West Virginia’s fall wild turkey season opens Oct. 12. All 55 counties will have at least a one-week fall season, according to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.
It’s also the second fall turkey season during which Sunday hunting is permitted on both private and public lands.
“Fall wild turkey season dates are based on the year’s spring gobbler season harvest numbers in each county, excluding the 15 traditional fall season counties,” said Mike Peters, upland game-bird biologist for the division.
“This year’s spring gobbler harvest was only about 1,000 birds less than last year's 15-year high. The slight change will be reflected in the number of counties that have a two-week season.”
Twenty-four West Virginia counties have a one-week season, 17 have a split two-week season, and 14 counties have a split four-week season.
During the fall season, only one bird of either sex may be harvested using a bow, gun, or crossbow. Hunting hours are from a half-hour before sunrise to a half-hour after sunset. The use of electronic calls and bait is prohibited.
For details, turkey hunters are encouraged to refer to the 2019-20 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary available at DNR offices and license agents and online at www.wvdnr.gov.
Herds of wild hog once roamed the West Virginia hills
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