General Regulations

Resident Deer Hunting License Privileges

ANNUAL CLASSES X, X3, XP, XP3, XJ, AND AHJ, LIFETIME CLASSES A-L, AB-L, AND XS*, A+CS, AH+CS, MILITARY, DISABLED VETERAN, FORMER POW, SENIOR CITIZEN AND UNDERAGE:

entitles a hunter to take one deer during the archery or crossbow seasons, one antlered deer during the buck firearms season and one deer during the muzzleloader season.

Additional stamps must be purchased:

• to hunt an additional antlered deer in the buck firearms season: Class RG
• • to hunt an additional deer during the archery or crossbow seasons: Class RB
• to hunt antlerless deer in antlerless season: Class N
• to hunt an additional deer in muzzleloader season: Class RM
• to hunt with a handgun: Class A-1

ANNUAL CLASSES A AND AH (MUST ALSO HAVE A CLASS CS):

entitles the hunter to hunt one antlered deer during the buck firearms season.

Additional stamps must be purchased:

• to hunt an additional antlered deer in the buck firearms season: Class RG
• • to hunt deer during the archery or crossbow seasons: Class BG
• • to hunt an additional deer during the archery or crossbow seasons: Class RB
• to hunt deer in muzzleloader season: Class BG
• to hunt an additional deer in muzzleloader season: Class RM
• to hunt antlerless deer in antlerless season: Class N
• to hunt with a handgun: Class A-1

Resident Landowner Privileges

West Virginia resident landowners may hunt on their own land without obtaining a license.

A resident landowner hunting on his/her own land without a license can take the same number of deer as a licensed hunter. A hunter (licensee or landowner) cannot take more than the number of deer allowed in the respective seasons.

Resident and Nonresident License Privileges with a Class DT Special Hunting and Fishing License for Persons with a Life-Threatening Condition

A resident or nonresident under age 21 who qualifies for and obtains a Class DT license, may hunt for and take the legal number of deer allowed in each season in compliance with county and statewide regulations without purchasing or otherwise obtaining any additional licenses or stamps, providing the Class DT license holder and assistant abides by all other pertinent laws and regulations.

Class DT license holders must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or with written consent of the parent or guardian, or any other competent licensed adult 21 years of age or older.

State Park Deer Seasons

Information available July 1 at the WVDNR website, District offices and State Parks. Application process will be online at WVdnr.gov.

Beech Fork State Park

November 4-6 and November 11-13, 2024

Bluestone State Park

November 4-6, 2024

Cacapon Resort State Park

November 6-8 and November 13-15, 2024

Twin Falls Resort State Park

November 6-8 and November 11-13, 2024

Nonresident License Privileges

Nonresidents (ages 8 through 17) who have satisfactorily completed a Hunter Education Course may purchase a Class XXJ license or AAHJ license(without the training) and a Class CS/LE stamp are entitled to take one deer during the archery or crossbow seasons, one antlered deer during the buck firearms season, and one deer during the muzzleloader season.

Additional stamps must be purchased:

• to hunt an additional antlered deer in the buck firearms season: Class RRG
• • to hunt an additional deer during the archery or crossbow seasons: Class RRB
• to hunt antlerless deer in antlerless season: Class NN
• to hunt an additional deer in muzzleloader season: Class RRM

All other nonresidents, except those who hold License Classes XXJ, AAHJ or DT, regardless of landowner status, must purchase an annual Class E,AAH license and a Class CS/LE stamp or Class E-L license. This entitles the holder to hunt one antlered deer during the buck firearms season.

Additional stamps must be purchased:

• to hunt an additional antlered deer in the buck firearms season: Class RRG
• • to hunt deer during the archery or crossbow seasons: Class UU or Class UU-L
• • to hunt an additional deer during the archery or crossbow seasons: Class RRB
• to hunt deer in muzzleloader season: VV or Class VV-L
• to hunt an additional deer in muzzleloader season: Class RRM
• to hunt antlerless deer in antlerless season: Class NN
• to hunt on national forest lands: Class I or Class I-L
• to hunt with a handgun: Class A-1 or Class A-1-L

Baiting and Feeding Regulations

It is illegal to bait or feed any wildlife on public land at any time.

Blaze Orange Requirement

Persons hunting in counties or portions thereof where a deer firearms season or muzzleloader season is presently open shall wear a blaze orange outer garment of at least 400 square inches. This applies to counties or parts thereof with the special youth/Class Q/XS antlerless deer season. This applies to the Mountaineer Heritage Season. This does not apply to waterfowl hunters and persons engaged in farming activities on their own land.

Hunting Hours and Restrictions

You may hunt deer from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset.

After a person has killed his/her legal daily or season limit of deer, they may not participate further in hunting deer with either a bow, crossbow or firearm the remainder of the day.

After killing the legal limit of deer, a hunter shall not be afield with any firearm with solid ball ammunition unless legally hunting bear, or shot shells containing larger than No. 4 shot unless legally hunting waterfowl using nontoxic shot.

