CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Proposals for the coming big game seasons in West Virginia include minimal changes to the antlerless hunting season ,new modifications for bear hunting on the National Forest, and a proposal for trappers involving otters. There’s also a proposal to modify the Mountaineer Heritage season in the four archery only counties in southern West Virginia.
The presentation from biologists with the DNR’s Game Management Division to the Natural Resources Commission during their March 12th meeting called for four changes to the antlerless hunting season for this fall in Wood, Fayette, Raleigh, and Pendleton Counties.
Wood County is being removed from the special regulation status to a bag limit of three antlerless deer. There will be no requirement to kill an antlerless deer before the harvest of a second buck.
Pendleton County would be moved to a bag limit of three antlerless deer with special regulations after being added to the CWD containment zone.
Biologists propose changes to the antlerless regulations in western Fayette and western Raleigh Counties. In those areas, under the proposal there, would be a limit of one antlerless deer.
The changes to West Virginia’s bear hunting regulations are minimal with only one change proposed. Biologists propose a special lottery hunt for black bears from August 29th through September 7th. The lottery for the 10 day hunt with guns would be with or without dogs and would pertain to Mingo, Logan, McDowell, and Wyoming Counties. The four-week gun season in those counties during the month of December would be unchanged from last year.
There is a proposal to adapt the Mountaineer Heritage season in those four counties where only archery is allowed for deer hunting. The proposal would allow for the use of a percussion side lock rifle or pistol, flintlock rifle or pistol be legal for hunting bear and wild turkey in Mingo, Logan, McDowell, and Wyoming Counties during the Mountaineer Heritage season. Deer during the season in those counties could still only be taken with a long bow or recurve bow.
One other proposed regulation change will be for trappers. The game management unit proposes the limit for otters be increased to two per day and a possession limit of two per season. The regulation however would not be in effect until the 2027-2028 trapping season.
All of the proposed game law changes will be put out for public comment in the Sportsman’s sectional meetings. Those have been rescheduled for March 17 and 18 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, March 17
- Farmington – WVDNR District 1 Office
- Alum Creek – Forks of Coal District 5 Office
- Parkersburg – WVDNR District 6 Office
Wednesday, March 18
- Romney – South Branch Inn
- Beckley – Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center
- Elkins – WVDNR Operations Center
Sportsmen attending the meeting will also find an additional question on the questionnaire:
The Director would like to know if you favor or oppose allowing youth hunters and Class Q permit holders to take one antlered buck during the Special Split Youth, Class Q and Class XS deer season with the following conditions: · The antlered buck would count toward the youth and Class Q hunter’s maximum annual bag limit for all deer seasons combined. · The privilege would be in addition to the daily and season bag limits for antlerless deer already established. · Class XS license holders would maintain the privilege to harvest antlerless deer during the special season.
This particular change would depend on modifications to existing code by the state Legislature during the 2027 Legislative session.