Hog Island Wildlife Management Area

Description

Hog Island is actually a 3,908-acre peninsula that juts into the brackish waters of the James River, creating a mosaic of tidewater habitats that include marsh, tidal channels, swamp, and beach. Agricultural fields and loblolly pine forests surround freshwater sources such as Lawnes Neck and Lower Chippokes Creek. This diversity of habitats, including the large shallow impoundments of Fishhouse Bay and Homewood Creek, attract a vast number of birds, and an exploration of the area will produce a large number of species at any time of the year. Birding the area effectively requires leaving the main road and striking off on foot along the trails that separate the peninsula’s major impoundments. Over 30 species of waterfowl and 35 species of shorebirds have been recorded at Hog Island, largely from the wetlands at the northern end of the peninsula. Large flocks of American white pelicans are common, something unique to this WMA. Birding the Carlisle Tract, south of the power plants, gives access to upland communities absent further north. Winter, perhaps the most interesting time to bird this site, brings an assortment of different birds including snow buntings, flocks of snow geese, bufflehead, mergansers, ring-necked and ruddy ducks, and large numbers of bald eagles.

To Access the Site:

• You will need to stop at the power plant’s security checkpoint and have photo identification ready. During times of high security, vehicles may be searched or access to this site may be restricted.
• A Restore the Wild Membership, Virginia hunting license, freshwater fishing license, boat registration, or an access permit is required.
• Hours: Sunrise until sunset.
  • Open Sundays, main road only: October 1 – March 15
  • All areas open daily: March 16 – September 30
• This site may be closed during certain times of year for hunting or land management. See seasonal access information on the Hog Island WMA website.
• If you are visiting this site during hunting seasons, please wear blaze orange/pink for safety.

Directions

Physical Address: 7938 Hog Island Rd, Surry, VA 23883

From Surry, head east on VA-10/Colonial Trail E, turn left onto SR-617/Bacons Castle Trail, turn right onto SR-628/Burnt Mills Rd, turn left onto SR-650/Hog Island Rd, and stop at the power plant security gate before proceeding into the WMA.