Blog · October 14, 2026 · West Virginia
McDowell County Hunting Map (West Virginia)
Owner lookups, public ground and permission tips for hunters around Anawalt.
Main page: McDowell County, WV GIS & Parcel Viewer (official map link, McDowell County facts and neighboring maps).
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Scouting McDowell County hunting map from a desk saves a lot of driving around Davy and Welch. The McDowell County, WV parcel map does that for free, with no login.
This guide goes from the McDowell County parcel map to a polite permission request for ground near Welch, with notes on public land and regulations.
How to use the McDowell County hunting map
On the West Virginia Property Viewer, scan the wooded draws and creek bottoms near Anawalt and click each tract you like; the record lists the owner of record and mailing address. Write down the parcel ID, owner name and mailing address for each tract around Gary, then rank them by cover, access and size.
Step one: the free McDowell County viewer
For McDowell County, the free public parcel layer is state-run: open the West Virginia Property Viewer and pan to Bradshaw. Choose McDowell County, then click a parcel near Anawalt to see its district, map and parcel number. For a backup route to the map covering Bradshaw, our McDowell County directory entry keeps the link current.
Public land, private land and the rules in West Virginia
Most hunting ground around Gary is private, so in McDowell County the parcel map matters more than a public-land atlas. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources publishes the season dates, license rules and public-land maps that apply around Gary.
How to approach an owner near Gary
Offer the owner near Berwind something useful: a copy of your license, proof of insurance if you lease, and a promise to report problems you see. Trespass rules vary by state, so check West Virginia law before assuming unposted land near Anawalt is open.
Keeping track of McDowell County landowners
Look for travel corridors that cross several owners near Berwind; permission from two neighbors can make a small tract hunt bigger. A thank-you card and some of the harvest go a long way with county owners near Welch.
What McDowell County owners want to hear
Terrain around Cumberland Mountains changes how McDowell County tracts lay out, and steep or wet ground near Bradshaw commonly stays in large wooded parcels. A postseason note to the owner near Berwind, with what you saw on the county ground, is useful next year's request.
The McDowell County economy in brief
County Business Patterns counted 196 business establishments in McDowell County for 2022, led by retail trade, health care and social assistance, and other services. Mining (except oil and gas) and forestry and logging make up an above-average share of McDowell County businesses, a clue to how land around Gary gets used.
From Welch to the back roads
Town lots cluster around Welch, the county seat, and Gary, Keystone, Anawalt, and Bradshaw. Unincorporated communities in the county, including Bartley, Berwind, and Big Sandy, display up as small groups of parcels along the roads. Roughly 533 square miles of land and about 17,439 residents (2023 estimate) make up McDowell County. Outside Keystone, most of the county map is farm, ranch or timber ground with large, irregular tracts. The Cumberland Mountains and Appalachian Mountains give parts of McDowell County parcel shapes that follow the terrain. McDowell County was organized in 1858, so deeds for older farms near Bradshaw can run back a long way.
Lines, GPS and posted land
Phone GPS near Anawalt can drift, especially under timber, so give the line a buffer when you set a stand.
Quick answers for McDowell County
Does the McDowell County parcel map display hunting boundaries?
Not really; the viewer for McDowell County only tells you who holds the land, so ask well before you go.
How do I write a hunting permission letter to a McDowell County landowner?
Give the county parcel ID for the land near Berwind, your game, your dates and a number to call.
Do I need permission to hunt land near Welch that isn't posted?
Always get permission; posting rules vary in West Virginia, and the owner of land near Welch decides who hunts.
Can I lease hunting land in McDowell County?
Many owners near Welch lease by the season; put the terms, boundaries and liability in a written agreement.
How do I find who owns hunting land in McDowell County?
Click the tract on the West Virginia Property Viewer; the McDowell County record lists the owner of record and a mailing address.
Open the official McDowell County, WV parcel map McDowell County in the Platbookmapper directory
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey, especially for fences, setbacks, or boundary disputes.