ATHENS, Ohio - Hunters and other outdoor recreation enthusiasts can continue enjoying open access to more than 40,000 acres in southern Ohio thanks to a newly signed, five-year agreement between MeadWestvaco Corporation and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
The new wildlife management agreement provides hunting access to 40,134 acres of MeadWestvaco forest land in Ross, Hocking, Vinton, Jackson, Pike, Scioto and Adams counties.
MeadWestvaco and the ODNR Division of Wildlife have cooperated since 1961 to provide opportunities for hunters, anglers and other wildlife enthusiasts.
Under the new, five-year agreement, MeadWestvaco, with the assistance of the ODNR Division of Wildlife, will continue managing its lands to enhance the forest ecosystem, while improving habitat for populations of both game and non-game wildlife species.
Specific information on available land within the agreement soon will be available on the Internet at ohiodnr.com and www.meadwestvaco.com
Under the new agreement, ODNR will continue assisting MeadWestvaco in the control of litter, off-road vehicle use, vandalism, timber trespass, boundary line delineation, and camping. Wildlife officers will also enforce the same regulations on these lands as on any other public land.