Enjoy great hunting and wildlife viewing at Tomblin Wildlife Management Area.
West Virginia’s wildlife management areas are an important part of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources efforts to conserve and manage public land so our state’s wildlife has high-quality habitat where they can roam free as nature intended.
Wildlife management areas are some of the most rugged and beautiful locations in the Mountain State and provide opportunities for wildlife viewing, hunting and fishing. If you’ve never been to one, check out Tomblin Wildlife Management Area in Logan and Mingo counties. This WMA has great hunting opportunities with nearby amenities for fishing. It’s also home to our elk restoration project and a great example of how reclaimed mine sites can be transformed into a thriving wildlife habitat. Here’s everything you need to know about Tomblin WMA.
Tomblin WMA At a Glance
- Open: All year
- Size: 25,155 acres
- Terrain: steep slopes and narrow valleys of mature hardwood forest, and reclaimed surface mine area supporting a mixture of open grasses and early successional shrubs
- Big Game: Deer, Turkey, Bear
- Small Game: Squirrel, Rabbit, Grouse, Dove, Woodcock
- Fishing: Largemouth bass and trout are available at nearby Chief Logan Lake
- Accommodations: Campsites, cabins and lodge rooms available at nearby Chief Logan State Park
Tomblin WMA is an ideal habitat for West Virginia’s growing elk herd
With more than 25,155 acres sprawling over Logan and Mingo counties, Tomblin Wildlife Management Area’s mosaic of habitat types are home to a variety of wildlife species. There’s deer, turkey, bear, squirrel, rabbit, grouse and other gamebirds to be found. But the most impressive wildlife roaming these hills is elk.
Elk were once native and common in West Virginia, but timbering and hunting in the 1800s caused these majestic animals to disappear. Thanks to the efforts of the DNR and several partner agencies around the country, elk are once again roaming freely in the Mountain State.
Tomblin WMA was created in 2015 as part of an elk reintroduction plan for southern West Virginia. This effort is a major conservation initiative and would not be possible without the help of key partners like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, which helped fund all stages of the project so far, and The Conservation Fund, which helped the DNR acquire tens of thousands of acres of land.
See free-roaming elk up close at Tomblin WMA
Since Tomblin WMA’s creation, the elk restoration efforts have been incredibly successful. The DNR has acquired elk through partnerships with the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in western Kentucky and the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The herd started with 24 elk and has since grown to about 100, with more on the way. Between 10 and 15 calves were born in 2018 and the DNR is seeking more elk for future release.
If you’ve never seen one of these beautiful animals up close, make plans to join an elk tour this fall. West Virginia State Parks organized the tours last year through Chief Logan State Park and is currently developing a program for this year. Details about the tours will be posted to wvstateparks.com when they become available, so check back for updates later this summer.
Plan a hunting trip to Tomblin WMA
The steep, rugged and mountainous terrain of southern West Virginia makes Tomblin WMA a great place to go deer, turkey or bear hunting. You can also bag small game, like squirrel, rabbit and grouse. Because wildlife management areas are public hunting lands, access is open to hunters, free of charge.
Plan your hunting trip to Tomblin WMA today and get ready for exciting outdoor adventures. Campsites, cabins and lodge rooms are available at nearby Chief Logan State Park, so you’ll have a place to stay if you’re traveling from out of town. Visit wvstateparks.com to book your accommodations. But don’t forget to check for deals and discounts. And while you’re at the park, stop by Chief Logan Lake and see if you can catch largemouth bass or a trophy trout.
All hunters and anglers must be properly licensed and follow all regulations. If you need to purchase a hunting or fishing license, they are available online at wvhunt.com. You may also call the DNR licensing unit at (304) 558-2758.
From high in the mountains to low in the valleys, West Virginia’s wildlife management areas conserve our natural resources while preserving public land for the public good. Whether you’re a hunter, angler or nature lover, Tomblin WMA is a place where you can admire the Mountain State’s rugged beauty and get a little closer to Almost Heaven.
If you have any questions, be sure to contact the DNR District 5 office by calling (304) 675-0871. You also can learn more about Tomblin WMA and other wildlife management areas by visiting wvdnr.gov and mapwv.gov/huntfish.