WMA Hunting Opportunities

In December, 2012, WFV purchased 192 acres in Accomack County, on Virginia’s Eastern Shore.  This property was purchased in conjunction with DWR’s purchase of an adjacent 447 acres.  WFV was able to use substantial federal funding, as well as a significant grant from Ducks Unlimited, to secure our acreage.  In 2013, we gifted the property to DWR to incorporate into their acreage, becoming the Doe Creek Wildlife Management Area, providing meaningful access to some of the finest offerings on the Chesapeake Bay.

Mink Farm Tract
The Wildlife Foundation of Virginia was pleased to partner with the DWR on this exciting hunting opportunity in Accomack County, Virginia. The Mink Farm Tract was leased by WFV for several years to supplant public hunting opportunities and was eventually purchased by DWR as part of Doe Creek WMA

In 2002, The Wildlife Foundation of Virginia gifted 110 acres of tidal marshland and beach to DWR. Located just south of the waterfowl refuge area of Saxis Wildlife Management Area, the land has been maintained in its natural state, and for several decades, has been the site of public recreation in the form of shore fishing and wildlife watching.

In 2003, WFV gifted a key 19-acre tract of land along the Hardware River to DWR.  Acquisition of this in-holding resulted in making the Hardware River WMA one continuous tract. The Hardware River WMA provides valuable public access to the James River for boating, fishing, hiking, hunting, wildlife viewing, and other outdoor activities.

In early 2005, The Wildlife Foundation partnered with DWR on a key acquisition project in Charles City County. The Blue Wing Tract is a 103-acre parcel adjacent to the 429-acre Game Farm Marsh WMA in New Kent County. The tract was purchased by DWR with funding from WFV and a National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grant.  The Blue Wing Tract provides interior access to the Game Farm Marsh WMA for individuals who wish to use the area for waterfowl hunting, fishing, boating, and wildlife watching.

The Wildlife Foundation of Virginia acquired approximately 550 acres of forested habitat in Madison County, previously owned by brothers John and Jack Fray. This key parcel is bound by conservation lands: the Rapidan Wildlife Management Area lies to the north, west, and south, and the Shenandoah National Park is directly to the east. In 2006, the Foundation gifted the property to DWR for inclusion in the Rapidan WMA.

In 2009, WFV purchased 2,117 acres in Rockbridge and Botetourt counties, using loan funding from The Conservation Fund (TCF).  This acquisition initiative was a public-private partnership between The Commonwealth of Virginia, the Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF), DWR, TCF, and WFV to permanently conserve a total of 4,234 acres, known as the Short Hills tract.

The property contains diverse habitat for game and non-game species, including black bear, deer, turkey, ruffed grouse, bobcat, fox, beaver, migratory and resident songbirds, and raptors.  Short Hills is situated in the vicinity of other protected lands, and protects a large hub area and connecting green corridors to other significant lands. 

Acquired in December 2017, the Guinea Marshes are a series of marshes and marsh islands located near the mouth of the York River in Gloucester County.  Comprised of almost 800 acres, the marshes are host to a variety of wildlife, but most specifically waterfowl.  Funds for this acquisition came from Ducks Unlimited, The United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the DWR. The property was  transferred in September 2021 to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources for public hunting and access.