The Hillcrest Hunter's Package — Your Northern Panhandle Base Camp

A private, comfortable base camp on the edge of 2,212 acres of public hunting ground. Deer, turkey, wild pheasant, and small game on the Hillcrest Wildlife Management Area — right at the property line. Private hot tub. Full kitchen. Secure gear storage. And the most comfortable bed any hunter ever walked back to.

Your Hunt Starts at the Property Line

Most hunting trips start with a drive to the trailhead, a scramble for parking, and a hope that nobody beat you there.

Hillcrest is different — and this is simply the geography of the place.

The estate sits directly against the Hillcrest Wildlife Management Area: 2,212 acres of public hunting land managed by the WV Division of Natural Resources. Step off the cottage porch, or down from the Skyview cabin, and the WMA boundary is right there. Because you're already on the edge of it, you can set out on foot from the property instead of circling for a spot at one of the perimeter lots.

It's public land, open to every licensed member of the public — you hunt it on your own West Virginia license, same as anyone. We just give you a warm, private place to come back to.

Why Hillcrest WMA Is Different

Most public land in West Virginia is steep, forested ridgeline — productive, but a workout, and often crowded. Hillcrest isn't.

The terrain is open and flat to gently rolling former farmland — old fields, orchards, and croplands that hunters often compare to Midwestern farmland, unlike anything else in the northern panhandle. That open character means more visibility, more flexibility in how you set up, and a genuinely different hunt from the typical steep WV mountain experience. At over 2,000 acres, there's room to get well away from other hunters, with seven designated parking areas around the perimeter. The WVDNR actively manages the habitat — planting corn, sorghum, and wheat to support wildlife — which produces consistent game year over year. Wvoutsider

Deer

White-tailed deer is the premier big-game opportunity here. The open fields, orchard edges, and brushy cover create excellent whitetail habitat — natural food, bedding, and travel corridors between them — and the flatter terrain makes stand placement and approach far easier than steep mountain land.

Important: Hillcrest runs special deer regulations that differ from statewide rules, including its archery and muzzleloader seasons. Always confirm current dates and legal methods at wvdnr.gov before you book.

Wild Turkey

Spring and fall turkey seasons follow current WV regulations. The mix of open fields and wooded edges makes for excellent strutting and feeding habitat, and the open character makes locating and calling birds far more manageable than dense mountain forest — a tom crossing an open field to your call at first light is a memory that brings hunters back. Confirm current season dates at wvdnr.gov.

Ring-Necked Pheasant — A Genuinely Rare Hunt

This is the rarest opportunity Hillcrest offers. Hillcrest WMA holds one of the few remaining self-sustaining wild ring-necked pheasant populations in the state, and the WVDNR manages the land specifically to keep that population flourishing. The season is conservative by design — cock birds only, with a one-bird daily limit, to protect a fragile resource. Hunting wild ringnecks is something most WV hunters never get to do — a legitimate bucket-list hunt for any upland bird hunter in the region. Confirm current dates and rules at wvdnr.gov. Grokipedia + 2

Small Game — Rabbit, Squirrel, Grouse, Dove

The thick brushy edges and scattered woodlots produce excellent small game across several species — rabbit, squirrel, grouse, and mourning dove all hunt well here, on current statewide seasons. The accessible terrain and variety make it ideal for introducing younger hunters, with a warm base camp always close by. Check current seasons and limits at wvdnr.gov. West Virginia Explorer

The 100-Yard Range

Hillcrest WMA has a 100-yard shooting range — handy for sighting in your rifle or checking your bow before opening day, less than a mile from the estate. Confirm current range hours with the WVDNR before you count on it. West Virginia Explorer

Fishing

Tomlinson Run State Park — 5 minutes away. Tomlinson Run Lake is a 30-acre lake stocked with trout in early spring and holding bass, bluegill, catfish, and sunfish through the season. Rowboat and paddleboat rentals are available from the marina. A morning hunt followed by an afternoon on the lake is a complete outdoor day — five minutes between the two, no wasted driving.

For a quieter option, the South Fork of Tomlinson Run runs through the WMA itself for anyone who wants to work a secluded creek with a valid WV fishing license.

