HUGHES RIVER WILDLIFE AREA WILL HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS - New Owner Makes Agreement With State

(05/15/2003)
The 10,000-acre Hughes River Wildlife Management Area, well-known to area hunters, will remain open to the public for another 10 years, despite a change of ownership. The forested tract is located 20 miles southeast of Parkersburg, essentially off State Route 47.

The Forestland Group LLC bought the property from MeadWestvaco Corp., which had leased the tract to the Division of Natural Resources for the past 38 years. Forestland will continue the lease for another 10 years.

The new company "is commended for its cooperation with the DNR and for its flexible public access policies," said DNR Director Ed Hamrick. "Sportsmen and other users of the property are urged to treat it with respect."

Deer, turkey, woodcock, grouse,cottontail rabbits are among game species found on the tract.