Cf Phelps Wildlife Management Area
Albina Hickel
High on the list of places to go for many outdoors enthusiasts in Northern Virginia is the intensively managed Chester F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area. Offering the opportunity to hunt, fish, canoe, hike or to pursue other outdoor activities, the Phelps is a prize example of multiple-recreation land use.
The area provides good hunting opportunities as evidenced by its high popularity with hunters. Deer and turkey populations are good. Small game in the area include doves, rabbits, quail and squirrels. Several species of ducks can be found along the Rappahannock River. To enhance hunting success, management is directed toward small game in the open, grassy-shrubby areas and for deer, turkeys and gray squirrels on the forested land. Dove fields are planted annually. Hedgerows, to further enhance wildlife use have been developed with the planting of pines and shrubs. Other management practices being used on the Phelps WMA are prescribed burning, timber harvesting, mowing and discing, and wildlife food plantings on woodland roads and clearings.
The range is located on the C. F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area in Fauquier County near Sumerduck. To get to the range take Route 651 south from Route 29 at Remington or north from Route 17 near Goldvien to Rogers Ford Road, Route 632. Following the range signs, go approximately 1 mile on Rt 632 and take a right onto the gravel hunter access road. Follow the access road and bear right at the end into the range parking area. No reservations are required. Visitors age 17 and older who do not possess a valid Virginia hunting, freshwater fishing, or trapping license, or a current Virginia boat registration, will need to purchase an Access Permit.
The three-acre pond on the Phelps area holds largemouth bass, bluegill and redear sunfish, and channel catfish. The catfish population is maintained by supplemental stockings. Anglers may also choose to fish the six to seven miles of Rappahannock River, with its combination of riffles, runs and glides, where it borders the management area. Here the Rappahannock is a unique smallmouth and redbreast sunfish river. An abundance of fallfish, some reaching 10-11 inches, can also be caught along this stretch of the river.
Wildlife viewing, hiking and nature photography are among other outdoor opportunities on the management area. Participating in or observing sporting dog field trials is a unique opportunity. The Rappahannock River, officially designated as a state scenic river, is popular for canoeing.
The Phelps Wildlife Management Area, located near the village of Sumerduck, is accessible by route 651, either south from U.S. Route 29 through the Town of Remington, or from U. S. Route 17, one mile north of Goldvein Post Office. See the map for further detail.
After fishing on the Rappahannock earlier in the day, I decided to drive north to fish at some of the other access points near Remington. The road led by the Phelps Wildlife Management Area and a neuron triggered in my brain that connected the Wildlife Management Area with stories I had heard of the bass pond situated in the middle. In short order, I saw the white pillars that marked the access road to the bass pond in front of me and I could not resist jerking the wheel hard to the left to head down the gravel road to see the pond for myself.
Not sure where it was, I stopped at the first information kiosk on the right-hand side of the road. The posted map gave clear directions and, following those, I bumped to a stop a few minutes later in a wide parking area at the top of the lake. I was immediately encouraged to see a sign that cautioned anglers that they could only keep one bass greater than 22 inches in size. Hopefully, that was an indicator of the monsters that exist in this pond. You park on the top of a ridge and walk an easy third of a mile to reach the bank of the lake.
The manager of the wildlife area has mowed a wide path leading to a similarly manicured bank. There are numerous benches positioned along the west side of the lake making this an ideal place to sit in the evening and enjoy some cool fishing. Since I had my fly rod with me, I was also happy to see that manicured bank extended a significant distance away from the edge of the lake. This assured me that my backcast would not be tangled in trees as it was at the Merrimack Wildlife Management area I had visited several weeks earlier.
On this day, the water was a bit cloudy. I imagine when the silt settles out, the action will improve. In particular, with the rains of this last week, this would be a good place to visit this coming weekend.
Getting There: From US 29, turn south on Freemans Ford Road at Remington. Bear right to stay on Rt 651 (Sumerduck Road). Follow Sumerduck to the entry marked by white brick columns approximately 7.5 miles from Remington. Turn onto the gravel road and follow it to the end.
Disclaimer and Warning: The contents of this site reflect the opinion of the author and you, the reader, must exercise care in the use and interpretation of this information. Fishing is a dangerous sport. You can slip and fall on rocks and sustain severe injury. You can drown. You can get hooks caught in your skin, face, eyes or other sensitive places. All sorts of bad things can happen to you when to go into the woods to visit the places documented here. Forests, streams and lakes are wild areas and any number of bad things can happen. You must make your own judgment in terms of acceptable behavior and risk and not rely on anything posted here. I disclaim all liability and responsibility for any actions you take as a result of reading the articles on this site. If you do not agree with this, you should not read anything posted on this site.
Douglass said the area has tree-nesting birds and water birds. The cattails provide ground nesting for marsh wrens and red-winged blackbirds. The marshes give waterfowl like mallard ducks and cinnamon teal a home. The area is used as a migratory stop for some birds, like yellow warblers. In the fall, raptors move into the area because they like to take advantage of the small mammals.
Cutler Reservoir is adjacent to the Bud Phelps WMA, and is 1,000 acres. David Eskelsen, a manager of external communications for Rocky Mountain Power, said the company is works closely with the area to help provide reasonable access to the public for recreation, including providing boat ramps. The ramps are located on the Logan and Bear Rivers, and connect to the wetland marshes of the Bud Phelps.
The three boat ramps, Douglass said, are the Valley View boat ramp, the Benson Marina boat ramp and the Cutler Canyon boat launch. Users of motorboats should know these areas are designated for wakeless speed. A table of these access points and other resources is available at
Another tip from Douglass is to read Access to Wildlife Lands in Utah, a publication by the UDWR. The publication details the purpose of the land, the lay of the land and what activities are allowable during different seasons. The publication can be accessed at www.wildlife.utah.gov/publications.
I have pass may years but nave hunt it this blog has a good point never go out alone in boat if you get stuck you have someone to help you these wildlife mentioned are good for the waterfowl for places to hunt or birdwatching marshes are a very beautiful place and should be enjoyed by all
Railroad Trail
Starting at the Benson Marina, cross the road to the south and walk eithereast or west along the Benson Road. Follow the water's edge to the abandonedrailroad pilings. This path penetrates the wetlands a little deeper to give views ofswimming waterfowl and perching birds in the bull rushes at water's edge. If you close do the loop, please be cautious of traffic.
Bud Phelps Wildlife Management Area Entrance
About three miles west of Logan on the Mendon Road (600 South from Logan, at 3600 West),look for a small Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' sign marked "Bud Phelps Wildlife Management Area East Entrance."Turn north and after a half mile turn west down a dirt road (look for black metal posts on either side of the road) to a small parking area marked as part of the Bud Phelps Wildlife Management Area. From here, you canaccess PacifiCorp's property by walking westard on the dirt road. At the end of the road, there is a corral area with gates to the south and west. Go through the west gate and feel free to wander west or north to explore the wetlands. There are nomarked trails, but you can observe songbirds, Short-eared Owls and other wildlife,including small mammals. In winter, look for tracks of small mammals and puzzleout their wanderings. Please close any gates you might open in respect of historic grazing uses of the land.
C.F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area, spanning Fauquier and Culpeper Counties in Virginia, encompasses 4,539 acres of diverse natural landscapes. Visitors can engage in activities such as hunting, fishing, primitive camping, hiking, birding, and boating on the area's open waters.
This expansive wildlife management area is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts seeking to immerse themselves in the bountiful natural resources of the region. With over 1,000 acres of accessible land, C.F. Phelps WMA offers a range of recreational opportunities amidst its upland habitats and warmwater fishing spots.
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