CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia officials are urging hunters to participate in the state’s 2024 early antlerless deer firearms season, which will open Oct. 24–27.
The early season is vital to the health of the state's high deer population, says Brett McMillion, director of the W.Va. Department of Natural Resources.
“In addition to giving hunters more opportunities to harvest deer, this season helps us control the state’s deer population,” McMillion said.
“For every antlerless deer harvested in the October season, there will be more food for remaining deer during the winter months, which promotes a healthier, heavier, and more productive deer herd and benefits other wildlife dependent on the woodland habitat.”
West Virginia's deer population is so high that, according to insurance companies, the state ranks No. 1 in the U.S. for automotive collisions with deer.
An outdoorsman, W.Va. Gov. Jim Justice emphasized the importance of the hunt for environmental purposes.
“As a lifelong hunter, there’s nothing more exciting than chasing a trophy buck, but taking a doe is just as important, if not more so,” Justice said.
“Harvesting an antlerless deer helps keep our deer herds strong and healthy, so I encourage everyone to get out there and enjoy this wonderful season.”
The early season provides hunters several advantages, such as favorable weather conditions and an opportunity to meet harvest requirements for a second antlered buck.
The season will be permitted in Wood County in the western state, Monroe and southern Greenbrier counties in the south of the state, and Hardy, Hampshire, Morgan, Jefferson, and eastern Mineral counties in the state's eastern panhandle.
Additional segments of the deer firearms season are scheduled for Nov. 25–Dec. 8, Dec. 12–15, and Dec. 28–31.
Hunters in Logan, McDowell, Mingo, and Wyoming counties and parts of Fayette, Raleigh, and Wayne counties are reminded that the season is closed in these areas.
Hunters must wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange in areas with an open deer firearms season.
All hunters, including youth and those exempt from purchasing a license, are reminded to check their game at WVHunt.com by calling 1-844-WVCHECK or visiting an authorized license agent.
Black Bear and Wild Boar Hunting Seasons
Black bear and wild boar firearms seasons will also open in select counties in October. The black bear firearms season is Oct. 24–27 in areas open to antlerless deer hunting, and the wild boar firearms season is open Oct. 26–Nov. 2 in Boone, Logan, Raleigh, and Wyoming counties.
Hunters 15 and older are required to have a valid West Virginia hunting license and form of identification while hunting. All antlerless deer must be taken on a Class N or NN stamp or Class DT license. Landowners hunting on their property are exempt from purchasing these stamps.
For more information about the antlerless deer firearms season, consult pages 15–20 in the West Virginia Hunting Regulations Summary at WVDNR.gov/hunting-regulations.
Hunters are encouraged to purchase their licenses and deer stamps at WVHunt.com before the season starts.
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