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West Virginia Hunting

Everything you need to plan your hunting trips in West Virginia, from maps and regulations to season dates, game animals, quotas, and hunt zones. Plus much more! Start your research right here.

Overview

Known For

West Virginia is known for great hunting opportunities for four primary species–whitetail deer, black bear, turkey, and wild boar. For black bear hunting, particularly, West Virginia is known for having the most liberal hunting opportunities in the lower 48 U.S. states and bears have been harvested in 53 of the state’s 55 counties in recent years. The state also recently introduced elk with the hopes of one day offering an elk hunting season.

Terrain

West Virginia’s terrain varies from mountains to river valleys to plateaus. Most of the state lies in the Appalachian mixed mesophytic forests, with its eastern border in the heart of the Appalachian/Blue Ridge Mountains. There are over 1,000 named peaks in West Virginia, and per square mile, the state is officially the most mountainous in the U.S.

West Virginia Hunting Seasons

Filter By:
Season Start Date End Date
Bear
Bear

See Regulations for more details.

Sep 2, 2023 Sep 10, 2023
Bear
Bear – Youth 1
Youth/Class Q/QQ/Class XS. Select counties. See regulations for more details.
Sep 16, 2023 Sep 17, 2023
Bear
Bear – Archery & Crossbow
See regulations for more details.
Sep 30, 2023 Dec 31, 2023
Bear
Bear

See Regulations for more details.

Oct 7, 2023 Oct 13, 2023
Bear
Bear – Youth 2

Youth, Class Q & XS

Oct 21, 2023 Oct 22, 2023
Bear
Bear

See Regulations for more details.

Oct 26, 2023 Oct 29, 2023
Bear
Bear

See Regulations for more details.

Nov 20, 2023 Dec 3, 2023
Bear
Bear

See Regulations for more details.

