Late Season Hunting and Trapping

There isn’t much time left in the West Virginia hunting season.   Most of the more popular big game hunting ended when the calendar switched New Year’s Eve, but for those suffering cabin fever there are still opportunities to get afield and enjoy West Virginia‘s outdoor pursuits.

Rabbit hunting is one of the more popular pastimes during the winter months.    Rabbits tend to be easier to track in the snowfall and during a heavy storm will be more readily spotted in a sitting position–enabling hunters who choose not to use dogs an opportunity for a shot with a .22 rifle.

"This is really one of my favorite times of the year," said Biologist Chris Ryan. "This 50-60 degree weather, the rabbits are really out and we’ve had a fair amount of moisture which holds the scent real well and the dogs can pick it up and have some great runs."

West Virginia doesn’t have the rabbits it had 20 to 30 years ago, but Ryan says that’s largely blamed on a decline in the amount of habitat.   Farmers aren’t clearing land and creating brush piles like they did in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.  Today those places which were once havens for cottontails are now growing into mature stands of timber.  

Hunters may also choose to spend a day or two grouse hunting before the season closes at the end of February.  Grouse, like the rabbits, have suffered from a decline of suitable habitat.  Early succession forests are few and far between with the absence of any major timber cutting in the state.   The grouse has suffered more than most species from the decline.  It’s left them with far less ground for nesting and makes it hard for young grouse chicks to survive.   

Predator hunting continues to be a growing area of popularity among West Virginia hunters.  Coyote numbers seem to be forever increasing.  There’s no limit on coyotes, no season dates, and between now and July 1 you can hunt them at night with an amber spotlight.    Hunters are learning coyote calling can be one of the most difficult challenges in the wild.

Trappers are also finding fairly good success this year.   Trapping has enjoyed resurgence in popularity in the last few years.  More and more are taking up the pastime as the numbers of coyotes have increased.   However, it’s been a new target on the list trappers have been looking for this year.

"This is the first year we’ve ever had an otter season and a lot of guys have been very excited about that," said Ryan. "This is also the best time of year for beaver trapping."

The otter was reintroduced to West Virginia about 20-years ago and numbers have multiplied to allow trapping of the critters around West Virginia streams.    The limit this year is one otter annually.   DNR officials say they believe about 60 otters have been caught by trappers in the state this season.  

The slower pace of winter outdoor activities also provides a grand opportunity for getting youngsters involved. 

"This is a really good time, especially with the weather we’ve had, to get younger hunters out there rabbit hunting," said Ryan. "It’s really fun to have a kid out there and running the dogs.   It’s important to get them early and teach them really good and safe hunting methods."