Hog Island Wildlife Management Area
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Hog Island Wildlife Management Area is a 3,908-acre area in Surry County, Virginia, managed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
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Summary
The area is situated along the James River and is known for its diverse habitats, including tidal marshes, hardwood forests, and agricultural fields.
There are several good reasons to visit Hog Island Wildlife Management Area, including birdwatching, wildlife viewing, fishing, and hunting. The area is home to over 200 species of birds, including bald eagles, ospreys, and yellow-crowned night herons. Visitors can also see a variety of mammals, such as white-tailed deer, otters, and muskrats.
Some specific points of interest to see in the area include the Hog Island Wildlife Refuge, which is closed to the public but can be viewed from the James River; the Hog Island Wildlife Observation Deck, which provides a panoramic view of the James River and the surrounding wetlands; and the Jones Creek Fishing Pier, which offers access to the James River for fishing.
Interesting facts about the area include that it was once a plantation owned by John Tyler, the tenth President of the United States, and that it was used as a military training site during World War II. The area also played a role in the conservation efforts for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.
The best time of year to visit Hog Island Wildlife Management Area depends on the visitor's interests. Spring and fall are popular for birdwatching, as migratory birds pass through the area. Summer is a good time for fishing and wildlife viewing, while winter is ideal for hunting.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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