Dec 4, 2023 Dec 31, 2023
Bobcat
Bobcat
Hunting and Trapping. See regulations for further details.
Nov 4, 2023 Feb 29, 2024
Coyote
Coyote
No limit.
Jan 1, 2023 Dec 31, 2023
Coyote
Coyote – Night Hunting
Night-with artificial light/night vision technology. No limit.
Jan 1, 2023 Aug 31, 2023
Deer
Deer – Archery & Crossbow
See regulations for more details.
Sep 30, 2023 Dec 31, 2023
Deer
Deer – Youth 1
Antlerless only. See regulations for more details.
Oct 21, 2023 Oct 22, 2023
Deer
Deer – Antlerless 1
Select counties only. See regulations for details.
Oct 26, 2023 Oct 29, 2023
Deer
Deer – Firearm Buck
See regulations for more details.
Nov 20, 2023 Dec 3, 2023
Deer
Deer – Antlerless 2
Select counties only. See regulations for details.
Nov 20, 2023 Dec 3, 2023
Deer
Deer – Antlerless 3
Select counties only. See regulations for details.
Dec 7, 2023 Dec 10, 2023
Deer
Deer – Muzzleloader
See regulations for more details.
Dec 11, 2023 Dec 17, 2023
Deer
Deer – Youth 2
Antlerless only. See regulations for more details.
Dec 26, 2023 Dec 27, 2023
Deer
Deer – Antlerless 4
Select counties only. See regulations for details.
Dec 28, 2023 Dec 31, 2023
Deer
Deer – Winter
See regulations for details on bear and deer winter season.
Jan 11, 2024 Jan 14, 2024
Dove
Dove – Late
Dec 19, 2022 Jan 24, 2023
Duck
Duck – Youth 1
See regulations for more details.
Sep 17, 2022 Sep 17, 2022
Duck
Duck – Late
See regulations for more details.
Dec 23, 2022 Jan 31, 2023
Fox
Fox – Red and Gray Fox
Hunting and Trapping
Nov 4, 2023 Feb 29, 2024
Fox
Fox – Night Hunting
Red and Gray Fox. Hunting at night with artificial light/night vision technology. No limit.
Jan 1, 2024 Feb 29, 2024
Goose
Goose – Canada Goose (Early)
See regulations for more details.
Sep 1, 2022 Sep 11, 2022
Goose
Goose – Youth 1
See regulations for more details.
Sep 17, 2022 Sep 17, 2022
Goose
Goose – Canada & White-fronted (Late)
See regulations for more details.
Dec 4, 2022 Jan 31, 2023
Goose
Goose – Light Goose (Late)
Blue and snow goose. See regulations for more details.
Dec 4, 2022 Jan 31, 2023
Goose
Goose – Brant
See regulations for more details.
Dec 13, 2022 Jan 31, 2023
Grouse
Ruffed Grouse
Oct 14, 2023 Feb 29, 2024
Hog
Wild Boar – Early Archery & Crossbow
See regulations for more details.
Sep 30, 2023 Dec 31, 2032
Hog
Wild Boar – Early Gun
See regulations for more details.
Oct 28, 2023 Nov 4, 2023
Hog
Wild Boar – Late Gun
See regulations for more details.
Feb 2, 2024 Feb 4, 2024
Hog
Wild Boar – Late Archery & Crossbow
See regulations for more details.
Feb 2, 2024 Feb 4, 2024
Pheasant
Pheasant – Regular
Roosters only.
Nov 4, 2023 Jan 6, 2024
Pheasant
Pheasant – Hillcrest WMA
Roosters only.
Nov 11, 2023 Dec 2, 2023
Quail Game Type
Bobwhite Quail
Closed to hunting on Tomblin WMA.
Nov 4, 2023 Jan 6, 2024
Rabbit
Rabbit – Cottontail
Nov 4, 2023 Feb 29, 2024
Rabbit
Rabbit – Snowshoe Hare or Varying Hare
Nov 4, 2023 Feb 29, 2024
Turkey Game Type
Turkey – Fall 1
Select counties only. See regulations.
Oct 14, 2023 Oct 22, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Turkey – Fall 2
Select counties only. See regulations.
Oct 30, 2023 Nov 5, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Turkey – Fall 3
Oct 30, 2023 Nov 19, 2023
Turkey Game Type
Turkey – Spring Youth
See regulations for details.
Apr 13, 2024 Apr 14, 2024
Turkey Game Type
Turkey – Spring
Bearded turkeys only. See regulations for details.
Apr 15, 2024 May 19, 2024

West Virginia Licenses, Permits, and Regulations

West Virginia hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the official website of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. Click below to view the website.

Hunting GPS Maps

Every West Virginia hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. West Virginia hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of hunt zones, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for West Virginia.

Hunt Zones

West Virginia’s hunt zones are part of the state’s management of 96 wildlife management areas (WMAs), which are inside six different districts. Each hunt zone has different rules, regulations, and bag limits for different species. Click below to view West Virginia’s hunt zones in more detail through an interactive map.

Hunting Layers

WV Private Lands Preview

WV Private Lands

Over 1,000,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer shows property owners in West Virginia. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.

WV Gov Lands Preview

WV Gov Lands

onX has the most accurate public lands maps with over 1,700,000 acres in West Virginia to help you plan your next adventure. Tap any public land parcel to learn more.

SUBLAYERS (7) Expand Sublayers
WV Game Mgmt Units Preview

WV Game Mgmt Units

West Virginia Game Management Units

Includes 7 Sublayers

  • WV Antlerless Deer Hunt Zones
  • Whitetail Deer Muzzleloader Hunt Zone
  • Whitetail Deer Firearm Hunt Zone
  • Archery Whitetail Deer Hunt Area
  • Boar Hunt Zone
  • Fall Turkey Hunt Zone
  • Bear Hunt Zones
WV Possible Access Preview

WV Possible Access

onX has mapped 580,000 acres of possible access lands in West Virginia including timber and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.


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