2008 HUNTING AND TRAPPING REGULATIONS
FAQ

 (See 2008-2009 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations)

CHANGES IN HUNTING  SEASON REGULATIONS FOR 2008

ANTLERLESS DEER SEASON - Antlerless Deer Season will be open on private land only Nov. 24-25 and on private and public land (Nov. 26 thru Dec. 6,  Dec. 8-13  and Dec. 24-27) in 44 counties or portions thereof.    Resident hunters will need to apply for a limited number of antlerless Class N permits for six (6) wildlife management areas.  This is not a hunter’s choice season in the counties where the Antlerless Deer Season and the Bucks-Only Season are open at the same time. To hunt antlerless deer a valid Class N/NN stamp is required for all hunters regardless of age except for resident tenants (residing on the property), resident landowners and their resident children hunting on their own land or land of their resident parents and resident parents hunting antlerless deer on their resident children’s land.  Hunters may take only one deer per day during the Nov. 24 thru Dec 6 deer season and during the Dec. 24-27 antlerless deer season. Hunters may take two antlerless deer per day on private land only during the Dec. 8-13 antlerless deer season in selected counties; however, the first antlerless deer taken must be checked before pursuing or taking the second antlerless deer.

BLACK BEAR SEASON – Significant changes have been made to the Black Bear firearms season and bag limit for 2008.  See page 34 of the 2008-2009 Hunting and Trapping Regulations.

REMINDER:

OLDER AGED DEER MANAGEMENT AREAS – Beech Fork Lake, Burnsville Lake, Bluestone Lake and McClintic Wildlife Management Areas and Coopers Rock State Forest have been designated older aged deer management areas and feeding and baiting for deer and other wildlife is prohibited.  All antlered deer taken must have a minimum outside antler spread of 14 inches.  The annual antlered deer bag limit is one for archery and firearms seasons combined (See page 11, 21, 23, 25 of the 2008-2009 Hunting and Trapping Regulations).

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY SPECIAL ANTLERLESS DEER SEASON – Hampshire County will have a two-day unlimited resident and nonresident antlerless deer season on October 31 – November 1, 2008.   Hunters can purchase the Class N/NN license from any license agent or on the Internet (See page 19 of the 2008-2009 Hunting and Trapping Regulations).

CLASS  N/NN ANTLERLESS DEER STAMPS – These stamps are no longer county specific; however, hunters hunting on a wildlife management area with limited permits must have been selected and issued an eligibility card in addition to the Class N stamp to hunt on the wildlife management area specified on the eligibility card (See page 17 of the 2008-2009 Hunting and Trapping Regulations).

            CLASS RG/RRG STAMPS  -  The Class RG/RRG additional buck stamps can only be used to take an additional antlered deer in Buck Season (See page  22 of the 2008-2009 Hunting and Trapping Regulations).

            CLASS RM/RRM STAMPS – The Class RM/RRM muzzleloader stamps permit the taking of one additional muzzleloader deer in Muzzleloader Season (See page 24 of the 2008-2009 Hunting and Trapping Regulations).

BAG LIMIT – No more than 3 antlered deer (bucks) may be taken during the year in all seasons combined with proper licenses.  (Two during the Buck Season and one during the Archery  or Muzzleloader seasons; two during the Archery season and one during the Buck or Muzzleloader seasons; one during the Archery season, one during the Buck Season and one during the Muzzleloader season; two during the Muzzleloader season and one during the Archery or Buck Seasons.)   

COUNTIES OPEN TO SUNDAY HUNTING.  As of August 1, 2008, private land in the following 14 counties is open to Sunday Hunting: Boone, Brooke, Clay, Hancock, Jefferson, Lincoln, Logan, Marshall, McDowell, Mingo, Ohio, Wayne, Wetzel and Wyoming counties.  

NONRESIDENT

1. Is the buck season a hunter’s choice season?
2. I’m a nonresident and I am coming to WV to hunt deer. Does my 14 year old son need a license?
3. I live in Ohio and I own property in Hampshire County. Can I doe hunt without a license on my own property?
4. I am a nonresident and possess Class E, CS/LE stamps. Am I required to purchase a Class UU stamp if I substitute my bow for a gun during a regular gun season?
5. I purchased an X license in January and moved to PA in June. Can I still hunt as a WV resident in November?
6. I am a nonresident and only want to hunt bear, what licenses do I need?
7. What is the CS/LE Stamp?
8. I am a handicapped nonresident hunter. Can I participate in the special Class Q hunts for deer in WV?

