West Virginia, a haven for hunters. It has many landscapes, from smooth hills to tough mountains, providing lots of ways to hunt. Whether it’s pursuing white-tailed deer in the colorful autumn forest or luring turkeys in springtime, there’s a hunting season for everyone here.
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) labors tirelessly to oversee animal numbers and preserve an even ecosystem. Studying various hunting areas, learning about seasons tied to your chosen prey, and securing vital permits are pivotal procedures. What’s more, safety must always take center stage. Donning suitable protective equipment, managing guns wisely, and staying alert to your environment are essential for a pleasing and triumphant outdoor adventure.
WV Hunting Schedule
🦌 Whitetail Deer Hunting
🏹 Archery & Crossbow
- Sep 27 – Dec 31, 2025
- Statewide (bucks & antlerless).
🔫 Buck Firearms
- Nov 24 – Dec 7, 2025
- Electronic registration within 72 hours.
🎯 Muzzleloader
- Dec 15 – Dec 21, 2025
- Traditional or inline muzzleloaders.
👶 Youth & Special Licenses
- Oct 18–19 & Dec 26–27, 2025
- Class Q/XS holders included.
📍 Antlerless Firearms (Select Counties)
- Oct 23–26, Nov 24–Dec 7, Dec 11–14, Dec 28–31
- Check county rules.
🐻 Black Bear Seasons
🏹 Archery & Crossbow
- Sep 27 – Dec 31, 2025
- Early splits: Aug 30–Sep 7, Sep 20–26.
🔫 Firearms (County-Specific)
- Oct 4 – Dec 31, 2025
- Dog/no-dog zones vary.
👶 Youth Hunts
- Sep 13–14 & Oct 18–19, 2025.
🐗 Wild Boar Hunting
🔫 Firearms
- Oct 25 – Nov 1, 2025
- Feb 6–8, 2026.
🏹 Archery & Crossbow
- Sep 27 – Dec 31, 2025
- Feb 6–8, 2026.
🦃 Turkey Seasons
🍂 Fall Turkey
- Oct 11–19, 2025
- Extended (select counties): Oct 27–Nov 2 or Oct 27–Nov 16.
🌱 Spring Gobbler (2026)
- Apr 20 – May 24, 2026
- Bearded only.
- Youth: Apr 18–19, 2026.
🏔️ Mountaineer Heritage
- Jan 8–11, 2026
- Deer, bear, turkey combo.
🦝 Furbearer & Trapping
Raccoon
- Pursuit: Oct 18, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026
- Trapping: Nov 1, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026.
Fox (Red/Gray)
- Nov 1, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026
- Night hunting: Jan 1 – Feb 28, 2026.
Special Furbearers
- Bobcat: Nov 1–Feb 28 (limit 3).
- Fisher: Nov 1–Jan 31 (limit 1).
- Beaver: Nov 1–Mar 31.
- Otter: Nov 1–Feb 28 (limit 1).
🕊️ Upland Birds
Ruffed Grouse
- Oct 18, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026
- Daily: 4, Possession: 16.
Ring-necked Pheasant
- Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 3, 2026
- Hillcrest WMA: Nov 8–Dec 6.
Bobwhite Quail
- Nov 1, 2025 – Jan 3, 2026
- Closed in Tomblin WMA.
🐿️ Small Game
Gray Squirrel
- Sep 13, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026
- Youth: Sep 6–7, 2025.
Cottontail Rabbit
- Nov 1, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026.
Snowshoe Hare
- Nov 1, 2025 – Feb 28, 2026.
Other
- Crow: Oct 1–Nov 22 & Jan 1–Mar 7.
- Coyote: Year-round (night restrictions).
🦆 Migratory Birds
- Requires HIP registration.
- Dates published August 2025.
- Includes ducks, geese, doves, woodcock.
❌ Protected Species
- Elk, songbirds, raptors.
🔄 Year-Round
- Coyotes, sparrows, starlings, pigeons.
This format ensures clarity, avoids repetition, and maintains all critical details.
Closed Seasons
Swans, King and Clapper Rails, Eiders, Whistling Ducks, Mottled Ducks, and Harlequin Ducks
WV Hunting Regulations Summary
Antlerless Hunting
- A Class N or NN stamp is a must for many locals and visitors during antlerless seasons.
- A couple of counties restrict hunters to one antlerless deer.
- In certain areas, a hunter must bag an antlerless deer before going after a second antlered one.
Firearm Restrictions
- Buck Firearms:
- Centerfire rifle
- Rimfire rifle (.25 caliber or larger)
- Single-shot muzzleloader (.38 caliber or larger)
- Handgun (.357 magnum or larger straight-walled case, .24 caliber or larger bottle-necked case, Class A1 stamp required)
- Shotgun with solid ball ammunition
- Archery and Crossbow:
- Minimum draw weight of 125 pounds for crossbow
- Minimum arrow length of 16 inches
- Broadheads with at least 2 sharp cutting edges and minimum width of 3/4 inch
Blaze Orange Requirement
- During deer firearm seasons, hunters are required to don a minimum of 400 square inches of bright orange attire. This rule excludes waterfowl hunters and individuals farming on their own property.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Containment Area
- In Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, and Morgan counties, unique rules are in place.
