Below is a news release from the West Virginia Department of Natural Resources.
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) has utilized proceeds from a February lottery wild boar hunt to purchase a UTV in support of the ongoing Elk Restoration Project.
In conjunction with Natural Resource Partners (NRP), a special hunt was held between February 5-7 on NRP private lands in southern West Virginia. To be entered into the lottery, resident WV hunters were required to submit an application through the WVDNR licensing system and pay a $10 non-refundable fee. Monies from the application fee benefited a variety of WVDNR programs, including the Elk Restoration Project.
“The UTV will be used almost daily on the Elk Project as we continue to monitor the population through the calf drops this summer,” said WVDNR Elk Project Leader Randy Kelley. “It will also be invaluable during the winter months when we deploy new GPS collars. The UTV has proven to be less destructive to area roads when they are wet.”
In total, 1,763 hunters entered the boar hunt lottery with 200 being chosen to participate. Over the three-day hunt, 65 boars were harvested in Boone and Logan counties.
“We were excited and honored to offer this special lottery hunt to resident hunters because there are limited places in West Virginia where you can hunt wild boar,” said WVDNR Director Stephen McDaniel. “We are extremely grateful for Natural Resource Partners offering this private hunting land to the citizens of West Virginia.”
In 2016, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation provided funding and volunteer manpower to help successfully restore elk to their historic West Virginia range.
(Photo source: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources)