Evening star., 1959-12-25
Cooperation Turning Army Camp
Into Hunting and Fishing Paradise
BY CHARLES COVELL
Outdoor Editor

ant So4A1kt AOhNOSs AAAo
73-Square-mile military
reservation sprawls over parts
of three counties near Black
stone, Va, southwest of Peters
burg.
During World War II and
through the Korean conflict
It teemed with soldiers, who
found it a way station on the
long road overseas. Now it
teens with game, in large
measure due to the efforts Of
the State Commission of Game
and Inland Fisheries and the
kindly cooperation of the
post commander, 1t. Col. VIII
liam c. Huber.
Though miles Of barracks,
warehouses and compa ny
streets lie ghostlike and empty.
Camp Pickett, like the moth
ball fleet, is kept in readiness
should 1t be needed. But where
GIs in training once wormed
through barbed wire, quail and
rabbits now thrive and you
must step warily lest you trip
over rusting barbed wire or
step into a foXhole hidden by
tall grass.
10000 Acres for Hunting
The reservation has more
than 10000 acres open to pub
lie hunting and fishing on a
permit basis. There are quail,
rabbits, raccoon, opoSSum, tur-
keys, Iranian pheasants and
deer. The pheasants are ex-
perimental and may not be
hunted. Doe deer and hen
turkeys also are protected.
The Game Commission
started its propagation pro-
gram in February, 1857. A close
check is kept on the numbers
of animals harvested by sports
men and these figures show the
success Of the program.
For instance, in the 1956-57
season, only $50 rabbits were
taken. Last year the harvest
had increased to 1858 and so
far this season, which extends
through January 80, the latest
figures are 2,0l6.
AS for quail, the harvest
Jumped from 802 in l956-57 to
1922 last year. The deer herd
is a young one, but the take
has increased from 66 in 1856
81 to 1T last season and ia
in the current season which
ends January S. AS in many
counties east Of the Blue Ridge.
dogs may be used and two
bucks a season are allowed
each hunter.
Camp Pickett was the scene
a few days ago of meeting
of the Virginia Outdoor Writ
ers Association which was at
tended by Chester Phelps. di-
rector. and other Game Com
mission officials from Rich
mond and other points.
In a bus tour Of the field
and forest areas. John Redd.
district biologist to whom credit
is due for many of the accom-
plishments, explained the pro-
gram.
Cover Crops Planted
It starts in 1857 with the
planting of 296 quarter-acre
plots in cover crops suitable
for most game. The quarter
acre plots we're found to be
too small. so the following year
these were increased to half
acre size. Now there are hun
dreds of acres under cultiva-
tion.
In some areas, the standard
Game Commission mixture Of
milo-maize, brown top millet,
German millet. Korean les
pediza, soybeans, field peas
and rape is sown. other fields
are planted to small grain and
ladino clover.
In addition, more than 40
miles of fire lanes have been
bulldozed out of the wilderness.
These are planted in fescue
grass on one side and ladino
clover on the other and serve a
double purpose, helping to pro-
tect the forest against fire and
providing food for game.
Periodic clipping keeps the fire
lanes open.
A swamp is being put to use
as haven for wood and
puddle ducks. A dam is being
built to flood 200 acres in this
area.
Lakes Open to Fishing
There are three sized
lakes on the reservation as
we'll as the Nottoway Reservoir
which are open to the public
for fishing in the summer
They are we'll stocked with
bass, pickerel, crappie and
bluegills.
Camp Pickett is an easy
folT-hour drive from Wash
ington over good roads. Over
night accommodations are
available at nearby Blackstone
although there are some on
the post for military or Gov
ernment officials.
Season hunting permits are
issued at post headquarters,
but daily passes are necessary.
There are obtainable at the
State game checking station
or by mail by writing to the
sergeant major at headquar-
ters. Hunters are required to
stick to their chosen areas and
patrols are maintained by both
State and Army wardens. Only
shotguns are permitted.
Game Plentiful
An afternoon and morning
OF hunting proved to the out
door writers that there was