Will Reedy
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — According to state officials, an 11-year record for the longest longnose gar caught in West Virginia has been broken. The record-breaking fish, which measured 53.62 inches, was caught by Rich Chapman of Ashton, West Virginia, on July 3, 2023, in the Ohio River in Mason County. The fish exceeded the previous longnose … Read more
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.VA. — Applications to hunt in 12 limited-permit areas in West Virginia during the 2023 antlerless deer season are now available, according to officials with the W.Va Division of Natural Resources. The limited-permit areas provide antlerless deer hunting opportunities in areas where wildlife biologists have determined that issuing a limited number of antlerless … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Thanks to its investment in hatcheries, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources stocked nearly 130,000 more trout in 2023 than in 2022, according to officials. Between January and May, division staff stocked 802,481 trout in lakes and streams around the state, which is a 19% increase over the 673,148 trout stocked … Read more
FARMINGTON, W.VA. — According to preliminary data released by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources on Wednesday, hunters in the Mountain State harvested 12,217 bearded turkeys during the spring gobbler season. According to Brett McMillion, director of the division, the harvest is 30.4 percent above the 2022 harvest of 9,366 birds, 12.6 percent above … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice announced today that Free Fishing Weekend in West Virginia will return June 10-11, 2023, and encouraged anglers and their families to plan a trip. The Free Fishing Weekend is part of a nationwide effort to make fishing more accessible to the public. During these two days, residents and nonresidents … Read more
OLD FIELDS, W.Va. — Applications for a controlled mourning dove hunt at the South Branch Wildlife Management Area in Hardy County in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia are now available, according to officials at the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The annual controlled hunt is scheduled for Sept. 1-2. Mourning dove hunters who … Read more
LOUDONDALE, W.Va. — A stream restoration project designed to improve fishing and recreation at Kanawha State Forest near Charleston, West Virginia, has been completed, according to West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice. Started in 2020, the project was a significant undertaking and included the removal of the Davis Creek Dam, which was built in the 1930s. … Read more
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice today announced the winners of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources second annual Big Buck Photo Contest. The 20 youth and five adult winners were announced at a press conference at the State Capitol on Wednesday. Justice, an avid hunter, thanked state officials and all who had submitted … Read more
West Virginia Explorer Magazine publishes an updated list of waters stocked by the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources as the division publishes announcements. Trout Stocking in West Virginia, March 6-10, 2023. The following West Virginia waters were stocked with trout from March 6-10, 2023. Anthony Creek Big Clear Creek Little Clear Creek Big Sandy Creek … Read more
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources will host 12 in-person public meetings in mid-March 2023 to discuss proposed hunting, trapping, and fishing regulations, according to division director Brett McMillion. The meetings are scheduled at various locations around the state on Monday, March 13, and Tuesday, March 14, from 6 to … Read more
