Hunting and Fishing

There’s nothing quite like stocking and capturing your own food and Hardy County is your dream destination for hunting and fishing. Angler’s love fishing the rivers and the Trout Pond. If it’s bigger game you’re after head to one of Hardy County’s wildlife management areas or the George Washington National Forest. Squirrel, wild turkey, whitetail deer, and black bear are not uncommon sites in Hardy County’s many miles of wonderfully wild country.

Public hunting is allowed in the George Washington National Forest and at nearby state Wildlife Management Areas.

Nathaniel Mountain Wildlife Management Area

These 8,876 acres of extensively wooded lands host wild turkey, whitetailed deer, black bear and squirrel. Twenty-one miles of foot trails and four miles of tumbling native brook trout stream wind through densely wooded areas and 13 wildlife clearing. Trapping also is allowed.

Short Mountain Wildlife Management Area

Deer and turkey are the popular prizes on this 8,005-acre wildlife area that straddles the ridges of Short Mountain and cascade into the valleys where 61 acres of beaver meadows can be found. Hunting areas can be accessed by 10 miles of gravel and dirt roads, and fifteen miles of foot trails lace the woodlands. This is a popular area for trapping.

Licensed hunting also is allowed in the Hawk Recreation Area in Wardensville and on Westvaco lands in the Trough Area near Moorefield.