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Locating new game lands

By Tony Robinson | Sportsman

Published: January 16, 2009

One of the thrills of the chase for hunters is the adventure of going to a new location. After all, getting there can sometimes be half the fun.
Often, the opportunity to explore new hills and valleys is worth the price of the trip itself. In recent years, North Carolina, in cooperation with many conservation minded organizations, has done a tremendous job in helping preserve what few wild and natural places we have left.
The bulk of these new properties have been divided between two state agencies, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and State Parks. Properties under the jurisdiction of the WRC are designated as game lands. With very few exceptions, all game lands are equally available for public access by foot year round.
In years past, the commission has provided a free map book of current game lands. This book was published yearly and available at license agents. Due to the cost, a couple years back the commission began charging a $10 fee for the book. While there have been some nice enhancements to the book in recent years, the main reason to get one is to have maps of new game lands. While it is hard to beat having a hard copy of something in your hand to read, a digital version of these maps is available for free through the WRC's Web site.
Scanning through this information a few months back, I came across a new section of game lands in the northern part of Buncombe County. The game lands was added to the program during the 2007-08 hunting season. Named the Sandy Mush Game Lands, this 2,600-acre tract of rolling hills offers sportsmen a vast array of opportunities.
The property borders the French Broad River along the Buncombe and Madison County lines. It is composed of old farmlands and is a mixture of fields and hardwoods. It offers deer, turkey and even an occasional bear as well as good small game hunting.
The commission has developed between 40 and 50 acres for dove hunting, and this has been quite successful.
But it was the prospect of rabbit hunting on Sandy Mush that appealed to me. The problem was how to actually find the tract and gain access to it.
What worked for me was implementing some of the new technologies that are available at an affordable price. While viewing the online version of the game lands map of the area, I opened my mapping and GPS software from Delorme. The company allows you, for a very small subscription fee, to have access to downloadable color aerial photos of almost any spot in the country.

Looking at the game lands map, I managed to locate aerial photomaps of the same area. By carefully comparing the two maps, I was able to draw the general outline of the game lands boundary line, by computer, onto my aerial photomap. I then transferred this to my laptop, which has a small GPS receiver.

I was then ready to hit the road and let the GPS guide me to the Game Lands.

During the early part of fall I visited the Sandy Mush Game Lands.

Driving around the perimeter of the area, I found that my laptop map matched the actual boundary line within a few feet. In addition, the GPS module on the laptop meant that I could drive to any section of the property I wanted.

As a result, I found that a large portion of the property was ideal for rabbit hunting. So a couple weeks ago, a group of four McDowell County hunters and myself headed out for the short drive just before sunrise.

To get there, we traveled Interstate 40 West to Asheville, and then took I-240 West to West Asheville. After crossing the French Broad River, we traveled another mile-and-a-half.

Then, we turned right on U.S. 63, the New Leicester Highway. After about eight miles, we turned right on Alexander Road. After about three miles, we turned left on Tipton Hill Road. Griffin Branch Road was one-third mile on right. This road accesses the game lands. Two more miles on Tipton Hill Road, and we turned left on Old N.C. 20.

One mile later we gained access to a large portion of the land. Traveling back up Old N.C. 20 and turning left, we were then on Cedar Hill Road.

After two miles, it dead-ended on the game lands.

With a copy of the game lands map and these directions you should be able to access this great new addition. You should keep in mind that the Sandy Mush Game Lands are only open on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday during the regular seasons.

Tony Robinson can be reached at decoydoc@charter.net.