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.
Beginning this year, West Virginia’s statewide spring gobbler season will run for five weeks instead of four, according to Mike Peters, wild turkey project leader for West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.The 2021 season opens Monday, April 19, the third Monday in April but now ends Sunday, May 23, eight days later than last year. … Read more
Hunters in West Virginia harvested 38,776 antlered deer during its two-week buck firearms season in 2020, according to preliminary data collected through the electronic game checking system managed by the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources.Gary Foster, assistant chief of game management for the division, said state game biologists felt positive about the harvest, which was … Read more
Waiting quietly alone in the dark woods, the approach of dawn can seem like an eternity. It can feel like time is standing still—holding its breath as night silently withdraws into the shadows, giving way to the break and light of day. In that moment, the old hunter heard a dog howl in ecstasy, signaling … Read more
Youth, senior, and Class Q/QQ hunters in West Virginia will be able to participate in a special hunting season for antlerless deer and a new season for black bear.Special seasons for antlerless deer and bear will run October 17-18, during which youth (ages 8-17), seniors, and Class Q/QQ senior hunters with Class XS licenses may … Read more
The opening of West Virginia’s archery and crossbow deer season is still a few weeks away, but hunters can get in the woods as early as September 5 when special deer archery hunts open in municipalities around the state.These urban deer archery hunts—coordinated by cities, towns, homeowner associations, and the West Virginia Division of Natural … Read more
Families looking for an alternative for school-based sports or a new outdoor activity their children have plenty of options in West Virginia, thanks to archery and other bow-shooting programs.With the COVID-19 pandemic creating uncertainty over participation in traditional team sports this school year, now is a great time to start, according to officials at the … Read more
Hunters who wish to participate in a controlled waterfowl hunt at the McClintic Wildlife Management Area in Mason County have until midnight on August 11 to submit an application to the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.Successful applicants will be notified by mail by the second week of September and given their hunt day and … Read more
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is accepting applications for its 2020 Limited Antlerless Hunt, which will be permitted in areas where division biologists have deemed the deer population too high.Chris Ryan, the supervisor of game management services for the division, says the hunt will help wildlife officials manage herds in those areas.“These limited … Read more
Turkey hunters in West Virginia can anticipate increased harvest opportunities during the 2020 spring gobbler season, which is scheduled to open Monday, April 20, according to the W.Va. Division of Natural Resources.Predictions are based on brood reports from two years earlier, as the average harvested gobbler is a two-year-old bird, and in 2018, brood production … Read more
When it comes to participating in West Virginia’s many hunting seasons, there’s a lot to remember.But new hunters don’t have to learn everything on their own, thanks to hunter-education classes being provided by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.The class is open to anyone who wants to learn more about hunting, but hunters must … Read more