RESIDENT LANDOWNER

1. How many deer can I kill on my own property?
2. I bought a Class X Hunting and Fishing license. I also own property in Brooke County. Can I kill my first deer as a licensed hunter and then kill my additional deer as a landowner?
3. I bought a Class X Hunting and Fishing license. I also own property in Brooke County. Can I kill my first deer as a landowner and then kill an additional deer on a Class X license?
4. I am a West Virginia resident, can I hunt without a license on my resident parents’ property?
5. I am a corporate landowner with over 1,000 acres, can I kill a second doe without a Class N stamp?
6. I am a corporate landowner. Can I kill a second buck without an RG stamp?
7. Does a second antlered deer checked in by a resident landowner have to be checked in on a RG stamp or landowner?
8. Are landowners exempt from field tagging game?
9. Does a resident under the age of 15 have to be accompanied by a licensed hunter or equivalent when hunting on his resident parents’ property?

CLASS N ANTLERLESS DEER SEASON

1. Do I need a Class N/NN stamp to hunt antlerless deer during the Buck Season?
2. Are all Buck Deer Season days “either sex” or “hunter’s choice”?
3. Can I purchase more than one Class N/NN stamp and do I have to purchase it before the antlerless season?
4. Do I need to specify in what county I plan to use my Class N/NN stamp?
5. If a hunter buys two Class N/NN stamps at the same time, does the agent need to fill out 2 forms?

CLASS RG-RRG & CLASS RB-RRB STAMPS

1. How many Class RB or RRB stamps can I purchase and how many deer can I kill?
2. How many deer can be taken in the four archery-only counties (Logan, McDowell, Mingo & Wyoming)?
3. I hunt in Lewis County, which is open to antlerless deer hunting, how many deer can I take during the archery season and are there any specific requirements?
4. I have taken two deer as a landowner in Boone County during the bow season, can I still use my unfilled RB stamp in Boone County?
5. If I kill a buck on the first day of the buck season on private land in one of the 44 counties open to antlerless deer hunting, can I use my RG or RRG to take an antlerless deer on the second day?
6. Can an RG or RRG stamp be used in any county with an antlerless deer season for an additional antlerless deer?

SPECIAL ANTLERLESS DEER SEASON OCTOBER 31 – NOVEMBER 1 – HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

1. If I buy a Class N/NN stamp, can I hunt in Hampshire County during the special October 31st – November 1st season?
2. What is a containment area and where is it located in Hampshire County?
3. Can I bait for deer outside the containment area?

SPECIAL MUZZLELOADER SEASON - WILSON COVE STUDY AREA & HILLCREST WMAs

1. After taking a buck with a muzzleloader on the Hillcrest WMA during muzzleloader season (November 24-December 6, 2008) can I harvest an additional deer with my muzzleloader on an RG/RRG stamp?
2. Are scopes allowed on muzzleloaders during the muzzleloader season?
3. Where is the Wilson Cove special muzzleloader area?
4. Can I hunt antlerless deer during the antlerless deer season on the Wilson Cove Study Area using a conventional rifle?
5. After taking a buck with a muzzleloader in the Wilson Cove Study Area during the muzzleloader season (November 24-December 6, 2008) can I take part in the late muzzleloader season for deer of either sex?
6. Does a nonresident hunter, possessing a Class E license, need a muzzleloader deer hunting stamp (Class VV) in order to participate during the muzzleloader season for bucks in the Wilson Cove Study Area?
7. Is there a special bucks-only muzzleloader deer season on Hillcrest WMA in lieu of the traditional bucks-only firearm deer season?

LIFETIME LICENSE

1. I now reside in Ohio and possess a West Virginia lifetime license, do I need a Waterfowl Stamp?
2. I now reside in Ohio and possess a West Virginia lifetime license and want to antlerless deer hunt. What stamp do I buy and can I hunt in counties that are only open to residents?

MILITARY LICENSE

1. What licenses does a nonresident military person have to purchase?
2. I’m on military leave and when I joined the military, I was a resident of PA. Can I hunt in WV without a license?
3. I’m on military leave and when I joined the military, I was a resident of West Virginia. Can I hunt in WV without a license?

GENERAL

1. Is the special buck harvest restriction on McClintic, Bluestone, Burnsville, Beech Fork WMAs and Coopers Rock State Forest still in effect for 2008?
2. Is baiting or feeding for deer and other wildlife on McClintic, Burnsville, Bluestone, Beech Fork WMAs and Coopers Rock State Forest permitted?
3. Is a person who holds a Class Q permit exempt from buying other licenses?
4. Can a hunter during deer firearms season substitute a bow for a firearm without holding an archery license?
5. Is baiting for deer legal?

BEAR SEASON

1. With a change in the bear bag limit, do I need to purchase two bear damage stamps?
2. As a WV resident do I need any licenses to bear hunt on my own property?
3. Is bear hunting legal during the antlerless deer season?
4. Is baiting for bear, boar or turkey legal?
5. Can I archery hunt for bear and gun hunt with dogs for bear in the Cranberry Closed Area?

COYOTE HUNTING

1. Can I hunt coyotes at night with an artificial light?