Date: 2/14/25 5:15 pm
From: Wayne Hoffman (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...>
Subject: Re: Come bird the gamelands in Virginia (and Delaware)—DON’T
Hi -

Similar situation at Summer Lake WMA in Oregon, awesome birding area BTW, Except the country store 1 mile away was a vendor for hunting licenses, and for access permits - had a terminal hooked up to ODFW's computer system for license sales - and so permits were available any time the store was open (as I remember, about 70 hrs/week?). And the permit was annual, and good for all Oregon WMAs.

Wayne


From: "Edmund LeGrand" <carolinabirds...>
To: "carolinabirds" <carolinabirds...>
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2025 7:20:55 PM
Subject: Come bird the gamelands in Virginia (and Delaware)—DON’T

It seems like having to get a permit to visit gamelands in NC is popular. So how does someone just briefly visiting or passing through manage? One of my memorable introductions to Virginia a few years ago involved checking out a wildlife management area. I was greeted by a big wooden sign saying “WELCOME” followed by “Entry by permit only. Apply at …. .gov.” No way to pay at the site.

A couple of years ago when I was birding in coastal Delaware, I wanted to check out the famous Assawoman Wildlife Management Area—same thing (without the “Welcome” on the sign). No way to pay on site.

In Virginia we even have nasty red signs at boat launches saying to pay the access (for parking) fee online. (Good luck getting to the Shenandoah River in my area without advance planning. There’s always the state park for a $10 entrance fee—at least you can pay somebody on the spot.)

Tourist friendly?

Edmund LeGrand
Fauquier Co., VA


 
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