Blog · October 14, 2026 · West Virginia
Preston County Hunting Map in West Virginia
Owner lookups, public ground and permission tips for hunters around Masontown.
Main page: Preston County, WV GIS & Parcel Viewer (official map link, Preston County facts and neighboring maps).
Platbookmapper is an Amazon Associate. If you buy through an Amazon link on this page, we earn a commission. The link is a product, not the county map.
Every season, hunters around Bruceton Mills ask the same thing about Preston County hunting map: who do I call? The free Preston County parcel viewer shows owner names and acreage, and the state wildlife agency covers seasons and public land.
This guide goes from the Preston County parcel map to a polite permission request for ground near Newburg, with notes on public land and regulations.
How to use the Preston County hunting map
The West Virginia Property Viewer is the free tool for Preston County hunting map scouting: imagery shows cover and water, parcel lines show who owns each block near Afton. Big ownership blocks near Masontown mean fewer letters to write; small splits mean more neighbors to ask.
Step one: the free Preston County viewer
Preston County parcels are viewed through a statewide map, the West Virginia Property Viewer; zoom toward Albright to reach them. In the statewide viewer, select Preston County and search an owner or a Reedsville address. For a backup route to the map covering Reedsville, our Preston County directory entry keeps the link current.
Public and private ground in Preston County
Monongahela National Forest and Cathedral State Park are part of the county landscape, and checking which side of a line you're on matters near Reedsville. Regulations change every year, so confirm Preston County seasons and public access with West Virginia Division of Natural Resources well before you go.
Asking a Preston County landowner for permission
Offer the owner near Afton something useful: a copy of your license, proof of insurance if you lease, and a promise to report problems you see. Get permission in writing if you can, and carry it while hunting the Preston County tract.
Picking tracts to ask about near Brandonville
Mid-sized tracts close to Brandonville with mixed timber and fields are where many Preston County hunters focus first. Owners near Brandonville change, so recheck the county record before each season's letters.
Cover, water and owners in Preston County
Wooded draws and field edges near Albright tend to stay in larger Preston County parcels that are worth a closer look. A postseason note to the owner near Afton, with what you saw on the county ground, is useful next year's request.
Work and land use in Preston County
Preston County's 2022 business count was 493 establishments, with construction, retail trade, and other services the largest groups. Compared with national shares, Preston County leans toward forestry and logging and wood product manufacturing, which shapes demand for land near Brandonville.
The lay of the land around Kingwood
Kingwood is the county seat, and Albright, Brandonville, Bruceton Mills, and Masontown are among the other towns on the county map. Unincorporated communities in the county, including Arthurdale, Aurora, and Afton, show up as small groups of parcels along the roads. Preston County had an estimated 34,099 people in 2023 (Census Bureau), spread across about 649 square miles. The Preston County map mixes subdivision lots near Albright with farm and wooded tracts farther out.
Near the Preston County line
Preston County borders Garrett County, MD, Fayette County, PA, Barbour County, Grant County, and Monongalia County, and each keeps its own parcel map and records. Every map bordering Preston County is listed on our West Virginia directory.
Lines, GPS and posted land
The Preston County parcel lines are approximate; where a fence or posted signs near Afton disagree with the map, stay on the safe side.
Preston County hunting land questions
Does the Preston County parcel map show hunting boundaries?
No; the county map shows ownership, not hunting access, so permission still comes from the owner near Bruceton Mills.
Is there public hunting land in Preston County?
Check the public hunting maps from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources; they show which areas in and near Preston County are open and under what rules.
What should I say when asking to hunt land near Afton?
Short works best near Afton: your name, the county tract, the season and a promise to follow the rules.
Can I hunt unposted land in Preston County without permission?
Always get permission; posting rules vary in West Virginia, and the owner of land near Albright decides who hunts.
How do hunting leases work near Albright?
A lease on county ground near Bruceton Mills is a private deal; write down dates, game, guests and insurance.
Open the official Preston County, WV parcel map Preston 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.