People hunting in counties or parts of counties where deer gun season is currently open must wear a bright orange outer garment of at least 400 square inches. This applies to districts or parts of districts where the special deer season for young/classes Q/QQ/XS without antler is special. This applies to the mountaineering heritage season. This does not apply to waterfowl hunters and people farming on their own land. CWD is a neurological disease (brain and nervous system) of the deer family known to occur in limited geographic locations in North America and Europe. The disease belongs to a family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE). These diseases are caused by an abnormal form of a protein called a prion. There are no practical tests on live animals to detect CWD, and there is no known treatment or vaccination. The antlerless deer season will be open on private and public lands (October 20-23, Nov. 21-Dec. 4, Dec. 8-11, and Dec. 28-31, 2022) in 51 counties or parts of counties.
Resident and non-resident hunters must apply for a limited number of N/NN wood-free licences for seven (7) counties or parts of counties, two (2) wildlife management areas, the national forest in Randolph and Pocahontas counties, the national forest and state lands in Nicholas and Webster counties, and two (2) state forests. Hunters hunting in a wildlife management area, national forest, state forest or county with restricted permits must have been selected and received an authorization card in addition to the Class N stamp to hunt in the wildlife management area, national forest, state forest or county indicated on the authorization card. This is not a hunting season in counties where antlerless deer season and goat gun season are open at the same time. To hunt antlerless deer, a valid N/NN stamp is required for all hunters, regardless of age, except resident tenants (who live on the property), resident landowners and their resident children who hunt on their own land or on the land of their resident parents, and resident parents who hunt antlerless deer on their resident children`s land; and Class DT licence holders. Each deer is electronically registered and a 13-digit game control number issued by the DNR, the hunter`s name and address must be attached to the deer: CWD in West Virginia poses a significant threat to the state`s white-tailed deer. The disease does not cause immediate and widespread death of deer, but if it can spread, it will cause long-term damage to the herd. MNR is taking steps to collect more information on the prevalence and prevalence of the disease in the vicinity of all known infected deer. The DNR also discourages additional feeding and baiting of deer throughout the state, prohibits these practices on public lands, and also prohibits these practices at all times in Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral and Morgan counties. In addition, there are restrictions on the disposal and transport of deer carcasses from Berkeley, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, and Morgan counties within containment zone WV (see WV CWD containment zone) and deer brought to WV from states where CWD has been detected or from fenced pens. There is no proven solution to control CWDs once they are present in free-ranging deer. Therefore, future management actions will be adaptable and based on the results of current and future monitoring.
A hunter may purchase more than one (1) N/NN class stamp for the season and counties open to antlerless deer hunting. Only one (1) deer may be captured per category N/NN stamp. Class N/NN stamps can be purchased at any time. It is illegal to hunt small game during deer rifle season with center shot, with ring shot greater than .22 caliber or with a shotgun with fixed-bullet ammunition or a shot larger than No. 4 in a county that is not open for horsegun season. Let`s go back to the awkward situation in West Virginia. Although it is legal to hunt deer with bait, it is illegal to hunt other game in this way. However, as the deer, bear and turkey season coincides, the law becomes much darker and more difficult for law enforcement. After killing a deer as a landowner, a person cannot take another deer with a permit for which the privilege has already been used. The catch limit of one antlerless deer per day does not count towards the hunter`s annual bag limit. In addition, a antlerless deer caught during the Youth, Q/QQ and XS Class seasons does not count towards killing a woodless deer before killing a second antlerless deer in the listed counties.
A Class N or NN stamp is not required for young hunters hunting without antlers during this special season. A Class N stamp is not required for seniors with a Class XS licence. Each captured deer must be marked with a field tag and electronically registered within 24 hours of the end of each game of that special offseason and before another deer is hunted. RB and RRB stamps must be purchased by September 23, 2022. RG and RRG stamps must be purchased by November 20, 2022. RM and RRM stamps must be purchased by December 11, 2022. Antlerless deer stamps (class N or NN) can be purchased at any time. There are 10 counties or parts of counties where a hunter can catch three antlerless deer during antlerless season by purchasing several Class N or NN stamps.
Hunters may catch up to three antlerless deer (class N or NN) in each county or part of a county, so as not to exceed the bag limit set in each county or part of a county and not to exceed the annual national limit of three antlerless deer (class N or NN). There are 10 counties, or parts of counties, where hunters must take a antlerless deer into the county, which can be captured during any regular antlerless deer hunting season before killing a second antler deer in the county. This rule applies to all deer regular seasons combined and mountaineers` heritage season. A bowhunter may catch small game at any time when the small game season opens, with the exception of the first three days of the deer gun season in counties where the deer gun season is held. A crossbow hunter may catch small game during deer crossbow season, with the exception of the first three days of deer gun season in counties where deer gun season is held. A hunter may not catch more than three antler deer during the regular deer season and the following heritage season combined. During the muzzle loading season, only single-shot muzzle chargers, including .38 gauge inlines, are legal. Riflescopes are legal. A firearm converted into a muzzle magazine or double-barrelled muzzle magazine or swivelling with a cap is illegal for deer hunting during muzzle loading season.
I don`t expect to see the end of bait hunting in West Virginia anytime soon. At some point, however, the discussion will have to take place in the context of wildlife management. It will not be a pleasant discussion, and it will take political courage to move it forward. In short, I`m not a fan of deer baiting. The negative far outweighs the positive. All other non-residents, with the exception of those holding a Class XXJ, AAHJ or DT licence, regardless of property ownership status, must obtain an annual Class E or AAH licence and a CS/LE stamp. This allows the owner to hunt a deer with antlers during the deer gun season. An over-under rifle-rifle combination is legal for deer hunting and simultaneous small game hunting. Class RM, RRM or DT Class Permit stamps can be used to capture one deer of both sexes in the 46 counties or parts of counties that have a seasonal N or NN seasonal bag limit of unlimited numbers or three antlerless deer (Class N).