A drier spring and early summer this past year, compared to the previous three years, resulted in greater nesting success and survival of poults for game birds such as ruffed grouse. Numbers are up around West Virginia and grouse hunting should be much better. Early season reports from cottontail rabbit hunters have also been good this year. While cottontail rabbits and game birds occur statewide in varying degrees of abundance, the snowshoe hare occupies a very specific niche of habitat. Hunters seeking hares turn to the rhododendron and red spruce thickets above 3500 feet in elevation on the Monongahela National Forest.
Hares are numerous and are an exciting challenge for dogs and hunters.
Deep snows can seriously affect the access to good hunting areas. Hunters are advised to check on weather and road conditions prior to hunting. West Virginia offers approximately 1.6 million acres of quality public land that is available to late season hunting opportunists. In the eastern region, more than one million acres are located inside the borders of the Monongahela, George Washington, and Jefferson National Forests. In addition, more than 370,000 acres of Wildlife Management Areas and State Forests are distributed through the State.