It is legal to hunt small game during the muzzleloader season with a .22 caliber rimfire and .22 caliber air rifle.

A hunter may take no more than two antlered deer during the regular deer seasons and the following Mountaineer Heritage Season combined.

Replacement Costs for Illegally Injuring or Killing Antlered Deer

In addition to the $500 replacement value of deer, the following cost shall also be forfeited to the state by any person who is convicted of violating any criminal law of this state and the violation causes the injury or death of antlered deer:

1. For any deer in which the inside spread of the main beams on the antlers measured at the widest point equals 14” or greater but less than 16” – $2,500.
2. For any deer in which the inside spread of the main beams on the antlers measured at the widest point equals 16” or greater but less than 18” – $5,000.
3. For any deer in which the inside spread of the main beams on the antlers measured at the widest point equals 18” or greater but less than 20” – $7,500.
4. For any deer in which the inside spread of the main beams on the antlers measured at the widest point equals 20” or greater – $10,000.
5. Any person convicted of a second or subsequent violation of any criminal law of this state which violation causes the injury or death of antlered deer is subject to double the authorized range of replacement cost to be forfeited.
6. Any person convicted pursuant to the replacement costs above shall also be subject to a revocation of hunting and fishing privileges for a period of five years.

Firearms/Bows/Crossbows and Equipment

It is illegal to hunt deer with:

• a shotgun using ammunition loaded with more than one solid ball, or a rifle using rimfire ammunition of less than .25 caliber.
• a fully automatic rifle, shotgun or handgun.
• a handgun using a straight-walled case of less than .357 magnum cartridge or a bottle-necked case of less than .24 caliber.
• a muzzleloader of less than .38 caliber during the muzzleloader deer season.
• an air rifle of less than .45 caliber and with a bullet of less than 200 grains. Any person hunting with an air rifle is subject to all other rifle and firearm hunting regulations, except that air rifles may be discharged within 500 feet of a dwelling.
• both a gun and a bow or with a gun and an arrow, except that a person who is not prohibited from possessing firearms by law may carry a firearm for self-defense.
• a crossbow with more than one string.
• a crossbow that does not have:
  • a draw weight of at least 125 pounds.
  • a working safety.
  • bolts and arrows at least 16 inches long, including the insert and the nock.
  • broadheads with at least two sharp-cutting edges at least 3/4 inch in width.

• a bow with arrows with broadheads having less than two sharp- cutting edges, measuring less than 3/4 inch in width.
• a bow locking device, except with a modified bow permit issued by the Director.
• an arrow with an explosive, drug-laced or poisoned head
  or shaft.
• anything other than a bow, crossbow or single-shot muzzleloader on Green Bottom and Fox Forest WMAs.
• an electronic call.
• a bow or crossbow on Bright McCausland Homestead WMA.

CWD Testing Available

Adult deer harvested by hunters in the CWD Containment Area (see map to the right) during any deer season may be tested free of charge. Head drop-off locations are available at the District 2 Office (Hampshire County) and Sleepy Creek WMA headquarters (Berkeley County). Hunters should bring the head of their deer, with 2-3” of neck attached, to the collection location and follow all instructions provided at the testing station.

Staff may be available to assist during regular business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but heads may be dropped off at any time. Hunters must provide their DNR ID number, 13-digit game check confirmation number, address, telephone number, license type and a location for each animal submitted for testing. The hunter’s field tag may be left in the deer’s ear when the head is left for testing.

CARCASS TRANSPORT REGULATIONS

Hunters are prohibited from transporting dead cervids (deer, elk, etc.) or their parts beyond the boundaries of Berkeley, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral and Morgan counties except for the following:

• meat that has been boned out,
• quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached,
• cleaned hide with no head attached,
• clean skull plate (no meat or tissue attached) with antlers attached,
• antlers with no meat or tissue attached, and
• finished taxidermy mounts

Hunters may transport whole cervid carcasses that were not killed inside Berkeley, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral and Morgan counties through the containment area.

BAITING/FEEDING RESTRICTION REGULATIONS

It is illegal to bait or feed cervids or other wildlife in a “Containment Area” as determined by the Director and established for the management, control or eradication of chronic wasting disease or other wildlife diseases. Song and insectivorous birds may be fed, provided that such feeding shall not cause, or be done in a manner that would be reasonably anticipated to cause a congregation of cervids or other wildlife. Provided further, that captive cervids may be fed inside cervid facilities permitted by the state Department of Agriculture.

Field Tagging, Checking and Transporting

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 person who does not have a field tag must make one. This tag must bear the hunter’s name, address, hunting license number (if required) and the date, time and county of kill. Immediately upon arriving at a residence, camp, hunting lodge, vehicle or vessel, the field tag shall be attached to the deer and must remain on the carcass until it is tagged with a WVDNR-issued 13-digit game check confirmation number.

Each deer shall be electronically registered, and a WVDNR-issued 13-digit game check confirmation number, hunter’s name and address shall be attached to the deer within 72 hours from when it was killed or 24 hours from the close of the respective season, whichever comes first.

