythe
Big WoodsSussexContiguous with Big Woods State Forest.
Briery CreekPrince EdwardBriery Creek Lake
Chester F. PhelpsFauquier,
Culpeper		Rappahannock River
CavalierChesapeakeComprises two separate tracts, one of which is contiguous with Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.
ChickahominyCharles CityChickahominy River
Clinch MountainSmyth,
Washington,
Russell,
Tazewell		Laurel Bed Lake
Crooked CreekCarroll
Dick CrossMecklenburgRoanoke RiverFormerly known as the Elm Hill Wildlife Management Area.
Doe CreekAccomack
Fairystone FarmsPatrick,
Henry		Philpott ReservoirContiguous with Fairy Stone State Park.
FeatherfinPrince Edward,
Appomattox,
Buckingham		Appomattox River
G. Richard ThompsonFauquierThompson Lake
Game Farm MarshNew KentChickahominy Lake
Goshen and Little North MountainAugusta,
Rockbridge		Maury RiverContiguous with George Washington National Forest and Goshen Pass Natural Area Preserve.
Hardware RiverFluvannaJames River,
Hardware River
HavensRoanokeThe first VDGIF-managed property, initially purchased in 1930.
Hidden ValleyWashingtonHidden Valley Lake
HighlandHighlandBullpasture River
Hog IslandSurry,
Isle of Wight		James River
Horsepen LakeBuckinghamHorsepen Lake
James RiverNelsonJames River
Land's EndKing GeorgeRappahannock RiverManaged as a waterfowl refuge; hunting not permitted.
MattaponiCarolineMattaponi River,
South River
Merrimac FarmPrince WilliamAdjacent to Marine Corps Base Quantico.
Mockhorn IslandNorthamptonExtent of the WMA's tidal marshland is greatly reduced at high tide.
PettigrewCaroline
PowhatanPowhatan
Princess AnneVirginia BeachAtlantic Ocean
Ragged IslandIsle of WightJames River
RapidanMadison
Greene		Rapidan River,
Conway River,
South River		Contiguous with Shenandoah National Park.
SaxisAccomackAtlantic OceanPrimarily protects tidal marshland on Virginia's eastern shore.
Short HillsRockbridge,
Botetourt		Includes examples of karst topography.
Smith Mountain CooperativeBedford,
Pittsylvania		Smith Mountain LakeOwned by Appalachian Power and managed by VDGIF.
Stewarts CreekCarroll
TurkeycockFranklin,
Henry
T. M. GathrightBathLake Moomaw
Ware CreekNew KentYork River
WestonFauquier
White Oak MountainPittsylvaniaBanister River