CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A bumper crop of nuts and acorns and localized outbreaks of hemorrhagic disease contributed to a significant decline in the West Virginia buck harvest during its firearms deer season in 2025.
According to the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources, hunters harvested 33,775 antlered deer during the state’s two-week buck firearms season, which ran from Nov. 24 through Dec. 7—an 18.5 percent decrease from the 41,435 bucks harvested in 2024.
Officials said abundant acorns and other hard mast spread deer across the landscape, making them more difficult for hunters to locate, while hemorrhagic disease likely reduced deer numbers and hunter success in several areas, particularly in western counties.
All districts experienced a decrease in buck harvests this season, except District 4, which covers the coalfields region along the Ohio River and the border with Kentucky and Virginia, and saw a 7.5 percent increase.
Preliminary data collected through WVDNR’s electronic game check system shows Greenbrier County led the state with 1,730 bucks harvested, followed by Preston (1,349), Randolph (1,198), Hardy (1,165), Pendleton (1,135), Pocahontas (1,089), Monroe (1,057), Grant (1,039), Fayette (991), and Hampshire (923).
Despite the overall decline, state officials emphasized that fluctuations in annual harvest totals are common and often linked to natural food availability and herd health. A detailed, county-by-county breakdown of buck firearm season harvests for the past five seasons is available on the agency’s website.
Hunters who harvested a buck during any 2025 deer season are reminded to submit photos for a chance to win prizes in the state’s fifth annual Big Buck Photo Contest. Contest rules, prizes, and entry information are available at WVdnr.gov/photocontest.
Several deer hunting opportunities remain open for the year. Archery and crossbow season continues through Dec. 31, while the Class N/NN antlerless deer season will be open Dec. 11–14 and Dec. 28–31 in select areas on public and private land.
The muzzleloader deer season runs Dec. 15–21, and the youth, Class Q, and Class XS antlerless season will be held Dec. 26–27 in counties with a firearms deer season.
Hunters are encouraged to review the Hunting Regulations Summary, available for download at WVdnr.gov/hunting-regulations, for specific county and season details.
Buck hunting in West Virginia
Buck hunting in West Virginia is a long-standing outdoor tradition closely tied to the state’s rural culture, wildlife management history, and mountainous landscape. White-tailed deer are found in all 55 counties, inhabiting a mix of hardwood forests, reclaimed mine lands, agricultural valleys, and suburban edges.
Regulated deer hunting began in the early 20th century after overharvest nearly eliminated deer from the state, and modern buck seasons are now carefully structured by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources to maintain healthy herd sizes and balanced sex ratios.
The primary buck harvest occurs during the annual firearms season in late November and early December, with additional opportunities during archery, crossbow, and muzzleloader seasons.
Buck harvest levels in West Virginia vary from year to year based on environmental conditions, habitat quality, disease outbreaks, and food availability, particularly the production of hard mast such as acorns and nuts.
In years of abundant mast, deer are widely dispersed across forested landscapes, often reducing hunter success, while poor mast years tend to concentrate deer movement and increase harvest rates.
The division monitors harvest data through mandatory electronic game checking and uses long-term trends to adjust season dates, bag limits, and antlerless regulations.
Buck hunting continues to play a significant role in conservation funding, rural economies, and outdoor recreation across the state, contributing to license revenues, tourism spending, and public support for wildlife management programs.
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is the state agency responsible for conserving and managing West Virginia’s wildlife, fisheries, forests, and outdoor recreation resources. Established in 1961, the agency oversees the management of game and nongame species, hunting and fishing regulations, state forests, wildlife management areas, and public access to outdoor lands and waters.
Through science-based research, habitat restoration, and enforcement by Natural Resources Police officers, the WVDNR works to balance conservation with public use while supporting outdoor traditions that contribute significantly to the state’s economy, tourism, and quality of life.
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