Bluestone Wildlife Management Area (also known as Bluestone Lake Wildlife Management Area) is a

wildlife management area A wildlife management area (WMA) is a protected area set aside for the conservation of wildlife and for recreational activities involving wildlife. New Zealand There are 11 wildlife management areas in New Zealand: * Horsham Downs Wildlife Ma ...

in southern

West Virginia West Virginia is a mountainous U.S. state, state in the Southern United States, Southern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau and the Association of American ...

surrounding

Bluestone Lake Bluestone Lake is a flood control reservoir located on the New River (Kanawha River), New River near Hinton, West Virginia, Hinton, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. At its normal pool level, Bluestone Dam impounds a stretch of the New and i ...

and the New River. The section of the lake from just upstream of the

Bluestone River The Bluestone River is a tributary of the New River, 77 mi (124 km) long, in southwestern Virginia and southern West Virginia in the United States.Bluestone State Park Bluestone State Park is a state park in Summers County, West Virginia. The park is located along the western shore of Bluestone Lake, an impoundment of the New River (West Virginia), New River built and managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Enginee ...

; the rest of the lake in West Virginia basin comprises Bluestone WMA. All together, the WMA comprises of land and water. The wildlife management area is operated by the

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of West Virginia. While formerly known as the cabinet-level Department of Natural Resources, it is now part of the West Virginia Department ...

Wildlife Resources Section to provide hunting and fishing opportunities to the public and to protect the natural resources of the land. The land is owned by the

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is the military engineering branch of the United States Army. A direct reporting unit (DRU), it has three primary mission areas: Engineer Regiment, military construction, and civil wor ...

and leased to WVDNR.

Recreation

With the exception of camping, there are no fees for using the Wildlife Management Area. Day-use recreational opportunities include: *

Fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment (Freshwater ecosystem, freshwater or Marine ecosystem, marine), but may also be caught from Fish stocking, stocked Body of water, ...

(with required state license), including stocked trout on Indian Creek *

Hunting Hunting is the Human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, and killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to obtain the animal's body for meat and useful animal products (fur/hide (sk ...

(with required state license) *

Hiking A hike is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Long hikes as part of a religious pilgrimage have existed for a much longer time. "Hi ...

with of trails *

Horseback riding Equestrianism (from Latin , , , 'horseman', 'horse'), commonly known as horse riding (Commonwealth English) or horseback riding (American English), includes the disciplines of riding, driving, and vaulting. This broad description includes the u ...

Canoeing Canoeing is an activity which involves paddling a canoe with a single-bladed paddle. In some parts of Europe, canoeing refers to both canoeing and kayaking, with a canoe being called an 'open canoe' or Canadian. A few of the recreational ...

Boating Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels (such as rowing and paddle boats), focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, suc ...

Rock climbing Rock climbing is a climbing sports discipline that involves ascending climbing routes, routes consisting of natural rock in an outdoor environment, or on artificial resin climbing walls in a mostly indoor environment. Routes are documented in c ...

Free boat launches provide access to Indian Creek, the New River, and

Camping

There are seven camping areas spread along of the New River and

. All together, these sites provide 330 primitive campsites: * Bertha – 55 lakefront sites * Bull Falls – 15 lakefront sites * Cedar Branch – 45 riverside sites * Indian Mills – 15 sites * Keatley – 15 sites * Mouth of Indian Creek – 94 riverside sites * Shanklin's Ferry – 91 riverside sites

Sherman Ballard Recreation Area

The Sherman Ballard Recreation Area has a cabin and barn which offers rustic accommodations. The cabin is an open air construction offering five bunk beds sets, a full kitchen, full enclosed bathroom, and covered porch. The barn is the only one in the West Virginia State Parks system allowing users to bring their own horses rather than renting horses from a concessionaire. At one time, WVDNR biologists tried to ban horses from the WMA but were rebutted by a public outcry.

References

{{Protected areas of West Virginia Campgrounds in West Virginia Protected areas of Mercer County, West Virginia Protected areas of Monroe County, West Virginia Protected areas of Summers County, West Virginia Wildlife management areas of West Virginia IUCN Category V