The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources report that hunters harvested 111,646 deer during the 2024–2025 seasons, which is a 2 percent increase over the previous year’s harvest of 109,246 and 1 percent above the 5-year average of 110,296.
According to preliminary numbers, hunters harvested 41,435 bucks during the traditional buck firearm season, 33,057 antlerless deer during all antlerless firearm hunting opportunities, 32,240 deer during the urban and regular archery/crossbow seasons, 4,173 deer during the muzzleloader season and 741 deer during the Mountaineer Heritage season.
“This year’s encouraging increase in deer harvests highlights the dedication of West Virginia’s hunters and the incredible opportunities our state offers for outdoor recreation,” said WVDNR Director Brett McMillion. “Deer hunting not only allows hunters to experience the beauty of West Virginia’s great outdoors but also plays a vital role in managing our natural resources and ensuring healthy wildlife populations for generations to come.”
Antlerless Deer Season
Hunters harvested 33,057 deer during the 2024 antlerless deer season, which includes the youth, class Q and class XS deer season. This total represents a 14 percent increase compared to 2023 and is 9 percent above the five-year average of 30,464. The top ten counties for antlerless deer harvests were Preston (1,657), Jackson (1,321), Mason (1,298), Lewis (1,262), Wood (1,242), Upshur (1,203), Ritchie (1,129), Randolph (1,101), Monroe (998) and Roane (925).
In Pendleton County, hunters harvested 579 antlerless deer. Harvest in surrounding counties were Grant (651), Hardy (796) and Pocahontas (412).
Muzzleloader Deer Season
Hunters harvested 4,173 deer during the 2024 muzzleloader season, which was 8 percent less than the 2023 harvest of 4,521 and 5 percent below the five-year average of 4,404. The muzzleloader deer season harvest does not include the deer taken with side lock and flintlock muzzleloaders during the Mountaineer Heritage season. The top ten counties for muzzleloader deer harvests were Nicholas (207), Randolph (206), Preston (171), Upshur (150), Greenbrier (145), Wood (129) Barbour (119), Ritchie (116), Jackson (114) and Mason and Webster (110).
Harvest in Pendleton County was 57 with Grant (74), Hardy (75) and Pocahontas (70).
Archery and Crossbow Deer Season
Hunters harvested 32,240 deer during the 2024 archery and crossbow season — 12,920 with bows and 19,320 deer with crossbows. The 2024 harvest was a 6 percent increase over the 2023 harvest of 30,287, and a 2 percent increase over the five-year average of 31,527. The archery and crossbow harvest does not include deer taken with recurves or longbows during the Mountaineer Heritage season. The top ten counties for archery and crossbow deer harvests were Preston (1,503), Randolph (1,144), Raleigh (1,136), Kanawha (1,099), Wood (1,044), Jackson (949), Wyoming (944), Mason (922), Upshur (873) and Fayette (872).
The archery and crossbow harvest in Pendleton County was 522 with Grant (450), Hardy (458) and Pocahontas (401).
Buck Firearms Season
Hunters harvested 41,435 during the buck firearms season. Harvest in Pendleton County was 1,329 with hunters in Grant taking 1,179, Hardy 1,188, Pocahontas 1,269 and Randolph 1,583.
Mountaineer Heritage Season
A total of 741 deer were harvested statewide during the Mountaineer Heritage Season. Hunters harvested 11 deer in Pendleton County during this season while seven were taken in Grant, eight in Hardy, five in Pocahontas and 31 in Randolph.
