West Virginia Sees First Elk Since 1875

by
posted on March 1, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
ahwire_ah2015_fs-2.jpg

The West Virginia Department of Natural Resources (WVDNR) has taken the first steps to reintroduce elk into the Mountain State. Elk haven’t been seen in West Virginia since shortly after the end of the Civil War. The plan is to produce a healthy, free-roaming elk herd across about 123,000 acres of the southwestern region of the state. Once a herd is established and stabilized, hunting will become part of the state’s management plan, according to the WVDNR.

Chris Ryan, a WVDNR biologist, explained, “We’re trying to get a total of 150 elk moved in to create a strong foundation for our herd. On our first trip, we collected 24 elk, a dozen bulls and a dozen cows. These were taken from Kentucky, and all elk were found to be disease free.”

That first group of 24 elk were released into the Tomblin Wildlife Management area in southern West Virginia during a dedication that took place on Dec. 19, 2016. The WVDNR is hoping to release the next batch of elk in January 2018.

Latest

Ledeworlds Biggest
Ledeworlds Biggest

World’s Largest Gathering of Outdoor Enthusiasts Begins Saturday

More than 200,000 hunters, shooters, anglers, RVers and virtually every other flavor of outdoor enthusiast will attend NRA’s Great American Outdoor Show (GAOS). It opens Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pa., and is the place to be if you want to see your favorite pursuit’s latest and greatest, book a trip and more.

Year-Round Gear Care

Every fall season I hear one or two horror stories involving equipment failures in the field. All too often these stories include personal injuries. Let's take a few minutes to help you avoid such costly circumstances.

New for 2026: Mossberg Maverick Semi-Automatic Shotgun

Mossberg has introduced its Maverick SA Semi-Auto line of shotguns, engineered to be multi-season workhorses, chambered for both 2.75-inch and 3-inch shotshells and featuring a 6-shot capacity.

First Look: Blocker Outdoors Finisher Chest Pack Pro

The Blocker Outdoors Finisher Chest Pack Pro is the kind of gear that takes the basic tenets of turkey hunting into consideration, while attempting to minimize the burden of a cumbersome full-size vest. This makes it a a straightforward alternative to a full-size turkey vest for run-and-gun hunters who want to balance loadout with freedom of movement.

The Value of Post Season Scouting in the Snow

Although for most of the country deer season is over, there are some important aspects of deer hunting to be understood, particularly when it snows during the winter months. In my part of the country, we don’t often get a good blanket of snow until the deer season closes. However, when it does snow, I make a point to get outdoors and visit each of my hunting areas to learn when the learning is best.

Tuo Introduces New Camouflage Pattern: Ryse

Tuo launched its proprietary Verse camo pattern in 2024. While the supplemental light tans and sharp lines render effectiveness in wooded environments as well, Tuo wanted to offer a second exclusive pattern for whitetail hunters. It has done so with Ryse.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.