Author Topic: Anybody close to Elkins West Virginia? (Read 627 times)

bowhunterksb32 · « **on:** June 30, 2008, 03:51:00 PM »

I'll be moving somewhere close to elkins in a month or so and am looking for people to shoot with.

If my work schedule allows I plan to atten atar this year.

Is there any ranges to shoot at close to elkins?

My brother-in -law says that there are very few deer down there and that sounds like a bummer,but am excited about all the black bear and doing some trout and smallmouth fishing.

I'm also excited about black mountain bows coming to WV .Now I can shoot one and see what all the hype is about these short bows.

Killdeer · « **Reply #1 on:** June 30, 2008, 04:01:00 PM »

I think you'll like it! Take a look at the map and see all the National Recreation Areas there are near there, and the Monongahela National Forest is huge!
There are plenty of deer there. There is also a lot of bear hunting, the locals run hounds for them, especially around the Cheat Mountain area. I hope you can make ATAR, it will give you a chance to meet a lot of your future neighbors and get the real scoop on what's what. Elkins is about an hour from where I hunt. I am majorly envious of you.

Killdeer

MarthaK · « **Reply #2 on:** June 30, 2008, 04:12:00 PM »

That makes two of us greener than a Bear bow, Killie!

I'm trying my best to get up there and fish Slaty Fork before the state makes a mess of it.

Traditionalfirst · « **Reply #3 on:** June 30, 2008, 04:12:00 PM »

Well I don't know how close I am, but I hope you enjoy it. I am in the S.W part of Va.

ALW · « **Reply #4 on:** June 30, 2008, 04:44:00 PM »

Check out the Appalachian Bowhunters Assoc. (ABA). They have a range in Randolph County not far from Elkins. It's near the Randolph/Barbour County line down Rt. 33 (Corridor H). They just moved their range up there and I hear it's a really nice place. They just had a shoot there this past weekend.

As far as hunting goes, as Killdeer said you are right near the National Forest and thousands of acres to hunt. Rugged country. Some decent trout fishing also. The deer numbers aren't as high in that area as they are in the western part of the state, but there are some big bucks to be had. And a lot of bears.

You'll enjoy that part of the state. Good fishing and hunting and a lot of sights to see. Check out Seneca Rocks, Smokehole and Seneca Caverns, Spruce Knob, Dolly Sods, Cannan Valley, ect.....the list goes on. I'm sure someone from that area will chime in soon and give you some more info. Welcome to West Virginia!

Aaron

bowhunterksb32 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 30, 2008, 05:41:00 PM »

Killdeer, Glad to here there are deer there. My brother-in-law had me worried. He's not into bowhunting as much as I am and wont' go the etra mile to find deer which may be why he says there are none. If there I can find them , now killing one thats a whole differant ballgame.lol
I've been on the WV dnr site trying to look at maps and laws .

MarthaK, slaty fork is that a river or lake?

Alw, thanks I'll check out the aba when I get there. My wife and kids are already down there and they went to smokehole caverns this past saturday and had a blast.My inlaws live in billington and my family is staying with tehm until I get there.

My brother-in-law took them to some 3d range and my little boy was telling me about. He said they saw this big rattlesnake that was dead. He gets excited when retelling sotries as most young kids do and he was telling me howclose he got to it and such. Then I find out from the wife that it was a mounted rattlesnake at the archery shop at the range.lol

Osagetree, the wife said Easton hasn't picke up the bow you made him last year or wanted to shoot his compound since you gave him the snake skin covered bow.

Killdeer · « **Reply #6 on:** June 30, 2008, 05:48:00 PM »

A fork, lick or run is a crick, stream or rill.

leatherneck · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2008, 09:43:00 PM »

Done some hunting in the Dolly Sods area and it isn't that there aren't many deer, it's just god awful thick! But there are definately some biguns. And plenty of Blk Bear. Good luck.

