The timing of firearms season is a balance between hunting part of the rut while still allowing for the annual renewal of the. Firearm season is november 16 to 30, generally, with some variation. Hunting season whitetailed deer archery and crossbow september 30. Squirrel hunting is very popular with many west virginia sportsmen. Virginia wjhl one department in virginia wants people to know that there are no changes when it comes to youth hunting after community members raised concerns. Related conservation and nonprofit organizations for bird hunting in virginia ruffed grouse society. Despite being a smaller state, west virginia is home to more than 350,000. Specific laws and regulations are found in the code of virginia or the dgif fisheries, wildlife, and boating regulations. Aptly named the mountain state, west virginia gives hunters the opportunity to hunt in majestic solitude while pursuing deer, bear, turkey and small game. It is a time when hunters can participate in one of their favorite sports and also enjoy the fall beauty of the. Everything you need to plan your virginia hunting trips for 2020. Hunters should see plenty of deer this year due to the season opening close to the rut, or, mating season.
West virginia spring gobbler season to open april 20 posted on. Check the species and season listings for information about limits. Muzzleloader season is november 2 to 15 and december 14 to january 4 for most hunters. Deer of either sex may be taken full season during the early and late archery deer seasons, including the cities of chesapeake, virginia beach and suffolk east of. Virginia duck hunting season opener teaser youtube. All units west of the eastern boundary of the santiam, mckenzie, indigo, sprague and interstate units. There shall be a continuous open season for killing nuisance species of wild birds and wild animals as defined in 29. A second annual wild boar firearms season will run feb. On an upside, west virginia does have good public land opportunity with 500,000 stateowned acres and another million under u. If youve never been hunting, then the deer stand is probably not the best place to start. Its also important for traveling hunters to note, spring turkey hunting closes at 1 p. Wildlife resources commission has suspended the sale of all field trial permits until further notice. Turkey hunters in west virginia can anticipate increased harvest opportunities during this years spring gobbler season, scheduled to open monday, april 20. That generally means hunting seasons open around the same time hens begin nesting.
In addition to having over 2 million acres of public hunting land, virginias spring hunting season lasts for five weeks, and has a threebird bag limit. The buck firearms season has opened the monday before thanksgiving every year since 1965. Carry an uncased or loaded firearm in the woods, except during open firearms hunting seasons. Groundhog hunting on national forest lands and department lands is permitted from. November firearms deer season traditionally opens the monday before thanksgiving, so the season can start as early as nov.
In virginia, shed seeking season begins in january and typically lasts through spring gobbler season. Crossbow season closed, except for class yyy holders. Deer hunting and deer drives last day of pa gun season 2018. It is legal to hunt unprotected species of wild animals, wild birds. Casey was one of the very first followers of star city whitetails back in 2012 and i noticed early on that he was a quality deer. Virginia state parks are open for dayuse activities. While most deer hunting is legal on sunday in virginia, dog hunting is still banned on sunday. In all areas including merrimac farm wma and occoneechee state park unless otherwise noted below. Parkersburg the traditional buck firearms season and a concurrent bear season open today in west virginia. The daily bag limit for mallards will be two 2 with only one 1 being a hen.
Feral hogs can be shot at any time yearround during regular hunting hours, following all the regulations of the open season in which you are hunting. However, the ranges are normally only open from september 1 through march 31, so they will close at the end of the regular season on march 31. Take note that, as of last season, liquid deer scents that contain actual deer urine are outlawed in virginia as a guard against the spread of cwd. Deer whitetailed deer hunting seasons 14 west virginia hunting and trapping the maximum annual bag limit excluding special urban archery seas on and state parks hunts may include no more than 3 antlered bucks.
West virginia spring gobbler season to open hunting. There have been no changes to north carolina hunting or fishing license requirements, seasons, or bagcreel limits. West virginias archery and crossbow seasons to open on. Charleston, wv wowk hunters across west virginia are preparing for spring gobbler or spring turkey hunting season. Bird hunting in virginia a bird hunters guide to states. The season would coincide with the existing twoday youth hunt for antlerless deer and would be open on public and private lands, but only in counties where firearm hunting for antlerless deer is.
The natural hunting destination virginia department of. Bag limit is one turkey either sex per youthapprentice hunter, per weekend. There are a number of hunting preserves open for bird hunting in west virginia. Clarke and floyd counties and on private lands in frederick county. In all areas west of the blue ridge unless noted in the season exception below. No bag limit of closed season in that part of the rogue unit south of rogue river and south fork rogue river and north of hwy 140. Hunting for hunting season regulations in virginia hunters have to be well organized in virginia, since the state sets not one hunting season, but dozens. Hunting for small game in west virginia will begin october 7 th with the opening of squirrelseason. For answers to specific questions about hunting and trapping, please contact the virginia department of game and inland fisheries. Snipe season is from october 69 and october 21 to january 31. Snowshoe hare, bobwhite quail, bobcat, red fox and gray fox hunting seasons also open nov. Limits are set for each species hunting or trapping season. Squirrel hunting will probably not be attractive to the modern hunter because its not hunting for a trophy class buck or a banded pintail, but it is the foundational activity that makes a wise hunter. West virginias buck and antlerless deer firearms seasons.