The 13-digit game check confirmation number, hunter’s name and address shall remain on the deer until it is dressed for consumption.

A hunter may harvest two deer on the same day, but only one antlered buck may be harvested on the same day. The first deer does not have to be electronically registered prior to harvesting the second deer in the same day. However, all deer legally harvested must be electronically registered and legally tagged prior to hunting during a subsequent day.

No person may transport or possess wildlife killed by another hunter, unless the wildlife or parts thereof is accompanied by a paper tag filled out legibly bearing the signature, address, date of kill, hunting license number (if required) and the WVDNR-issued 13-digit game check confirmation number (if required) of the hunter who killed the wildlife. The tag shall also specify the species and quantity of wildlife.

Any person hunting with an air rifle is subject to all other rifle and firearm hunting regulations, except that air rifles may be discharged within 500 feet of a dwelling.

Antlerless Firearms season

All antlerless deer taken during the antlerless deer season or the portion of the antlerless deer season concurrent with buck firearms season must be taken on a Class N or NN stamp, Class DT license or as a landowner. Only one antlerless deer may be taken on each Class N or NN stamp.

All West Virginia residents must purchase a Class N stamp to hunt during the antlerless season with the following exceptions:

• Resident landowners may hunt antlerless deer on their land without a license provided the land is in a county or part thereof open to antlerless deer hunting.
• Resident landowners, their resident children or resident parents do not have to live on the property. However, a resident tenant must permanently live on the land.
• Resident stockholders of resident corporations formed for the primary purpose of hunting or fishing who own in fee no less than1,000 acres may hunt antlerless deer on their own land, provided the land is in a county or part thereof open to antlerless deer hunting.
• Residents or nonresidents who hold Class DT licenses are not required to purchase Class N or NN stamps but must abide by all other antlerless regulations.

All nonresidents, military personnel, senior citizens,Class Q, Class XS, disabled veterans, former POWs and underage hunters not exempted must purchase a Class N or NN stamp to hunt antlerless deer during the antlerless season.

• Class N or NN stamps may be purchased at any license agent, the DNR office in South Charleston, or on the WVDNR website.
• Class N or NN stamps are nontransferable. Class N or NN stamps are not county specific, but in limited resident counties, State Forests or WMAs, the Class N stamp must be accompanied by a valid eligibility card.
• During the antlerless season, a Class N or NN stamp holder may substitute a bow or crossbow for a firearm to take antlerless deer.

A hunter may harvest two deer on the same day, but only one antlered buck may be harvested on the same day. The first deer does not have to be electronically registered prior to harvesting the second deer in the same day. However, all deer legally harvested must be electronically registered and legally tagged prior to hunting during a subsequent day.

No person may actively participate (i.e., drive) in any manner in hunting antlerless deer without a valid Class N or NN stamp or otherwise being exempt from having a Class N or NN stamp.

Any person hunting with an air rifle is subject to all other rifle and firearm hunting regulations, except that air rifles may be discharged within 500 feet of a dwelling.

How to Report Harvest of Tagged White-tailed Deer

In February 2021, WVDNR started a white-tailed deer research project examining survival, cause-specific mortality, habitat selection, and movement rates of male and female deer across West Virginia. This project will be ongoing for the next five years.

Radio-tagged animals are legal game during the hunting season. If you harvest a radio-tagged deer, please do not cut the collar off the animal. After harvesting a radio-tagged deer, please call Brett Skelly at the Elkins Operation Center at (304) 637-0245 to report the tag number and return the collar. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated and important to the success of this project.

Counties or parts thereof with a Bag Limit of Three Class N or NN Deer in Antlerless Season and Counties with a Bag Limit of Three Class N or NN Deer with Special Regulations

Counties or parts thereof with a bag limit of three Class N or NN deer in antlerless season having a special regulation

There are nine counties or parts thereof where a hunter may take three antlerless deer during the antlerless season by purchasing multiple Class N or NN stamps. Hunters may take up to three antlerless (Class N or NN) deer in each county or part thereof not to exceed the bag limit specified in each county or part thereof and not to exceed the annual statewide bag limit of three antlerless (Class N or NN) deer. There are nine counties or parts thereof that require hunters to take an antlerless deer within the county, which may be taken during any regular deer season open to antlerless deer hunting, before killing a second antlered deer within the county. This regulation applies across all the combined regular deer seasons and the Mountaineer Heritage Season.

Counties or parts thereof with a bag limit of three Class N or NN deer in antlerless season

There are 22 counties or parts thereof where a hunter may take three antlerless deer during the antlerless season by purchasing multiple Class N or NN stamps. Hunters may take up to three antlerless (Class N or NN) deer in each county or part thereof not to exceed the bag limit specified in each county or part thereof and not to exceed the annual statewide bag limit of three antlerless (Class N or NN) deer.

Concurrent Hunting during the Antlerless Deer SeasonDuring antlerless season, concurrent hunting for small game (except during the first three days of the buck firearms season) and bear (where the season is open) is legal; however, no hunter except those legally hunting deer or bear shall be afield with a firearm with solid ball ammunition or shot shells containing larger than No. 4 shot, except for waterfowl hunters using nontoxic shot.

