Looking at possibly doing a bear hunt in the next couple of years. They include 2015 regulations for whitetailed deer, wild turkey, black bear and boar, proposed 2016 2017 general hunting and trapping regulations and proposed 2016 fishing regulations. Hunting season changes explained in new 20162017 west. The top five counties for firearms harvest were randolph 224, webster 210, pocahontas 204, pendleton 193 and nicholas 187. The maximum annual bag limit in a county or any legal combination of counties is three class n or nn antlerless deer. General information bear license to hunt bears, residents and nonresidents must purchase a bear license in addition to all other applicable licenses, permits or stamps, unless license exempt. Hunters who take part in west virginias earliest bear season can expect the woods to still be green. Survey and hunting outlook predicted an archery harvest similar to 2017 and a. This website exists to provide people with the latest hunting season dates and information for states across america.
Chase herndon 2017 archery bear hunt west virginia youtube. West virginia wildlife officials are seeking more liberal hunting regulations for deer and bears in 2017. Virginia 20192020 black bear harvest virginia dgif. Hunters and trappers must obtain their dnr id number before using the telephone game check option. The 3day early firearms season, archery and youthapprentice harvests increased over the 2017 18 seasons by 7%, 64% and 40%, respectively. This season will not supersede local ordinances with respect to hunting. West virginia offers several big game hunting seasons through the beautiful appalachian mountains. This is up from the 948 harvest in 2017 or 28 percent. West virginia hunters harvest 3,160 black bears in 2017 wv dnr. From the wv department of natural resources south charleston west virginias 2018 archery and crossbow seasons for whitetailed deer, black bear and wild boar will open saturday, sept.
Wvs 2018 hunting season will extend into 2019 hunting. The regulations brochure is available at hunting and fishing license agents, dnr district offices, dnr elkins and south charleston offices and online at. Is bear hunting legal during the antlerless deer season. An antlerless deer is any deer having no antlers or having no antler greater than three inches long above the hairline.
Before west virginias current bear hunting season began, wildlife officials predicted that hunters might kill more bears than ever. Aptly named the mountain state, west virginia gives hunters the opportunity to hunt in majestic solitude while pursuing deer, bear, turkey and small game. The addition of early bear seasons and the buckgun season over the past 10 years has helped decrease the influence of mast crops on total. Taking elk counts towards a hunters deer permits and bag. Countless wild berry patches attract bear from miles around. Virginia hunting seasons, 20192020 hunting season hq. Bears may be harvested using any lawful weapon within the incorporated limits of any city or town that allows bear hunting from october 5 to january 4. If you would like to contribute to this project, please let us know. To hunt bears, residents and nonresidents must purchase a bear license in addition to all other applicable licenses, permits or stamps, unless license exempt. Several important changes in the states fall hunting seasons for squirrel, whitetailed deer, black bear and wild. During the 201819 bear hunting seasons, 2,715 bears were harvested in virginia, which represents the second highest harvest of bears ever in virginia. The big game harvest figures for all of west virginia big game hunting seasons black bear. Early black bear hunting season opening in west virginia. It is unlawful for a person to permit a dog owned by.
Discover the amazing variety of wild and wonderful hunting, trapping and fishing opportunities in the mountain state. Spend the night in the iconic thorny mountain fire tower located in the forest. On cavalier wma dogs may only be used during the bear hound training season from august 17 through 31. A bear damage stamp class ds is not required of landowners, senior citizens, underage, military, disabled veterans and former pows. The untamed crew hunts the mountains of southern west virginia on the last day of early bear season. Wild boar archery and crossbow september 28 december 31 split season february 7 february 9. The 16day season, open in four counties in the states southwestern region, will begin. The 11,000 acres of secluded woodlands and the oldest of west virginias state forests, seneca borders the beautiful greenbrier river in pocahontas county. Wvdnr hunting regulations bear general regulations. Training for nonresidents may begin october 8, 2005 and continue throughout small game season, ending february 28, 2006. When hunting during the archery or muzzleloading bear seasons, except in certain counties during the youthapprentice bear hunting weekend see bear hunting regulations. Dnr asks panel to relax deer, bearhunting regulations john mccoy. Harvest records show more bear are taken in this area compared to any other area of virginia most years. Double spur outfitters hunts in northwest virginia, close to west virginia and maryland.
Hunters and trappers may now check their game via the telephone at 1844wvcheck, the website. In 2008 the dnr created an early bear season in september due to the rising populations. Several important changes in the states fall hunting seasons for squirrel, whitetailed deer, black bear and wild turkey are included in the new 2016 2017 west virginia hunting and trapping regulations summary brochure. Several important changes in the states fall hunting seasons are included in the new 20182019 west virginia hunting and trapping regulations summary. We are delighted to announce the release of the updated hunting, trapping and fishing map application.
