The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources is reminding hunters to start preparing for the opening of the state’s archery and crossbow seasons for white-tailed deer and black bear.
The popular seasons will open on Sept. 24 and run through Dec. 31. Hunters are also reminded to purchase their license and stamps at wvhunt.com before the season starts.
Deer
Hunters may take up to two deer in one day during the archery or crossbow seasons, but only one antlered deer may be taken on the same day during any season. The first deer does not have to be electronically checked before harvesting the second deer on the same day.
Hunters who wish to harvest additional deer during the archery or crossbow seasons must purchase a Class RB or RRB stamp before Sept. 24. One or two additional archery or crossbow deer, depending on the county, may be taken with a archery deer stamp, for a total of one deer per stamp. West Virginia residents and senior hunters must buy a Class RB stamp to take additional archery or crossbow deer, but West Virginia resident landowners hunting on their own property and Class DT license holders are not required to purchase additional archery stamps.
Hunters are reminded that Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties are under special regulations. In these counties, only two archery deer may be taken, one of which must be antlerless. In 10 additional counties or portions thereof, hunters must take an antlerless deer in any regular deer season before harvesting a second antlered deer in that county.
Bear
Two bears may be taken per year, provided at least one bear is taken in Boone, Fayette, Kanawha, Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Nicholas, Raleigh or Wyoming counties. The daily bag limit for bear is one per day.
Resident bear hunters are required to purchase a base license and a bear damage stamp (Class DS) to hunt bear unless otherwise exempt from having a license. Nonresident bear hunters must purchase a bear hunting license (Class EE), a conservation/law enforcement stamp (CS/LE) and a Class DS stamp. Nonresidents hunting on national forest land must also purchase a National Forest stamp (Class I).
For more information about West Virginia’s hunting seasons and hunting regulations, download a copy of the 2022-2023 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary at wvdnr.gov.