West virginia offers several big game hunting seasons through the beautiful appalachian mountains. Yes, feral hogs can be shot when actively nighthunting raccoon, opossum, fox and coyote, following the regulations put in place for the season in which you are hunting. Interest in archery and crossbow hunting continues to be very strong and west virginia provides an incredible opportunity for our state. Find virginia hunting seasons, information on deer, elk, bear, turkey, small game and special hunt dates. West virginias buck, antlerlessdeer seasons open nov. West virginias 2019 wild boar firearms season opens oct. Groundhog hunting is permitted during the spring squirrel season on department lands that are open for spring squirrel hunting.
Everything you need to plan your west virginia hunting trips for 2020. Deer of either sex may be taken full season during the muzzleloader seasons within the incorporated limits of any city or town in the commonwealth that allows muzzleloading deer hunting except in the cities of chesapeake, suffolk, and virginia beach and only with the weapons archery tackle andor muzzleloaders authorized by each individual. Deer of either sex may be taken full season in the incorporated limits of any city or town in virginia that allows firearms deer hunting except in the cities of chesapeake, suffolk, and virginia beach, but only with the specific weapons authorized by each individual city or town. During any open season on deer with primitive weapons after november 30, a person may use any legal weapon of choice on private lands only, if the person is the title owner of the land, the lessee of the hunting rights on the land, a member of a hunting club leasing the hunting rights on the land, or a guest of a person specified above. Spring turkey hunting season the spring gobbler season is still scheduled to start on april 20. Hunting opportunities range from open hunting in designated areas to managed deer hunts in which individuals participate through a reservation.
Groundhog hunting on national forest lands and department lands is permitted from september 1march 10 and during the spring turkey season. North american versatile hunting dog association navhda the hunter safety course and dog training regulations for bird hunting in. West virginia spring gobbler season set to open wowk news. Archery and crossbow seasons for whitetailed deer, black bear and wild boar will open on saturday, september 28 and run through december 31, according to west virginia dnr director stephen mcdaniel.
Same as wild ducks in the zone in which you are hunting. Hunting for small game in west virginia begins early this year on sept. Hunting will be in accordance with the following special assateague island national seashore regulations and applicable state regulations new for 20192020. According to a national geographic report using numbers from the census, the number of women hunters in the united states grew from 1. The seasons in which you can hunt game are different for each species, and, even within a species, there are different periods to hunt with different weapons and different times in different.
Spring turkey hunting in virginia virginia offers some of the best early season turkey hunting opportunities in the eastern region. The season dates for the hillcrest wildlife management. The west virginia division of natural resources is giving hunters the chance to get back to their roots with more basic gear. Antlered deer may be taken every day of the season. Wild boar season opens in southern west virginia west. Statewide in counties, cities, and areas with a fall turkey season. West virginias small game hunting and trapping seasons open. In pennsylvania, hunting occurs when most of the breeding has been completed and many hens are on the nest. New to hunting, virginia beach woman nabs her first doe. Hunters throughout west virginia on the hunt for bucks, bear news. Eithersex deer hunting days east of the blue ridge.
You should be able to find good pheasant hunting at places like the stoney brook plantation or the greenbrier hunting preserve. West virginia, wvns today, january 10, 2019, kicksoff a new hunting season in west virginia called mountaineer heritage season. Taking elk counts towards a hunters deer permits and bag. A 179 58inch typical came from fauquier county, virginia, two years ago. West virginia hunting seasons, 20192020 hunting season hq. Antleress deer may only be taken on the designated eithersex deer hunting days listed below. Squirrel season officially open in virginia shore daily news. Virginia hunting seasons, 20192020 hunting season hq. Westmoreland state park is closed effective immediately until further notice. Please go to the reservation update page for more details update may 7. To comply with the governors stay at home order and help prevent the spread of covid19, the n. Specific laws and regulations are found in the code of virginia or the dgif fisheries. Hunting in the 21st century is a sport full of compound bows and modern firearms. It shall be lawful to hunt bobcat by day and night from november 1 through the last day in february, both dates inclusive.
West virginia hunting regulations meet mcdowell county. Virginia offers a list of larger sized animals for hunters such as deer, elk, bear. Youth and apprentice fall turkey hunting weekend season dates. It shall be lawful to take raccoon by hunting from october 15 through march 10, both dates inclusive. West virginia west virginias traditional buck firearms season begins monday, nov. However, social distancing is a must along with the leave no trace principles, including packin and packout, to keep outdoor spaces safe and. County see pages 1718 for public land regulations archery and crossbow seasons september 28. It is a whole different kind of hunting, i swear there is nothing in this world. We are working to reopen the campgrounds on may 22. Groundhog hunting is not permitted on national forest lands during the spring squirrel season. Archery deer seasons early archery season october 5 through november 15. The executive order allows engaging in outdoor activityfrom wv dnr website. Bird hunting in west virginia a wingshooting guide.
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