Page 85 - 2013-14-PHO

Game Land: Pisgah Acreage: 40,795

Tracts: Daniel Boone Bear Sanctuary

General Location: Approximately 2 miles south of Linville and 8 miles north of Morganton. Primary access roads include N.C. 181 and Forest Service Routes (FSR) 464, 982, 210, 496, 228. Primary drainages include Lost Cove, Harper, Upper and Steels Creeks. Contact the U.S.D.A. Forest Service at 828-652-2144 for current road closures and conditions.

Closest Municipalities: Morganton, Lenoir, Linville, and Pineola (Lodging available in municipalities)

County: Avery, Burke, and Caldwell

GPS Coordinates (NAD 83):

36º 01’ 18” N 81º 49’ 24” W (Lost Cove Creek) 35º 59’ 13” N 81º 47’ 40” W (Harper Creek) 35º 56’ 20” N 81º 48’ 57” W (Upper Creek) 35º 54’ 51” N 81º 50’ 33” W (Steels Creek)

Camping Allowed: Yes, contact U.S.D.A. Forest Service at 828-652-2144 for details.

Closest Boat Access Area: N/A

Game Land Map: Refer to www.ncwildlife.org

General Terrain Characteristics: The topography is very steep and rugged across the entire area. Mixed upland hardwoods are predominant on the entire area. Mountain laurel thickets are common on ridges, and a dense understory of rhododendron is typically found along the streams.

Special Equipment Needs: In addition to normal hunting gear, the following items may be helpful: • GPS, waterproof leather boots with lug soles, binoculars, topographical map, portable stand/blind, compass, game hauler or backpack.

Bear FAQ:

• Can I hunt bear with dogs? Yes.

Game Land: Pond Mountain Acreage: 1,973

Tracts: Pond Mountain Game Land

General Location: From West Jefferson travel N.C. 88 to Warrensville. Turn right onto N.C. 194 and travel to Lansing. From Lansing continue straight onto S. Big Horse Creek Rd. and travel the following roads: from S. Big Horse Creek Rd. turn left onto East Little Horse Creek Rd., then turn left onto Joe Hampton Rd. which becomes Stansberry Rd., then turn left onto Little Horse Creek Rd. which becomes Coy Ham Rd., then turn left onto Fairview Church Rd., then turn right onto Rock Fence Rd. Entrance to the tract is provided from Rock Fence Rd.

Closest Municipalities: Jefferson, West Jefferson (Lodging available in municipalities)

County: Ashe

GPS Coordinates (NAD 83): 36° 33’ 01.6” N 081° 38’ 32.3” W (tract entrance)

Camping Allowed: Yes, in designated campground only.

Closest Boat Access Area: N/A

Game Land Map: Refer to www.ncwildlife.org

General Terrain Characteristics: Pond Mountain Game Land is located in northwest Ashe County adjacent the Tennessee and Virginia borders. Elevations range from 4,000 to 5,000 ft. above sea level. Approximately 700 acres of the tract is open and not forested. Of these 700 acres, approxi-mately 500 acres is a working Christmas tree farm. The former owners will continue to oper-ate the Christmas tree farm through 2016. The forested portion of the tract is northern hard-wood forest which is dominated by sugar maple, beech, buckeye, yellow birch, and northern red oak. The headwaters of Big Horse Creek drain the northerly slope of the game land while the headwaters of Big Laurel Creek drain the southerly slope of the property. The topography ranges from moderate to steep. Due to its high elevation, the climate at Pond Mountain is more characteristic of that typically found at much more northerly latitudes.

Special Equipment Needs: In addition to normal hunting gear, the following items may be helpful: • GPS, binoculars, topographical map, waterproof boots with lug soles, compass, game hauler, portable stand/blind, clothing suitable for extreme cold, snow, and high winds from late fall through winter.

Other Information:

• An approximately 500 acre Christmas tree farm is located on Pond Mountain Game Land and will be in operation through 2016. Hunters should be aware that farm workers are subject to be working on the property at any time. Hunters should plan to avoid hunting near areas where Christmas trees are being harvested or where any farming operations are taking place. • The climate at Pond Mountain Game Land is much more like that found in the northern USA or southern Canada and is subject to rapid change. Hunters should be aware of this and

81 Refer to the N.C. Inland Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping Regulations Digest for regulations and local laws.