West Virginia’s 2014 archery seasons for white-tailed deer, black bear and wild boar opened Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. The bear archery season is a split season (Sept. 27-Nov. 22 and Dec. 8-Dec. 31).
In addition to a base license, bear hunters must purchase a Bear Damage Stamp (Class DS) to hunt bear in West Virginia. Two bear may be taken per year, provided at least one bear is taken in Boone, Fayette, Kanawha, Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Nicholas, Raleigh or Wyoming counties. Other than the Class DS stamp, no additional stamps are needed to harvest the second bear during the archery season except for non-residents hunting on the National Forest (Class I).
Hunters also are reminded they need stamps if they wish to harvest additional deer during the archery season. One or two additional archery deer, depending on the county, may be taken with Class RB (Resident) or Class RRB (Nonresident) stamps (one per stamp). Consult the 2014-2015 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary for details. Hunters should also note in the regulations that, in 31 counties or portions thereof, they must take an antlerless archery deer prior to harvesting a second antlered deer. Additional archery stamps must be purchased prior to the start of the deer archery season.
The deer daily bag limit for deer increased last year, allowing an individual to take up to two deer in one day during any season. The first deer does not have to be legally checked at an official game check station 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 of Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming. In these counties, only two archery deer may be taken, one of which must be antlerless.
In all counties, legal resident landowners hunting on their own property and holders of Class DT (Life-threatening Conditions) licenses may use Class RB/RRB stamp privileges without stamp purchase.
For complete information, hunters should consult the 2014-2015 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary available at any WVDNR office, license agents, or by visiting the WVDNR website at www.wvdnr.gov.