Concurrent archery and crossbow hunting for antlered and antlerless deer is legal during the antlerless season subject to all archery and crossbow deer hunting regulations. All persons hunting during deer firearms seasons or muzzleloader season (except those engaged in farming activities on their own land and waterfowl hunters) must wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange as an outer garment.

Concurrent waterfowl hunting is legal (see separate WVDNR Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations publication).

Counties or parts thereof, State Forests and/or WMAs with Limited Resident and Nonresident Class N or NN

Permits, and Unlimited Resident and Nonresident Class N or NN with a Bag Limit of One

Counties or parts thereof with a bag limit of one Class N or NN deer in antlerless season

Seventeen counties or parts thereof have an unlimited number of Class N or NN stamps for resident and nonresident antlerless deer hunting. No application is necessary for these counties. Hunters may take one antlerless (Class N or NN) deer in each county or part thereof in this group of counties, not to exceed the annual statewide bag limit of three antlerless (Class N or NN) deer. See antlerless regulations on WMAs and other public lands.

Counties or parts thereof and public lands with limited resident and nonresident hunting for Class N or NN deer in antlerless season

There are six counties or parts thereof with resident Class N or nonresident Class NN antlerless deer hunting with prior permit application in 2024. One wildlife management area, National Forest in Pocahontas County, National Forest and State Land in Randolph County and two state forests have a limited number of Class N or Class NN stamps for antlerless deer hunting. To be eligible to hunt in one of these counties or on one of these WMAs, portions of National Forest or state forests, an application must be submitted online by Sept. 6, 2024. Resident landowners do not need a permit to hunt on their own land.

Successful applicants will receive notification from the WVDNR by mail and applicants can check online at WVdnr.gov beginning September 15. See antlerless regulations on WMAs and other public lands.

In limited resident and nonresident antlerless WMAs and state forests, a hunter may take only one deer in the antlerless season.

Deer Archery and Crossbow Season

Three deer may be taken with a bow or crossbow during the archery and crossbow seasons. One deer may be taken on one of the following valid base licenses or license combinations: resident license (Class X, Class X3, Class XP, Class XP3, Class XJ, Class AHJ, Class AB-L, Class A-L, Class XS, Classes A+CS+BG or Classes AH+CS+BG); or a free license (Military, Disabled Veteran, former POW, Senior Citizen or Class DT); or nonresident license (Classes E+CS/LE+UU, Classes AAH+CS/LE+UU, Classes XXJ+CS/LE, Classes AAHJ+CS/LE, Class DT or Class E-L +UU-L or UU).

Underage residents and resident landowners hunting on their own land may take an archery or crossbow deer without a license. Up to two additional deer may be taken with Class RB or Class RRB stamps (one per stamp) or on a Class DT license or by resident landowners hunting on their own property. If two deer are taken on Class RB or RRB stamps, or on a Class DT license or by a resident landowner using those privileges, one of the two must be an antlerless deer taken in a county open to Class N antlerless hunting. Class DT license holders must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or with written consent of the parent or guardian or any other competent licensed adult 21 years of age or older.

A hunter may take no more than two antlered deer during the regular deer seasons and the following Mountaineer Heritage Season combined, except that three antlered deer may be taken in a West Virginia CWD Containment Area or by Class XS license holders.

A hunter may harvest two deer per day, but only one antlered deer may be harvested per day. The first deer does not have to be electronically registered prior to harvesting the second deer in the same day. However, all deer legally harvested must be electronically registered and legally tagged prior to hunting during a subsequent day.

Deer of either sex may be hunted statewide with a bow or crossbow during the archery and crossbow seasons, except that crossbows are not permitted in Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties, except by the holders of Class Y permits. Only one antlered deer may be taken during the Archery and Mountaineer Heritage Seasons combined in Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties. A bow or a crossbow may be substituted for a firearm during any deer firearms season except that a bow or crossbow cannot be substituted in the muzzleloader season.

IT IS ILLEGAL TO:

• hunt with a crossbow that does not have:
  • a draw weight of at least 125 pounds.
  • a working safety.
  • bolts and arrows at least 16 inches long, including the insert and the nock.
  • broadheads with at least two sharp-cutting edges at least 3/4 inch in width.
• hunt with a crossbow with more than one string.
• hunt deer with arrows with broadheads having less than two sharp-cutting edges, measuring less than 3/4 inch in width.
• use a bow-locking device, except with a modified bow permit issued by the Director.
• use an arrow with an explosive, drug-laced or poisoned head or shaft.
• use an electronic call to hunt deer.
• use a bow or crossbow on Bright McCausland Homestead WMA.
• be afield with both gun and bow or with gun and an arrow, except that a person who is not prohibited from possessing firearms by law may carry a firearm for self-defense.
• be afield with an air rifle and bow or an air rifle and any arrow at the same time.
• hunt with an air bow at any time.

