Photo courtesy of the West Virginia Department of Commerce
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. - West Virginia's 2015 archery and crossbow seasons for white-tailed deer, black bear and wild boar began Sept. 26, 2015, with the archery and crossbow deer and boar seasons running through Dec. 31, 2015. The bear archery and crossbow seasons are split seasons (Sept. 26-Nov. 21 and Dec. 7-Dec. 31). New this year, crossbows are now a legal weapon for all licensed hunters.
In addition to a base license (Class EE Bear Hunting License for nonresidents), bear hunters must buy a Bear Damage Stamp (Class DS) to hunt bear. Two bear may be taken per year, provided at least one bear is taken in the counties of Boone, Fayette, Kanawha, Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Nicholas, Raleigh or Wyoming. Other than the Class DS stamp, no additional stamps are needed to harvest the second bear during the archery and crossbow seasons except for nonresidents hunting on the National Forest (Class I).
Individuals may take up to two deer in one day during any season. The first deer does not have to be electronically checked prior to harvesting the second deer in the same day. However, only one antlered deer may be taken in the same day during any season. The daily bag limit for bear remains one bear per day.
Special regulations exist for the four archery-only counties (Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming). In these counties, only two archery deer may be taken, one of which must be antlerless. Also, in these counties crossbows can only be used by holders of Class Y/YY permits.
In all counties, legal resident landowners hunting on their own property and holders of Class DT (Life-threatening Conditions) licenses may use additional Class RB/RRB stamp privileges without stamp purchase.
For complete information, hunters should consult the 2015-2016 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary available at any WVDNR office, license agent, or by visiting the WVDNR website at www.wvdnr.gov
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