Big Woods Wildlife Management Area, Wildlife management area in Sussex County, US

Big Woods Wildlife Management Area covers 4,173 acres in Sussex County, Virginia, in two tracts: a 2,208-acre main tract beside Big Woods State Forest and the 1,965-acre Parker's Branch tract nearby. The main tract is covered by pine forest, while much of Parker's Branch holds recently cut timber stands to be replanted with longleaf pine.

The land was originally owned by a paper company for timber operations and was acquired by The Nature Conservancy in 2006. This transition marked a shift from industrial use to wildlife conservation.

The name comes from the large contiguous pine woods the tract protects. Management plants longleaf pine, installs nesting boxes and uses prescribed burns to improve habitat for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker, whose range continues into the adjoining Piney Grove Preserve. Hunters pursue bobwhite quail, white-tailed deer, eastern wild turkeys, pheasant, fox and red squirrels.

Visitors aged 17 and older typically need a valid hunting, fishing, or specific access permit to enter the management area. It is wise to check access rules and best visiting times before planning your trip.

The management area consists of two separate sections with distinct landscape types and habitats. This spatial arrangement allows different ecosystems and wildlife species to be managed within a single conservation program.