Additional Deer Archery Stamps

Class RB and Class RRB

A resident may purchase only two Class RB stamps and a nonresident may purchase only two Class RRB stamps for the archery and crossbow seasons. The Class RB or Class RRB archery stamps must be purchased prior to the opening of statewide archery season.

• Only one deer may be taken with each Class RB or RRB stamp.
• Deer taken on a base license or license stamp combination or ClassRB or RRB stamps may be checked in any order.
• Class RB or RRB stamps cannot be used for taking deer with a firearm.

Two additional deer may be taken with Class RB or Class RRB stamps, by holders of Class DT licenses or by a resident landowner hunting on their own land during the archery and crossbow seasons. If two deer are taken on Class RB or Class RRB stamps, or on a Class DT license, or by a resident landowner using Class RB stamp privileges, one of the two must be an antlerless deer taken in a county open to Class N antlerless hunting.

There are nine counties or parts thereof that require hunters to take an antlerless deer within the county, which may be taken during any regular deer season open to antlerless deer hunting, before killing a second antlered deer within the county. This regulation applies across all the combined regular deer seasons and theMountaineer Heritage Season.

The annual limit for the four-county area of Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties is two archery deer, one of which must be antlerless. One Class RB or RRB stamp is valid in these counties, except if the first archery deer was taken in a county open to firearms deer hunting, then two deer (one must be antlerless) may be taken on Class RB or RRB stamps or a Class DT license in counties open to firearms deer hunting. The taking of archery antlerless deer during the buck firearms season is legal in these counties.

To take additional archery or crossbow deer, all residents except holders of Class DT licenses and resident landowners hunting on their own land are required to purchase Class RB stamps. All nonresidents except holders of Class DT licenses are required to purchase Class RRB archery stamps to take additional archery or crossbow deer.

Concurrent hunting during Deer Archery and Crossbow Seasons

A bow hunter may take small game at any time the small game season is open, except the first three days of buck firearms season in counties having a buck firearms season. A crossbow hunter may take small game during the deer crossbow season, except the first three days of buck firearms season in counties having a buck firearms season.

Archery and crossbow hunting for antlered and antlerless deer are legal during muzzleloader deer season subject to all archery and crossbow deer hunting regulations. Additionally, archery and crossbow hunters must wear a blaze orange outer garment of at least 400 square inches during any deer firearms or muzzleloader seasons.

Special Seasons and Restrictions

Urban Deer/Bear Archery/Crossbow Split Season

A special archery/crossbow deer/bear hunting split season is available between Sept. 7−Dec. 31, 2024, and Jan. 13-31, 2025, to incorporated cities, towns, villages and incorporated homeowner associations. To implement the hunt, homeowner associations must submit a written request to the Director by March 1 of the hunt year. During this special season, seven deer may be taken, which may include no more than two antlered bucks and the first deer must be antlerless. In addition, no more than two deer, only one of which may be antlered, may be taken in one day. One bear may be taken and a DS Stamp is required, except for underage resident and resident landowners hunting on their own land. Deer and bear taken in the Urban Deer/Bear Archery/Crossbow Season shall not apply to the hunter’s regular archery and crossbow seasons bag limits. For information regarding this special archery deer/bear season, contact your local municipal government, homeowner association or the appropriate WVDNR office.

Older-aged Deer Management Areas

All antlered deer taken during archery and crossbow seasons on Beech Fork Lake, Bluestone Lake, Burnsville Lake, Little Kanawha River and McClintic WMAs, and Coopers Rock and Calvin Price state forests must have a minimum outside antler spread of 14 inches (ear tip to ear tip). Only one antlered deer may be taken on each area for all seasons (archery, crossbow, buck firearms, muzzleloader and Mountaineer Heritage) combined. It is illegal to bait or feed wildlife on all public lands.

McClintic and Green Bottom Wildlife Management Areas – Controlled Waterfowl Hunting Areas

Hunting in the controlled waterfowl hunting area of McClintic and Green Bottom WMAs is restricted to waterfowl hunting during the early segment of the waterfowl season. Refer to the 2024-2025 WVDNR Migratory Bird Hunting Regulation available in August for season dates.

Wilson Cove Deer Study Area and Hillcrest Wildlife Management Area

See restrictions on the Wilson Cove Deer Study Area and Hillcrest Wildlife Management Area. It is illegal to bait or feed wildlife on public land at any time.

IT IS ILLEGAL TO:

• be afield with both gun and bow or with a gun and an arrow, except that a person who is not prohibited from possessing firearms by law may carry a firearm for self-defense.
• be afield with an air rifle and bow or an air rifle and any arrow at the same time
• hunt with a crossbow that does not have:
  • a draw weight of at least 125 pounds.
  • a working safety.
  • bolts and arrows at least 16 inches long, including the insert and the nock.
  • broadheads with at least two sharp-cutting edges at least 3/4 inch in width.

