Physically-challenged hunters possessing a Class Q/QQ hunting permit may hunt on designated roads throughout the Monongahela National Forest, portions of the George Washington/Jefferson National Forest in West Virginia and on selected wildlife management areas, according to Curtis I. Taylor, chief of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildlife Resources Section.
“The designation of these Class Q/QQ roads on national forest lands in West Virginia is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Forest Service and the DNR,” Taylor said. “This highly successful program provides hunting access for physically-challenged sportsmen and women. For the past 20 years, these areas have been well received by hunters.”
To participate in this program, hunters must possess either a Class Q (resident) or Class QQ (nonresident) permit issued by the DNR. Applications for these permits may be obtained at any DNR office or hunting and fishing license agent. In addition to the Class Q/QQ hunting permit, both resident and nonresident hunters must possess all applicable hunting licenses and stamps. Nonresidents hunting on national forest lands must also possess a National Forest Stamp (Class I).
Hunters with a Class Q/QQ permit must apply in person at the appropriate national forest district office or DNR district office and receive a letter of authorization. This documentation must be in the hunter’s possession while hunting on the designated roads in the program.
The Class Q/QQ permit holders may be accompanied by no more than one assistant, at least 16 years of age, when hunting within a designated area. The assistant cannot hunt while accompanying the Class Q/QQ permit holder.
Authorized hunters will have access to specific gates via a special lock. While behind the gate, hunters must observe all national forest and/or state wildlife management area regulations and all state hunting regulations.
In addition to the special access areas, Class Q/QQ permit holders may participate in special Class Q/QQ antlerless deer hunts Oct. 18 and Dec. 26-27, 2014. This special split-antlerless deer season for Youth, Class Q/QQ and Class XS (Lifetime Senior Citizen) hunters will be held on private land in all counties having a firearms deer hunting season and on all public lands within these counties. The bag limit of one antlerless deer per day will not count toward the hunter’s annual deer season bag limit.
The U.S. Forest Service and DNR are committed to providing quality hunting opportunities for physically-challenged hunters and welcome comments and suggestions from participating hunters. For more information concerning access to national forest or wildlife management area Class Q/QQ roads, contact the U.S. Forest Service (304-636-1800) or DNR (304-637-0245). Information is also available on the DNR’s website (www.wvdnr.gov). Specific areas with designated Class Q/QQ roads are listed below.
Class Q/QQ roads available on national forest lands:
Monongahela National Forest
Cheat/Potomac Ranger District, Parsons, WV (304-478-3251)
Goodwin Run (Forest Road #933) Tucker County
Brushy Fork (Forest Road #973) Tucker County
Five Lick (Forest Road #153/153A) Randolph County
Back Ridge (Forest Road #814) Pendleton County
Greenbrier Ranger District, Bartow, WV (304-456-3335)
Little Beech Mountain (Forest Road #385, 183A) Randolph County
Span oak (Forest Road #224) Pocahontas County
Gauley Ranger District, Richwood, WV (304-846-2695)
Desert Branch (Forest Road #946) Nicholas County
Buckeye Branch (Forest Road #273) Webster County
Marlinton/White Sulphur Ranger District, Marlinton, WV (304-799-4334)
Crooked Fork (Forest Road #251) Pocahontas County
Marlin Mountain (Forest Road #300) Pocahontas County
Panther Ridge (Forest Road #298) Greenbrier County
Bear Track (Forest Road #882) Greenbrier County
George Washington & Jefferson National Forests
North River Ranger District, Bridgewater, VA (540-432-0187)
Dry River Hollow Road (Forest Road #151H) Pendleton County
State Wildlife Management Areas with Available Roads:
Bluestone, Burnsville Lake, Elk River, Hillcrest, Hughes River, Lewis Wetzel, McClintic, Sleepy Creek and Stonewall Jackson Lake.
