Hunters with disabilities 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 Paul Johansen, 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,” Johansen said. “This highly successful program provides hunting access for sportsmen and women who need accommodations. 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 also must 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. 15 and Dec. 26 and 27, 2016. 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 hunters with disabilities and welcome comments and suggestions from participants. 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:
Cheat Ranger District
- Forest Road #933 Godwin Road – U.S. Route 219 south from Parsons, near the community of Moore. Turn north onto F.R. 933. Gated portion starts on left at top of ridge.
- #973 – Brushy Fork – From Parsons, take Route 17 north to Route 21 west, then west onto Route 8. FR 973 is on the left.
- #153 / 153A — Five Lick – Take U.S. 33 east from Elkins to Wymer. Turn north onto State Route 10 and drive about 2.5 miles. Turn left onto Forest Road 153.
Potomac Ranger District
- #814 Back Ridge – Drive west of Circleville on State Route 28 for 5.8 miles. Turn right on S.R. 28/10 and drive for 3.2 miles. Road 814 is on the left.
Greenbrier Ranger District
- #385 / 183B Little Beech Mountain – From Elkins, take U.S. 33 east approximately 10 miles to State Route 27 at Alpena. Turn right on S.R. 27 and go about 12 miles to Glady. Turn left onto S.R. 22 and go about 3 miles to F.R. 385 on the right.
- #224 Span Oak – From Bartow, take US. 250 east approx. 2 miles to State Rt. 28. Turn left on Rt. 28 and go about 2 miles, turn left on FR 14 (near 4-H Camp above Thornwood), go approx. 3.8 miles, turn left on S.R. 250/4 and go about 4 miles to FR 224 on the right.
Marlinton Ranger District
- #300 Marlin Mountain – From Marlinton, drive east on State Route 39 for 4 miles. Turn left onto S.R. 28. Drive 5 miles to F.R. 300 on the left.
- #251 Crooked Fork – From Marlinton, take U.S. 219 north approximately 12 miles. F.R. 251 is on the left.
White Sulphur Ranger District
- #298 Panther Ridge – From White Sulphur Springs, drive north on State Route 92 8.8 miles to S.R. 16, Blue Bend Road. Turn left and bear left at Camp Wood for 3.4 miles to Rocky Run Road. Turn right and drive uphill for 2.3 miles. Turn left onto F.R. 298 to gate just beyond the top of the hill.
- #882 Bear Track – From White Sulphur Springs, drive north on State Route 92 14.8 miles to S.R. 14, Lake Sherwood Road. Turn right and drive 3.7 miles to Rucker Gap Road. Turn right and drive uphill 0.8 miles. Turn left on F.R. 882.
Gauley Ranger District
- #731 Frosty Gap – From Richwood, follow Rt. 39/55 east toward Marlinton approximately 20 miles. Turn left onto F.R. 232 and drive to the top. F.R. 731 is on the left.
- #273 Buckeye Branch – Take FR# 76 (Cranberry Road) to Big Rock campground and turn left onto FR# 81. Follow FR# 81 until you pass through an area of private camps, and FR# 273 is about a mile past on the left.
State Wildlife Management Areas with Available Roads
- Bluestone Lake, Burnsville Lake, Elk River, Hillcrest, Hughes River, Lewis Wetzel, Little Indian Creek, McClintic, Sleepy Creek and Stonewall Jackson Lake.