What's Included — The Hunter's Package

Add to any cottage or Skyview booking:

• Early check-in, 8am — get settled, sort gear, and be in your stand for the afternoon hunt the same day you arrive
• Late checkout, noon — hunt the full morning of your last day without rushing
• Secure gear storage — rifles, bows, decoys, and equipment locked safely in the garage all stay
• On-site game cleaning area with water access for field dressing and processing
• A warm welcome from hosts who know the area and are glad to help you get oriented to the public parking and access points

The Hillcrest Pub Experience — Optional Add-On, $50 per group

End your hunting day in our authentic 1890s pub room — pot-belly stove glowing, homemade snacks on the carved mahogany bar, and coffee, tea, and soft drinks on us. Bring your own craft beer; we'll point you to a growler from Squids Brewery in Weirton. The screened porch bar is yours for the evening, and the stories from the day always tell better over a proper pint.

Your Accommodation

The Hillcrest Manor Cottage — Sleeps 5. Two bedrooms, private hot tub, fully equipped kitchen, high-speed WiFi, covered porch. Pets welcome — bring your bird dog. The hot tub after a cold November morning is one of life's underrated pleasures. From $169/night · 2-night minimum · Pets welcome. [Book The Cottage]

The Skyview Cabin — Sleeps 4. Sits on the upper field, the closest property to the WMA boundary — walk from the deck toward the tree line. Private hot tub, covered gazebo bar, sunken fire pit, full kitchen. From $395/night · 2-night minimum · Pets welcome · Opening Fall 2026. [Reserve The Skyview Cabin]

Book Both — Group Hunting Package. Cottage and Skyview together sleep up to 9 in comfort and privacy — two hot tubs, two kitchens, one estate, one shared WMA boundary. Perfect for an annual deer camp or a friends' trip. Contact Brian for group pricing. [Contact Brian]

The Hunter's Weekend — A Sample

Thursday — Arrive. Check in at 8am. Unload, secure gear in the garage, walk the estate boundary, and get oriented to the public access points. Optional scouting walk into the WMA. Cook dinner in the kitchen, go over your map, early to bed.

Friday — First Hunt. Pre-dawn, on foot from the property line into the WMA. Midday back for a hot shower and a warm meal; gear checked for the afternoon. Evening back at Hillcrest — hot tub, and the Pub Experience if you added it, with your own cold pint at the 1890s bar.

Saturday — Full Day. Morning and afternoon hunts, the WMA yours to work. An afternoon on Tomlinson Run Lake if the fishing calls. Hot tub, dinner, another evening in the pub.

Sunday — Final Hunt. Late checkout at noon means a full last morning. Work your best stand one more time, back by 11, pack up, head home.

Licenses & Regulations

• A valid WV hunting license is required for all hunting on the Hillcrest WMA — available at wvhunt.com or through authorized agents.
• All big game (deer, turkey) must be registered through the WV electronic game check system.
• Hunter orange is required during firearms seasons.
• Hillcrest WMA carries special deer and pheasant regulations that differ from statewide rules. Always verify current seasons, legal methods, and bag limits at wvdnr.gov before your hunt.

The Hillcrest WMA is public land managed by the WV Division of Natural Resources and is open to all members of the public year-round. As we do not maintain the grounds, grass may be high at certain times of year — long pants and bug spray recommended. Follow all posted WMA rules. Hunting and fishing licenses are required for those activities; see wvdnr.gov for current regulations.

Book The Hillcrest Hunter's Package

[Book The Cottage] · [Reserve The Skyview Cabin] · [Book Both — Contact for Group Pricing] · [Add The Pub Experience]

Early check-in 8am · Late checkout noon · Secure gear storage · On-site game cleaning — all included with every Hunter's Package booking

Hillcrest Retreat · Chester, West Virginia 26034 · Bordering Historic Hillcrest Wildlife Management Area — 2,212 acres · 5 minutes from Tomlinson Run State Park · 15 minutes from Mountaineer Casino · 30 minutes from Pittsburgh Airport · Hosted by Brian and Charlene Mahaffey · 4.99 Stars · Airbnb Superhost · 100+ Five-Star Reviews