• hunt with a crossbow with more than one string.
• hunt with an air bow at any time.
• hunt deer with arrows with broadheads having less than two sharp-cutting edges, measuring less than 3/4-inch in width.
• use a bow-locking device, except with a modified bow permit issued by the Director.
• use an arrow with an explosive, drug-laced or poisoned head or shaft.
• to use an electronic call to hunt deer.
• use a bow or crossbow on Bright McCausland Homestead WMA.

Special Split Youth, Class Q and Class Xs Season Deer

Only one antlerless deer may be taken per day. A bow or a crossbow can be substituted for a firearm or muzzleloader during this season.

See special regulations for West Virginia CWD Containment Area carcass transport and baiting.

It is illegal to bait or feed any wildlife on public land at any time.

The special split antlerless deer season for youth, Class Q and Class XS hunters will be held on private land in all counties having a firearms deer hunting season and on all public lands within these counties.

The bag limit of one antlerless deer per day will not count towards the hunter’s annual deer season bag limit. Also, an antlerless deer taken during the Youth, Class Q and Class XS season does not count toward the requirement to kill an antlerless deer before killing a second antlered deer in counties listed on A Class N or NN stamp is not required by youth hunters hunting during this special split antlerless season. A Class N stamp is not required by seniors with a Class XS license. Each deer taken must be field tagged and electronically registered within 24 hours of the close of each portion of this special split season and before hunting an additional deer.

Youth, Class Q and Class XS season participants and all other hunters hunting on private land or on any of the public lands during the special youth, Class Q and Class XS deer season, with the exception of waterfowl hunters and persons engaged in farming activities on their own land, must wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange as an outer garment.

Youth hunters:

• must be at least 8 and less than 18 years old; youth hunters age 15-17 must comply with all licensing requirements, but Class N or NN stamp not required,
• between the ages 8-14 must be accompanied by a licensed adult, who must also wear 400 square inches of blaze orange, may not hunt or possess implements for the taking of wildlife and must remain near enough to the youth to render advice and assistance. All accompanying adult nonresidents must possess a Class E license + CS/LE stamp or Class E-L license.

and, if a nonresident youth,

• possess Class XXJ license + CS/LE stamp, Class AAHJ + CS/LE stamp, Class DT or Class E-L license.

REMINDER: Youth hunters, even if exempt from purchasing a license, are required to report game checks on their own account.

Senior hunters:

• must be a resident 65 years of age or older and possess a Class XS license.

Class Q hunters must possess:

if a resident,

• Class Q permit plus one of the following:
  • Class A license + CS stamp or
  • Class X, X3, XP, XP3, AH, XJ, AHJ, XS, A-L or AB-L license or
  • Free license (Military, Disabled Veteran, former POW, Senior Citizen or Class DT) or
  • Be underage (must be accompanied by a licensed adult)

if a nonresident,

• Class Q permit + Class E license + CS/LE stamp or
• Class Q permit + Class AAH + CS/LE stamp or
• Class Q permit + Class XXJ + CS/LE stamp or
• Class Q permit + Class AAHJ + CS/LE stamp or
• Class Q permit + Class DT or
• Class Q permit + Class E-L license

Only deer having one or both antlers more than 3 inches in length above the hairline are legal during the buck firearms season (see concurrent hunting for antlerless deer during buck firearms season).

Two deer may be taken with a gun, air rifle, crossbow or bow during the buck firearms season. One may be taken on one of the following valid base licenses or license combinations: resident license (Class X, Class X3, Class XP, Class XP3, Class XJ, Class AHJ, Class AB-L, Class A-L, Class XS, Classes A+CS or Classes AH+CS); or free license (Military, Disabled Veteran, former POW, Class DT or Senior Citizen); or nonresident license (Classes E+CS/LE, Classes AAH+CS/LE, Classes XXJ+CS/LE, Classes AAHJ+CS/LE, Class DT or Class E-L). Underage residents and resident landowners hunting on their own land may take an antlered deer without a license. An additional deer may only be taken with a Class RG stamp, Class RRG stamp, Class DT license or by resident landowners hunting on their own property. Class DT license holders must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or with written consent of the parent or guardian, any other competent licensed adult 21 years of age or older.

A hunter may take no more than two antlered deer during the regular deer seasons and the following Mountaineer Heritage Season combined, except that three antlered deer may be taken in a West Virginia CWD Containment Area or by Class XS license holders.

A hunter may take no more than one antlered deer per day.

Legal firearms for hunting deer during the buck firearms season shall include:

• a rifle using centerfire ammunition.
• a rifle using .25 caliber or larger rimfire ammunition.
• a single-shot muzzleloading rifle, with or without scope, and muzzleloading pistol of .38 caliber or larger.
• a handgun using a straight-walled case of .357 magnum cartridge or larger or a bottle-necked case of .24 caliber or larger. A Class A-1 handgun stamp is required.
• a shotgun loaded with solid ball ammunition.
• an air rifle .45 caliber or larger and a bullet of 200 grains or greater.

Additional Buck Firearms Season Gun Stamps

Class RG and Class RRG

During a calendar year, a resident may purchase only one Class RG stamp and a nonresident may purchase only one Class RRG stamp.