Bear, deer and turkey tag validation and checking requirements. West virginia archery and crossbow season kicks off on saturday. The official page of the wildlife resources section of the west virginia division of natural resources. Proposals for the 2015 hunting, trapping and fishing regulations developed by the west virginia division of natural resources would permit a short firearms season for black bear, with or without. The muzzleloader and firearms harvest both decreased. Two black bear may be taken during the archery season or firearms season, or one each in the archery and firearms seasons combined provided that at least one bear must be taken in boone, fayette, kanawha, logan, mcdowell, mingo, nicholas, raleigh or wyoming counties.
Deer, bear, turkey and small game are popular quarry for hunters. Photo courtesy of the west virginia department of commerce. We start the morning off trying to find a track in the snow. Bear hunting firearms seasons virginia hunting seasons. As part of our comprehensive guide to us hunting seasons by state on this page you will find out when is hunting season for west virginia. To see more information consult the hunting and trapping regulations, page 44. Recently, black bear sightings have been reported in all 55 counties of west virginia. See more of wv bear hunters association on facebook. General regulations bear west virginia division of. Hunting and trapping seasons for small game in west virginia will commence in midoctober, and wildlife biologists with the state division of natural resources are predicting good opportunities for success this season. Wild boar gun october 26 november 2 1 split season february 7 february 9.
Details concerning bear hunting seasons can be found on pages 3540 of the 20192020 hunting and trapping regulations summary linked to this article. Wvs 2017 bear season running behind record pace hunting. But if you decide to hunt on your neighbors property private or public, you need the appropriate hunting licenses. Follow along as chase herndon tries to take a nice bear with his bow. Season dates and open counties for antlerless deer, fall wild turkey, and black bear hunting seasons have changed. Resident bear hunting license privileges to hunt black bear in west virginia, residents must have a valid class a, ab, x, xj, q, lifetime class al or abl license accompanied by a bear damage stamp class ds. Species opening date closing date daily bag limit possession limit season limit. These dates are for the 2017 2018 hunting seasons only, dates for 2016 2017 can be found here. There have been no changes to north carolina hunting or fishing license requirements, seasons, or bagcreel limits. Total whitetail deer boone and crockett records for west virginia.
Tennesseevirginiawest virginia bear hunting trapperman. The list of west virginias black bear hunting seasons keeps on growing. Latest on the list, added just this year, will be a fourday firearm season that will begin on oct. Wv bear hunt tag along with me to camp creek state forest on an unsuccessful bear hunt. Dnr asks panel to relax deer, bearhunting regulations. There is also general information on the different hunting seasons for a wide range of wild game species. Advertisement an increase in the availability of mast this year and a mild winter in 2016 2017 should contribute to a bountiful season, according.
An exciting west virginia black bear hunt with an unexpected ending. Unlawful to shoot without intent to retrieve the bear no person shall kill or cripple and knowingly allow any game. West virginia division of natural resources announces dates for regulations. We hope to have up to date, accurate information online for the 2017 2018 hunting season. West virginias archery and crossbow seasons open sept. Best of all, its easy to come and hunt, with access from all of the major interstates, i66 and i81. Black bears have made great comeback in state sports.
The black bear archery and crossbow seasons in logan, mcdowell, mingo and wyoming counties will not close during the buck firearms season, and will be open sept. West virginia hunters harvest 3,160 black bears in 2017. Wildlife resources commission has suspended the sale of. Didnt see any bear just sign but i did stumble up on a young buck who wasnt very smart. West virginia division of natural resources home facebook. Wild boar archery and crossbow september 28 december 31 split season. West virginia hunting seasons, 20192020 hunting season hq. Two bears may be taken during the bear firearms season provided that at least one bear must be taken in boone, fayette, kanawha, logan, mcdowell, mingo, nicholas, raleigh or wyoming counties. Hunters who kill a black bear are now required to submit a first premolar tooth by jan. As a wv resident do i need any licenses to bear hunt on my own property.
Hunting seasons west virginia division of natural resources. Well, the first 3 days of the first week of the 2016 wv firearm season at camp was exciting, now we are hunting on our lease in northern fayette county, wv. West virginia hunters harvested 2606 black bears during the combined. West virginia hunters harvested 2,606 black bears during the. New hunting regulations include early bear season in. The 2017 18 season dates and bag limits for migratory game birds will be available in midapril. Theres just a few days left of the 2017 bear season in southern west virginia. To comply with the governors stay at home order and help prevent the spread of covid19, the n. Unlawful to feed bears see general hunting information for details. Conservation, tradition and the heart of the houndsman duration. Legislature considers allowing kanawha river become second water intake source.
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