Explore what's right in your back yard

A naturally landscaped back yard brings nature to our doorsteps, but birders and other outdoor enthusiasts often enjoy wandering untamed lands where they can enjoy a wilder experience.
State and national parks provide such opportunities, but most states offer other parcels of public land for all to appreciate. They may be called state game lands, wildlife management areas or wildlife areas, but they have two things in common: They exist because hunters paid for them, and they're open to the public.
State wildlife agencies purchase land with funds from hunting licenses and federal excise taxes levied on guns and ammunition. Using hunters' dollars to purchase state game lands insures that hunters without access to private land have a place to hunt.
State by state
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, for example, manages more than 1.4 million acres of wildlife management areas. That's 8 percent of the land area of the entire state. The Pennsylvania Game Commission also owns about 1.4 million acres of state game lands. And the Ohio Division of Wildlife manages more than 181,000 acres. Every state owns similar blocks of land purchased with funds provided by hunters.
Although such state lands are open to the public, common sense dictates that they be left to hunters during hunting seasons, especially deer and turkey seasons. But the rest of the year they're open to many types of public use, though overnight camping is usually not permitted.
So if you've ever hiked or watched wildlife on a state wildlife area, thank a hunter. It's hunters' dollars, not general tax revenue, that makes these areas possible. Better yet, buy a hunting license each year. License fees vary from state to state, but $20 to $30 is typical. It seems a small price to pay to help keep these vast areas open to the public. And if you buy a license, you'll feel like you're paying your own way.
And then there's federal land. Everyone knows about national parks, but national wildlife refuges, national forests and wilderness areas are scattered across the country providing recreational opportunities for all sorts of outdoor activities.
Since 1934, hunters of migratory birds have been required to purchase a Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp. More commonly called "duck stamps," these stamps originally sold for $1; today the price is $15, and they can be purchased at most post offices and many outdoor stores.
Ninety-eight percent of every duck stamp dollar goes directly to purchase or lease wetlands for the National Wildlife Refuge System (www.fws.gov/refuges). To date, the program has raised more than $670 million for the acquisition of more than 5.2 million acres of wetland habitat. Total acreage managed by the National Wildlife Refuge System exceeds 96 million acres.
Yes, they're open
And yes, wildlife refuges are open to the public. Last year nearly 40 million birders, hikers, hunters, botanists and anglers visited the nation's refuges. So if you enjoy refuge land, buy a duck stamp and support the system. It's a pass into any refuge that charges an entrance fee and a striking piece of miniature wildlife art.
Every American who enjoys the outdoors should also know about the National Forest System. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service (www.fs.fed.us) manages 155 National Forests and 20 National Grasslands, a total of more than 193 million acres. That's approximately an area the size of Texas.
Finally, there's America's wilderness (www.wilderness.net) -- more than 100 million acres in 44 states managed by the Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Forest Service and the National Park Service. Only Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, Rhode Island and Maryland lack designated wilderness areas. Most wilderness (54 percent) is in Alaska, but these lands are among our most precious resources. They are lands untouched by the hand of man.
When you feel confined by your back yard and yearn to ramble, think public land. There's almost certainly a piece of state or federal land within an hour's drive of your front door.
XSend questions and comments to Dr. Scott Shalaway, R.D. 5, Cameron, W.Va. 26033 or via e-mail to sshalaway @aol.com