- Deer carcass transfer is limited.
- Hunters have the chance to have deer examined for CWD.
Additional Deer Archery/Crossbow Stamps
- Class RB/RRB stamps allow for additional deer during archery/crossbow seasons.
Special Seasons and Restrictions
- Urban Deer/Bear Archery/Crossbow Split Season
- Older-aged Deer Management Areas (restrictions on antler spread)
- Wilson Cove Deer Study Area and Hillcrest Wildlife Management Area (restrictions apply)
- McClintic and Green Bottom WMAs (Controlled Waterfowl Hunting Areas)
Turkey Regulations
- People living in this area with a valid hunting or free license can bag 3 turkeys.
- If you live elsewhere, you’ll need a special license combo to do the same.
- The deal is: two bearded turkeys in spring and one turkey of any gender in the fall.
- Pursuing on national forests or using a handgun needs extra licenses.
- If you own the land, you can hunt without a license, just stick to the same bag limits.
- Rifles, shotguns, bows or crossbows can be used to hunt wild turkeys, but there are specifics regarding the ammo.
Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations
- Every hunter with a license needs a Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration card.
- If you’re 15 or younger, it’s waterfowl season for you.
- Remember, you can only use nontoxic shots for waterfowl hunts.
- For birds flying south, they have special game hours.
- Sunday hunts are okay on both private and public lands.
- Know that federal rules must be followed when chasing migratory birds, including how and how many you can hunt.
WV Licenses and Permits
| License | Description | Cost |
| Conservation Stamp (CS) | Required for most licenses | $5 |
| Apprentice Hunting (AH) | Same as Class A, no hunter safety required | $19 |
| Sportsman (X) | Hunting/Fishing/Trapping | $35 |
| Sportsman Plus (XP) | Sportsman + Trout Stamp | $45 |
| 3-Year Sportsman (X3) | 3-year Sportsman License | $105 |
| 3-Year Sportsman Plus (XP3) | 3-year Sportsman + Trout Stamp | $135 |
| Junior Sportsman (XJ) | Similar to Class X (15-17) | $16 |
| Apprentice Junior (AHJ) | Same as Class XJ, no hunter safety required (15-17) | $16 |
| Antlerless Deer (N) | Stamp for antlerless deer hunting | $10 |
| Additional Archery Deer (RB) | Extra archery/crossbow deer tag | $21 |
| Additional Firearms Deer (RG) | Extra firearms deer tag | $21 |
| Additional Muzzleloader Deer (RM) | Extra muzzleloader deer tag | $16 |
| Resident Big Game (BG) | Required for archery/muzzleloader deer & bear | $10 |
| Senior Hunting/Fishing (XS) | For residents 65+ after 1/1/2012 | $25 |
| Lifetime Licenses | Various lifetime options available | Varies |
| Small Arms Hunting (A1-L) | Lifetime License for small arms hunting (21+) | $75 |
Top West Virginia Hunting Locations
West Virginia is a favorite among hunters, filled with diverse landscapes brimming with animals. Varied terrains, from gentle hills to sturdy mountains, give many chances to track different game species. Let’s look at some great pursuing spots in West Virginia, sorted by the type of game you’re after.
Deer
- Pocahontas County: Famous for its many white-tailed deer, it has both public and private land available for hunting.
- Nicholas County: Big bucks roam here, making it a hot spot for deer hunters.
- Webster County: It flaunts a thriving deer community along with diverse game options on public and private lands.
Bear
- Pocahontas County: It’s more than deer here. Black bears reside too.
- Randolph County: Where you can enjoy top-notch bear hunting, especially in the Monongahela National Forest.
- Tucker County: It has enormous wild spots intensely favored by bear hunters.
Turkey
- Nicholas County: Recognized for its vibrant turkey species, is a favorite for turkeys in the spring.
- Webster County: Grants a blend of deep forests and open meadows, crafting an ideal environment for turkeys.
- Greenbrier County: Is a haven for a strong turkey populace and comes with varied outdoor landscapes.
Small Game
- Wood County: It’s a hotspot for those who enjoy hunting small animals like squirrels and rabbits.
- Marshall County: This county’s home to small animals like rabbits, squirrels, and pheasants.
- Ohio County: It’s mostly for city folk. But, there’s some space for chasing smaller creatures in its country areas.
Author & Chief Editor at AskHunting.com
Eric Hale, a veteran hunter with more than a decade of experience, imparts his knowledge via AskHunting.com. He offers guidance for hunting, adding strategies, and delivers in-depth guides for the novice and the old hand. He loves family camping sessions, watching Marvel films with his spouse, and going on thrilling road journeys.
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