In the 1920s and 1930s, wildlife biologists concentrated on
raising game birds to help bolster low populations in the wild.
The Billmeyer WMA was purchased for this purpose and game birds
were raised in hopes that surplus populations would spread to
adjacent lands. Nearby, the Bellgrove WMA was used exclusively
for raising wild turkeys. Today this 710-acre tract in Allegany
County is no longer a game bird farm. Forests and fields abound
with wildlife, providing natural beauty and recreation for many
outdoor interests. Billmeyer is situated within the ridge and
valley physiographic province, which is characterized by steep
slopes. Elevations range from 800 feet in the hollow along
Terrapin Run to a high of 1,200 feet along the ridge tops. The
property is dominated by mixed oak forest with a few patches of
conifers, mostly Virginia pine, with about 25 acres in fields or
small wildlife openings. What To See Turkeys are abundant here.
Hens with their chicks, called "poults," can often be seen
pecking through the