BTW- Don't drive a Chevy down there in those Mts. It's FORD country down there and the locals are real funny about seeing a Chevy parked on their mountain. Been a story or two about a man and his chevy never returning from the Sods. LOL

Mike

Oliverstacy · « **Reply #8 on:** June 30, 2008, 09:59:00 PM »

Elkins...interesting...wonder if it was named after a family name?

My Grandmothers maiden name was Elkins, not a common name.

Hopefully it will be a good change and I hope you’ll meet some nice people to shoot with.

Josh

bgram · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2008, 12:06:00 AM »

Kevin, I'll send up a Hello from the southern part of the state. The trout fishing is great up there, lots of streams to hit, one day I'll venture up there and fish some of them. I had to work in Hardy County a few years back, don't know about now, but the deer were thick around there, especially around Warden.

I haven't been to the ABA range, but I did meet several of their members at a club shoot down here in Beckley back in April. A lot of good fellows in there, and all the ones that came down were very good shots. I think you'll fit in with them, then we'll meet in probably April next year at the ABA range for the third annual North/South Shootout.

Try to make ATAR, alot of the guys will be down all weekend, great place to find supplies, bows, and to meet Killdeer and Bernie.

Forgot to add a link to our club, if you want to venture on down here and shoot with us, you'd be more than welcome.

http://www.tbswv.com/id18.html

Teacher_of_the_Arcane · « **Reply #10 on:** July 01, 2008, 10:18:00 AM »

bowhunterksb32

Welcome to Wild Wonderful West Virginia. I'm in Preston County about an hour forty-five minutes north. Bring your mukluks and mittens....Elkins is one of the coldest spots in West Virginia.

WildmanSC · « **Reply #11 on:** July 01, 2008, 11:04:00 AM »

bowhunterksb32,

You'll also want to take a look at Kumbrabo State Forest. It is not nearly as rugged and as thick as the Monongahela National Forest and there's pretty good deer numbers and some sizeable deer in the State Forest, too. I went up to Randolph County with a friend of mine for 20+ years until my knees got to the point that I couldn't walk the mountains anymore. We used to walk one valley that was 7 miles from one end to the other and had some fantastic spots to hunt all along it.

Bill

bowhunterksb32 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 01, 2008, 11:54:00 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Teacher_of_the_Arcane:
bowhunterksb32

Welcome to Wild Wonderful West Virginia. I'm in Preston County about an hour forty-five minutes north. Bring your mukluks and mittens....Elkins is one of the coldest spots in West Virginia.

I love snow ,but cando without extreme cold. It hardly ever snows around here anymore and if it does its usally going the next day.

bowhunterksb32 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 01, 2008, 11:59:00 AM »

wildmansc, thanks I'll check it out.This is starting to sound more like my kind of hunting. There are very few spots around here where you can walk a mile without hitting a road. I prefer to still hunt,so i'm looking forward to roaming over new country.

LJOHNS · « **Reply #14 on:** July 02, 2008, 09:21:00 PM »

I grew up in Buckhannon which is about 20 miles west of Elkins along Rt. 33. I hope to get back there some day! There are tons of deer in Upshur and Lewis counties, only 30 min. from Elkins. Elkins is a wonderful town full of great people. Welcome to the mountain state!

Killdeer · « **Reply #15 on:** July 02, 2008, 10:00:00 PM »

Just mentioning Route 33 gives me the warm fuzzies. I have run that route from Route 29 in Virginia, through Swift Run Gap and on to Harrisonburg, over Shenandoah Mountain, through Franklin, WV, Seneca Rocks and on to Elkins. Not a place on it I don't care for!

Killdeer~itchy feet!

bowhunterksb32 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 03, 2008, 01:05:00 PM »

Well it looks like my work schedule is going to make me miss atar fr the second year in a row.

The wife just called and she made it to the final 2 people for the job she's tryingto get.She has her 3rd interview wed. If she ets the job i'm wv bound.

I was really bummed about missing the great deer hunting in ohio,but now am looking forward t exploring WV. I'm going to get me a new camera before i go.

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