Only one deer may be taken with a Class RG or Class RRG stamp. The Class RG and Class RRG stamps must be purchased prior to the opening of buck firearms season. The Class RG and Class RRG stamps are valid for buck hunting in all counties open to buck firearms season.

To take an additional deer, all residents, except resident landowners hunting on their own land or holders of a Class DT license, are required to purchase a Class RG stamp. All nonresidents are required to purchase a Class RRG stamp or possess a Class DT license if they choose to take an additional deer.

There are nine counties or parts thereof that require hunters to take an antlerless deer within the county, which may be taken during any regular deer season open to antlerless deer hunting, before killing a second antlered deer within the county. This regulation applies across all the combined regular deer seasons and theMountaineer Heritage Season.

Deer taken on a base license or license stamp combination or Class RG or RRG stamps may be electronically registered in any order.

Concurrent Hunting during Buck Firearms Deer Season

Antlerless deer hunting is legal on private land in 51 counties or parts thereof and all public lands having an antlerless season Nov. 25–Dec. 8, 2024. To hunt antlerless deer during the buck firearms season, a valid Class N or NN stamp or Class DT license is required for all hunters except for resident landowners.

• hunting on their own land. A hunter may harvest two deer per day, but only one antlered deer may be harvested per day. The first deer does not have to be electronically registered prior to harvesting the second deer in the same day. However, all deer legally harvested must be electronically registered and legally tagged prior to hunting during a subsequent day.

Small game hunting is prohibited during the first three days of buck firearms season in all counties having a buck firearms season; provided, waterfowl hunting is legal on lakes, rivers and waterways during the open waterfowl season, bear hunting is legal in specified counties, and coyote hunting is legal. The trapping of furbearing animals is permitted during the first three days of buck firearms season. Small game hunting is legal during open small game seasons beginning November 28, 2024. While hunting small game during the buck firearms season, No. 4 shot or smaller and slugs may be carried with a shotgun only if the hunter is legally hunting deer or bear.

A combination rifle-shotgun (over-under, etc.) is legal for deer hunting and concurrent small game hunting.

After killing the legal daily or season bag limit of deer, a hunter shall not be afield with any firearm with solid ball ammunition (unless legally hunting bear)or shot shells containing larger than No. 4 shot. Waterfowl hunters may use nontoxic shot larger than No. 4.

It is illegal to hunt small game during the buck firearms season with any centerfire, with any rimfire larger than .22 caliber, with any air rifle except .22 caliber, or with a shotgun using solid ball ammunition or shot larger than No. 4 in a county that is not open to buck firearms season.

Archery and crossbow hunting for antlered and antlerless deer is legal during buck firearms season subject to all archery and crossbow deer hunting regulations. A bow or a crossbow may be substituted for a firearm to take antlered deer, or if hunting on a Class N or NN stamp or Class DT license, antlerless deer may be taken during the buck firearms season on private land in specified counties and on specified public lands.

All persons hunting during a deer firearms or muzzleloader season, except those engaged in farming activities on their own land and waterfowl hunters, must wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange as an outer garment.

Special Seasons and Restrictions

Wilson Cove Deer Study Area and Hillcrest Wildlife Management Area

Wilson Cove Deer Study Area, located in Hardy County on the George Washington National Forest, and Hillcrest WMA, located in Hancock County, will have a special antlered deer muzzleloader season November 25–December 8, 2024. During this period, only single shot muzzleloaders, including “in-lines” of .38 caliber or larger, are legal for deer hunting on these areas. These two areas will not be open to the traditional buck firearms season. All muzzleloader season license requirements apply and harvested deer must be electronically registered as a Muzzleloader Season harvest. Only one antlered deer may be taken on each area for all seasons (archery, crossbow, muzzleloader and Mountaineer Heritage) combined.

Older-aged Deer Management Areas

All antlered deer taken on Beech Fork Lake, Bluestone Lake, Burnsville Lake, Little Kanawha River and McClintic WMAs, and Coopers Rock and Calvin Price State Forests must have a minimum outside antler spread of 14 inches (ear tip to ear tip).

Only one antlered deer may be taken on each area for all seasons (archery, crossbow, buck firearms, muzzleloader and Mountaineer Heritage) combined. It is illegal to bait or feed wildlife on all public lands.

Two deer may be taken with a muzzleloader during the muzzleloader season. One may be taken on one of the following valid base licenses or license combinations: resident license (Class X, Class X3, Class XP, Class XP3, Class XJ, Class AHJ, Class AB-L, Class A-L, Class XS, Classes A+CS+BG or ClassesAH+CS+BG); or a free license (Military, Disabled Veteran, former POW, Class DT or Senior Citizen); or nonresident license (Classes E+CS/LE+VV, ClassesAAH+CS/LE+VV, Classes XXJ+CS/LE, Classes AAHJ+CS/ LE, Class DT DT or Class E-L + VV-L or VV). Underage residents and resident landowners hunting on their own land

• may take a muzzleloader season deer without a license. An additional muzzleloader season deer may only be taken with a Class RM or RRM stamp, a Class DT license or by a resident landowner hunting on his/her own land. Class DT license holders must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or with written consent of the parent or guardian, or any other competent licensed adult 21 years of age or older.

