Hunting in West Virginia offers rewarding experiences and numerous benefits for outdoor enthusiasts and new residents relocating from big U.S. cities due to the remote-work revolution. With abundant forests, diverse wildlife, and well-managed public hunting lands, West Virginia provides hunters with opportunities to pursue deer, turkey, bear, and small game in breathtaking Appalachian settings. Hunting in the Mountain State promotes sustainable wildlife management, supports local traditions, and allows families to bond while spending time in nature. For remote workers seeking a balanced lifestyle and a deeper connection to the outdoors, hunting in West Virginia delivers fresh air, self-sufficiency, and a chance to enjoy the peaceful wilderness that makes living in this scenic state so rewarding. Be sure to visit our Hunting Travel Guide for more information about hunting and hunting areas in West Virginia.
Hunters in West Virginia registered 108,856 white-tailed deer through West Virginia’s electronic game-checking system during the recently completed seasons, according to the state Division of Natural Resources.The total harvest was within one percent of the 2017 deer harvest of 108,160 and 11 percent below the five-year average of 122,924, said Paul Johansen, chief of the … Read more
West Virginia hunters harvested 2,606 bears during the combined 2018 archery and firearms seasons, according to Colin Carpenter, black-bear project leader for the state Division of Natural Resources.One bear was harvested in Preston County during the state’s first Mountaineer Heritage Season, which ran Jan. 10–13, 2019.The preliminary harvest for the combined 2018 seasons was 18 … Read more
Frank Addington Jr.’s Amazing Archery Show returns to Charleston to headline the annual West Virginia Hunting & Fishing Show, set for January 25-27 in the newly renovated Charleston Convention Center.Produced by the West Virginia Trophy Hunters Association, a non-profit group dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and the preservation of hunting and hunters’ rights, the … Read more
Big-game hunters in West Virginia will have the opportunity to take part in West Virginia’s first “Mountaineer Heritage Season” this week.Running Thursday-through-Sunday, Jan. 10-13, hunters during the four-day season may take a deer or a bear using only primitive weapons.“This new season is a great opportunity to hunt in January and test your hunting skills,” … Read more
Officials at the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources are reminding trappers of beaver, bobcat, fishers, and otters that they are required to electronically register their catches within 30 days after the close of the respective season.Fur-bearer trapping seasons in the state opened Nov. 3, according to Gary Foster of the division’s Wildlife Resources Section.Foster said a … Read more
A large-scale, cooperative wildlife-habitat enhancement project has been initiated in the Lewis Wetzel Wildlife Management Area in southern Wetzel County with a $75,000 donation from Eureka Midstream, according to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.This project involves the division, Eureka Midstream, and the Mountaineer and Mid-Ohio branches of the Quality Deer Management Association and will … Read more
The 2018 West Virginia buck firearms season begins Monday, Nov. 19, and runs through Dec. 1, according to the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources, which estimates that approximately 250,000 deer hunters will roam the state’s woods through the period.Hunting contributes $500 million to the state’s economy each year, and deer hunters spend an estimated $230 … Read more
Wild game provides a low-fat, high-protein alternative to beef or other commercial meats, says a wildlife biologist with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.Its abundance in West Virginia also provides an opportunity for many families to fill their freezers with highly nutritious wild game.“Many West Virginians incorporate venison, wild turkey and other wild game … Read more
Editor’s Note: Author L.W. Oakley here considers the thoughts of a buck in the wilds of eastern North America as the hunt and winter ensue.Another long winter lay just ahead. Daylight was now longer coming and sooner leaving. The warmth of the sun did not soothe his body or calm his mind, even though the … Read more
West Virginia’s fall wild-turkey season opens Oct.13 — the third year that all 55 counties will have at least a one-week fall season and the first fall turkey season during which Sunday hunting is permitted on both private and public lands.“Fall seasons are based on county-specific spring gobbler season harvest, excluding the 14 traditional fall … Read more
