High on the list of places to go for many outdoors men and women in Northern Virginia is the intensively managed Chester F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area. Offering the opportunity to hunt, fish, canoe, hike or to pursue other outdoor activities, the Phelps is a prize example of multiple-recreation land use. Most of the management area’s 4,539 acres are in southern Fauquier County with the balance being in Culpeper County. Over 1,000 of these acres are open, the result of their past use for agriculture. Additional openings are found within the area’s forested land. Most of the area is rolling with low hills and shallow valleys. The steepest land occurs near the Rappahannock River which years ago created the property’s sandy, level bottomland, and now forms much of the property’s western boundary. Several small streams cross the area and a three acre pond is located near the center of the property. The forested portion of the management area consists of both pine and hardwood, and ranges in age from seedling to mature hardwood. Hunting The area provides good hunting opportunities as evidenced by its high popularity with hunters. Deer and turkey populations are good. Small game in the area include doves, rabbits, quail and squirrels. Several species of ducks can be found along the Rappahannock River. To enhance hunting success, management is directed toward small game in the open, grassy-shrubby areas and for deer, turkeys and gray squirrels on the forested land. Dove fields are planted annually. Hedgerows, to further enhance wildlife use have been developed with the planting of pines and shrubs. Other management practices being used on the Phelps WMA are prescribed burning, timber harvesting, mowing and discing, and wildlife food plantings on woodland roads and clearings.