Muzzleloader season hunting for antlered deer is legal in all counties open to the buck firearms season. A deer of either sex may be taken in the muzzleloader season in all counties or parts thereof open to the Class N season. One additional deer may be taken on a Class RM or RRM stamp or a Class DT license in all counties having the muzzleloader season.

In the muzzleloader season, only single-shot muzzleloaders, including “in-lines” and muzzleloaders using an encapsulated propellant charge that loads from the breech, with the projectile loaded from the muzzle of .38 caliber or larger, are legal.

Telescopic sights are legal. A firearm that has been converted into a muzzleloader by use of a plug, or a double-barreled or swivel-barreled muzzleloader is illegal for deer hunting during the muzzleloader season.

A bow, crossbow or an air rifle may not be substituted for a muzzleloader during the muzzleloader season.

A hunter may take no more than two antlered deer during the regular deer seasons and the following Mountaineer Heritage Season combined, except that three antlered deer may be taken in a West Virginia CWD Containment Area or by Class XS license holders.

A hunter may harvest two deer per day, but only one antlered deer may be harvested per day. The first deer does not have to be electronically registered prior to harvesting the second deer in the same day. However, all deer legally harvested must be electronically registered and legally tagged prior to hunting during a subsequent day.

Use of Class RM and Class RRM Stamps and Class DT Licenses in the Muzzleloader Season

Only one Class RM or RRM stamp may be used in the muzzleloader season.

Only one deer may be taken with a Class RM or RRM stamp. The Class RM and RRM stamps must be purchased prior to the opening of the muzzleloader season.

To take an additional muzzleloader season deer, all residents, except resident landowners hunting on their own land and hunters who possess a Class DT license are required to purchase a Class RM stamp. All nonresidents, except holders of a Class DT license, are required to purchase a Class RRM stamp if they choose to take an additional muzzleloader deer.

Class RM and Class RRM stamps or a Class DT license may be used to take one additional deer in the muzzleloader season in all counties having the muzzleloader season. See for muzzleloader season regulations on WMAs and other public lands.

Deer taken on a base license or license stamp combination or Class RM or RRM stamps may be checked in any order.

Class RM, RRM stamps or Class DT licenses may be used to take one antlered deer in all counties having the muzzleloader season OR;

Class RM, RRM stamps or Class DT licenses may be used to take one either-sex deer in the 47 counties or parts thereof having a Class N or NN antlerless season bag limit of one unlimited or three antlerless (Class N) deer. See for muzzleloader regulations on WMAs and other public lands.

Concurrent waterfowl hunting is legal (see separate WVDNR Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations publication).

There are nine counties or parts thereof that require hunters to take an antlerless deer within the county, which may be taken during any regular deer season open to antlerless deer hunting, before killing a second antlered deer within the county. This regulation applies across all the combined regular deer seasons and the Mountaineer Heritage Season.

Muzzleloader Season DEER

Concurrent Hunting during Muzzleloader Season

Concurrent archery and crossbow hunting for antlered and antlerless deer is legal during the muzzleloader season subject to all archery and crossbow deer hunting regulations.

Concurrent hunting is permitted during the muzzleloader season. It is illegal to be afield with solid-ball ammunition or shot larger than No. 4 during the muzzleloader season except for those persons legally hunting bear, and for waterfowl hunters using nontoxic shot. All persons hunting during deer firearms or muzzleloader seasons (except those engaged in farming activities on their own land and waterfowl hunters) must wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange as an outer garment.

It is legal to hunt small game with .22 caliber rimfire and .22 caliber air rifle during the muzzleloader season.

Special Seasons and Restrictions

Wilson Cove Deer Study Area and Hillcrest Wildlife Management Area

Wilson Cove Deer Study Area, located in Hardy County on the George Washington National Forest, and Hillcrest WMA, located in Hancock County, will have a special antlered deer muzzleloader season Nov. 25–Dec. 8, 2024. During this period, only single shot muzzleloaders, including “in-lines” of .38 caliber or larger, are legal for hunting deer on these areas. These two areas will not be open to the traditional buck firearms season. All muzzleloader season license requirements apply and harvested deer must be electronically registered as a Muzzleloader Season harvest. Only one antlered deer may be taken on each area for all seasons (archery, crossbow, muzzleloader and Mountaineer Heritage) combined.

Older-aged Deer Management Areas

All antlered deer taken on Beech Fork Lake, Bluestone Lake, Burnsville Lake, Little Kanawha River and McClintic WMAs and Coopers Rock and Calvin Price state forests must have a minimum outside antler spread of 14 inches (ear tip to ear tip). Only one antlered deer may be taken on each area for all seasons (archery, crossbow, buck firearms, muzzleloader and Mountaineer Heritage) combined. It is illegal to bait or feed wildlife on all public lands at any time.

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