Hunting

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.

A young hunter enjoys the autumn season in West Virginia. Photo courtesy W.Va. Dept. of Commerce.

W.Va. releases 2019 Mast Survey and Hunting Outlook

A bounty of apples, black cherries, and red and black oak acorns will affect hunting in West Virginia this year, according to a report released today, while white and chestnut oak acorns are fewer and well below their long-term average.The fluctuation in food sources will greatly affect hunting, according to officials at the W.Va. Division … Read more

A black bear pauses to investigate a photographer in West Virginia.

Growing bear population prompts early hunt in W.Va.

An early black bear gun season, with or without hunting dogs, will run from Aug. 31 through Sept. 15 in all of Logan, McDowell, Mingo, and Wyoming counties in southern West Virginia, according to the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources.All or parts of 16 counties will open to bear gun hunting Sept.21-27, with or without … Read more

Controlled hunts are scheduled for the fall at Beech Fork, Cacapon, Canaan Valley, North Bend, Pipestem, and Twin Falls.

Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease diagnosed in West Virginia deer

West Virginia is experiencing an outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in the state’s white-tailed deer herd, according to the Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.So far this year, deer have been found dead in small areas of Summers, Monroe, and Greenbrier counties. Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease, virus serotype 2 (EHDV-2), has … Read more

The Byrd Telescope glows red in the darkness at Green Bank.

Lottery will permit rare deer harvest at W.Va. observatory

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory at Green Bank, West Virginia, has announced a special West Virginia resident-only controlled deer hunt at the observatory reserve Oct. 11-12, 2019.Hunters must enter a lottery for limited permits, according to Andy Malinoski, a spokesman for the W.Va. Department of Commerce.Due to the nature of the work at the observatory, … Read more

The Big Buck display attracts visitors during the annual West Virginia celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day.

W.Va. DNR seeks big bucks and trophy fish for displays

ROANOKE, W.Va.—The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is asking hunters and anglers to enter showcase pieces for the big buck and trophy fish display at the National Hunting and Fishing Day celebration Sept. 21-22 at Stonewall Resort State Park.Legally harvested, mounted trophy white-tailed bucks with a Pope-and-Young Club or Boone-and-Crockett Club net score of … Read more

Controlled hunts are scheduled for the fall at Beech Fork, Cacapon, Canaan Valley, North Bend, Pipestem, and Twin Falls.

Applications available for antlerless deer limited-permit areas

Applications for the 2019 Antlerless Deer Season limited permit areas are now available online and will be accepted until midnight Aug. 14, according to Chris Ryan, supervisor of game management services for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.“These limited permit areas provide antlerless deer hunting opportunities in counties or areas of the state where … Read more

A hunter calls a gobbler during spring turkey season in West Virginia.

West Virginia spring turkey harvest declined in 2019

Preliminary data indicates spring turkey hunters harvested 11,210 gobblers in 2019, according to Mike Peters, Game Bird and Small Game Project Leader for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.Although nine-percent less than 2018, this harvest is still three percent above the five-year average and nine percent above the 10-year average, Peters reported.Districts 4 and … Read more

A hunter calls a gobbler during spring turkey season in West Virginia.

W.Va. to host statewide public hunting, fishing meetings

The W.Va. Division of Natural Resources will hold 12 public meetings across the state on proposed hunting, trapping, and fishing regulations March 11-12 from 6 to 8 p.m.Anglers, hunters, trappers, landowners, and other concerned citizens who attend will have an opportunity to review and comment on proposed 2020 fishing regulations, 2020-2021 general hunting and trapping … Read more

Young hunter in the field in West Virginia

Natural Resources Commission to meet Feb. 24

The West Virginia Natural Resources Commission will conduct its quarterly meeting Sunday, Feb. 24, at the DNR Headquarters at 324 4th Avenue in South Charleston at 1 p.m. The public is invited to attend and make comments.The public is invited to attend and make comments.Items on the agenda include:Introductions and Acknowledgements: John & Vivian Knepper … Read more