WEST VIRGINIA LAWS & REGULATIONS

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Wondering What The West Virginia Hunting Laws and Regulations Are?

The WV Department of Natural Resources is to protect and enhance Oregon’s fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations. When hunting season begins, all hunters must have a valid hunting license along with other required permits and stamps depending on the hunted specie. It is unlawful to surpass the daily limit along with hunting game on private land without permission. It is also unlawful to hunt in a powered-on vehicle or shoot 100 yds near a public road or an occupied building. No hunter shall sell, buy, import, export, any game animal unless a permit is on hand as well as destroy natural habitats of the game. State law also prohibits the use of artificial light, night visions devisions, as well as any aircrafts as an aid to locate wild game.

*Visit Department of Natural Resources of Virgina Regulations Guidebook For More Information*

FEATURED ANIMALS

BLACK BEAR

The Black Bear is the one of the most hunted big game animal in West virginia. To have a successful hunt during the bear season, all hunters must have a hunting license, bear tags, and harvest records. Each person killing a bear must attach a completed field tag to the bear or remain with the bear and have upon their person a completed field tag before moving the carcass from where it was killed. Hunters are required to submit a first premolar tooth from each black bear that they kill. Two black bear may be taken during the archery; crossbow; Special Youth, Class Q/QQ and Class XS; and firearms seasons combined, provided that at least one bear must be taken in Boone, Fayette, Kanawha, Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Nicholas, Preston, Raleigh or Wyoming counties. No person may take more than one bear per day. The use of dogs for bear hunting is illegal during the bear archery and crossbow seasons

General Season: Sept. 26 – Dec. 31, 2020
Archery Season: Aug. 29 – Dec. 31, 2020

*Seasons differ based on choice of hunting method and aid of dogs in different zones – Visit West Virginia’s Bear Seasons for specific dates*

WHITE-TAILED DEER

The White-Tailed Deer is also a common hunt in West Virginia. To obtain a successful deer season, all hunters must have a valid hunting license along with required stamps. Each person killing a deer must attach a completed field tag to the deer or remain with the deer and have upon their person a completed field tag before moving the carcass from where it was killed. A hunter may harvest two deer on the same day, but only one antlered buck may be harvested on the same day. A hunter may take no more than three antlered deer during the regular deer seasons and the following Mountaineer Heritage Season combined. Persons hunting in counties or portions thereof where a deer firearms season is presently open shall wear a blaze orange outer garment of at least 400 square inches.

General Season: Nov. 23 – Dec. 20, 2020
Archery Season: Sept. 26 – Dec. 31, 2020

*Seasons differ on antlerless & bucks in different locations – Visit West Virginia’s Deer Seasons for more information*

WILD BOAR

Boar hunting is a popular hunt in West Virginia. To hunt wild boar, hunters must possess one of the following base licenses or license combinations: Class X, Class XJ, Class AHJ, Class XS, Class AB-L, Class A-L or Classes A+BG+CS Classes AH+BG+CS. Wild boar may be taken during wild boar seasons with a bow, a crossbow or with firearms legal in West Virginia for taking deer. Boar hunters are required to wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange over his or her outer clothing while hunting in a county or part thereof open during a deer firearms season. All boar killed must be electronically registered within 24 hours of harvest. The limit of boar is one (1) boar per season.

General Season: Oct. 24 – Feb. 7, 2021
Archery Season: Sept. 26 – Feb. 7, 2021

*Seasons differ based on location – Visit West Virginia’s Boar Seasons for more information*