1. Hunt Research Tools
  2. Application Season
  3. West Virginia

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.

the best hunting app, onX Hunt, on an iPhone screen with the mapping app up
Get The App
Try Before You Buy

Sign up for a 7-day free trial of onX Hunt and unlock, explore, and master all the map tools and features we offer.

Asset 1apple Asset 2droidAsset 3droid

West Virginia Hunting Seasons

Filter By:
Season
Start Date
End Date
Bear
Sep 2, 2023 – Sep 10, 2023
Bear

See Regulations for more details.

Sep 2, 2023
Sep 10, 2023
Bear
Sep 16, 2023 – Sep 17, 2023
Bear – Youth 1
Youth/Class Q/QQ/Class XS. Select counties. See regulations for more details.
Sep 16, 2023
Sep 17, 2023
Bobcat
Nov 4, 2023 – Feb 29, 2024
Bobcat
Hunting and Trapping. See regulations for further details.
Nov 4, 2023
Feb 29, 2024
Coyote
Jan 1, 2023 – Aug 31, 2023
Coyote – Night Hunting
Night-with artificial light/night vision technology. No limit.
Jan 1, 2023
Aug 31, 2023
Deer
Jan 11, 2024 – Jan 14, 2024
Deer – Winter
See regulations for details on bear and deer winter season.
Jan 11, 2024
Jan 14, 2024
Dove
Dec 18, 2023 – Jan 24, 2024
Dove – Late
Dec 18, 2023
Jan 24, 2024
Duck
Dec 23, 2022 – Jan 31, 2023
Duck – Late
See regulations for more details.
Dec 23, 2022
Jan 31, 2023
Duck
Sep 16, 2023 – Sep 16, 2023
Duck – Youth 1
See regulations for more details.
Sep 16, 2023
Sep 16, 2023
Fox
Nov 4, 2023 – Feb 29, 2024
Fox – Red and Gray Fox
Hunting and Trapping
Nov 4, 2023
Feb 29, 2024
Fox
Jan 1, 2024 – Feb 29, 2024
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
Sep 1, 2023 – Sep 10, 2023
Goose – Canada Goose (Early)
See regulations for more details.
Sep 1, 2023
Sep 10, 2023
Goose
Sep 16, 2023 – Sep 16, 2023
Goose – Youth 1
See regulations for more details.
Sep 16, 2023
Sep 16, 2023
Goose
Dec 11, 2023 – Jan 31, 2024
Goose – Canada & White-fronted (Late)
See regulations for more details.
Dec 11, 2023
Jan 31, 2024
Goose
Dec 11, 2023 – Jan 31, 2024
Goose – Light Goose (Late)
Blue and snow goose. See regulations for more details.
Dec 11, 2023
Jan 31, 2024
Goose
Jan 2, 2024 – Jan 31, 2024
Goose – Brant
See regulations for more details.
Jan 2, 2024
Jan 31, 2024
Grouse
Oct 14, 2023 – Feb 29, 2024
Ruffed Grouse
Oct 14, 2023
Feb 29, 2024
Hog
Sep 30, 2023 – Dec 31, 2032
Wild Boar – Early Archery & Crossbow
See regulations for more details.
Sep 30, 2023
Dec 31, 2032
Hog
Feb 2, 2024 – Feb 4, 2024
Wild Boar – Late Gun
See regulations for more details.
Feb 2, 2024
Feb 4, 2024
Hog
Feb 2, 2024 – Feb 4, 2024
Wild Boar – Late Archery & Crossbow
See regulations for more details.
Feb 2, 2024
Feb 4, 2024
Rabbit
Nov 4, 2023 – Feb 29, 2024
Rabbit – Cottontail
Nov 4, 2023
Feb 29, 2024
Rabbit
Nov 4, 2023 – Feb 29, 2024
Rabbit – Snowshoe Hare or Varying Hare
Nov 4, 2023
Feb 29, 2024
Turkey Game Type
Apr 13, 2024 – Apr 14, 2024
Turkey – Spring Youth
See regulations for details.
Apr 13, 2024
Apr 14, 2024
Turkey Game Type
Apr 15, 2024 – May 19, 2024
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 maps of Gov Lands, covering over 1,700,000 acres in West Virginia. Not all Gov Lands offer access opportunities, check regulations before recreating.

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.

hunter looking at onX Hunt on their phone


The #1 GPS Hunting App

  • 975 million acres of public land
  • 10,668 unique hunting units
  • 421 map overlays and counting
  • 5,000 game wardens approve