West virginia hunting seasons, 20192020 hunting season hq. After doing a ton of research, i settled on the amped 415. Crossbows may not be used to take carp or any other fish. Bought it a long way out from the season so i could become comfortable with it and make any upgrades i need within plenty of time before deer season. Crossbow hunting qualifications and safety information crossbows may be used by any person age 14 or older to hunt deer, bear, unprotected wildlife and most small game species except waterfowl and other migratory game birds. Sergeant michael coberly, a west virginia division of natural resources police officer, says that crossbow hunting is now legal in the mountain state. Hunting in the 21st century is a sport full of compound bows and modern firearms. West virginia archery and crossbow season kicks off on saturday. At the same time the commissioners voted to split several seasons, they voted to consolidate the states archeryandcrossbow season for black bears. Many cities and towns in west virginia are experiencing problems with deer vehicle collisions and damage to ornamental shrubs and gardens due to increasing deer populations. However, some states, such as new york, prohibit convicted felons from possessing and using crossbows, so it is illegal for a felon to hunt with a crossbow in those jurisdictions. West virginia deer gun season kill totals down from 2018. The wvdnr could combine compound and crossbow season or add a whole new season for crossbow hunting.
Y license holders to use a crossbow during the crossbow deer season in. Hd mediawest virginias 2018 archery and crossbow seasons for whitetailed deer, black bear and wild boar will open saturday, sept. Thus, a convicted felon may hunt with a crossbow without violating federal law. Official site of the west virginia division of natural resources els for wv state parks and wv hunting and fishing licenses.
West virginia hunters harvest 108,856 deer during fall 2018. The west virginia state legislature took action earlier this year to legalize the use of crossbows during big game firearms seasons. Our staff will manage these new lands to enhance essential wildlife habitat for a variety of forestland. Commissioners also approved the dnrs proposal to split the states existing archery and crossbow season for urban deer into two segments, and to hold one of those segments in midtolate january. South charleston, wv west virginias 2015 archery and crossbow seasons for whitetailed deer, black bear and wild boar began.
There will be no new license fee door 2015 and the season will be the entire length. Bow season opens for deer hunters saturday across west virginia and for the 1st time any hunter can take aim with a powerful crossbow. Again, there may be further restrictions applied during these seasons such draw weights and the use of scopes. New season proposed for west virginia whitetail deer hunting. Now that crossbow seasons have been established for all of west virginias biggame animals. Typically wild game animals are divided into several categories for regulatory purposes. West virginia deer gun season kill totals down from 2018 wildlife officials say the number of antlered whitetailed deer killed in west virginia during. West virginias archery and crossbow seasons to open on. Everything you need to plan your west virginia hunting trips for 2020. Archery or crossbow deer hunters hunting during the early urban archery deer season are required to wear blaze color on the youth and apprentice deer hunting weekend. West virginias deer, bear and boar archery and crossbow.
West virginia division of natural resources director stephen mcdaniel says the states 2019 archery and crossbow seasons for whitetailed deer, black bear and wild boar will open saturday, sept. Hunters who plan to hunt with a crossbow must have in their possession while afield either their completed hunter. West virginias whitetail hunting season extended to 2019. Some changes to 201819 wv hunting regulations sports. The new rule adds 30 days to each crossbow season in zones a, b, and c, and adds 33 days in zone d, thereby coinciding with the archery season on private. The muzzleloader deer season dates have changed, and the season will run december 1016.
It has been estimated that hunters harvested 99,437 deer during the season. With the start of a new decade this year, i decided to take a look back at the most notable changes that took place to hunting seasons in west virginia. Crossbow laws and regulations are crossbows legal in my. Opening day of the 2019 wv archery hunt with the ravin r9 crossbow. Us crossbow regulations tenpoint tenpoint crossbows. The seasons harvest was nine percent below the 2018 harvest of 108,856. There would be many options open to put crossbow season in effect. Virginias combined 70,000 bow and crossbow hunters represent less than 30 percent of total deer hunters and harvest about 10 percent of the states deer annually. West virginia hunters harvest more than 99,000 deer in. Bow and crossbow hunting is prohibited on bright mccausland homestead wildlife management area. Further, the director shall designate a separate season for crossbow hunting and identify which species of wildlife may be hunted with a crossbow. Check your states regulations before making your purchase. The opening of buck season is upon us sports columns register.
Consider the following before buying your new crossbow. Dnr answers questions about crossbow season outdoor. Changes to hunting season over the previous decade sports. West virginia is the latest state to acknowledge that crossbow hunting is just like hunting with any vertical bow. West virginia offers several big game hunting seasons through the beautiful appalachian mountains. Crossbows may legally be used to hunt during the firearm and archery seasons.
If you find a better price on a crossbow from another qualifying retailer, well match it with our best price. Aptly named the mountain state, west virginia gives hunters the opportunity to hunt in majestic solitude while pursuing deer, bear, turkey and small game. Despite being a smaller state, west virginia is home to more than 350,000. The west virginia division of natural resources has restrictions for yearround and seasonal hunting.
Crossbow hunting information new york hunting seasons. Crossbows were legalized for all virginia deer hunters in 2005. West virginia, wvns today, january 10, 2019, kicksoff a new hunting season in west virginia called mountaineer heritage season. Crossbow hunters of protected species require a hunting license in all states, for which completion of a hunting safety course is sometimes a prerequisite. Interest in archery and crossbow hunting continues to be very strong and west virginia provides an incredible opportunity for our state. Want to know if its legal to hunt using a crossbow in west virginia. Finally, crossbows that are built like a longrange, precision rifle. Draw weight is key, as some states have specific minimum and maximum requirements for hunting to ensure ethical harvesting. The new rule adds 30 days to each crossbow season in zones a, b, and c, and adds 33 days in zone d, thereby coinciding with the archery season on private land only.
For example, federal law does not consider a crossbow to be a firearm. Fall wild turkey season dates and open counties have changed. The use of a crossbow is legal in the following states during deer or game hunting seasons only. Archery and crossbow hunting for antlered and antlerless deer is. Our benchmark fire control technology features a twostage, match grade trigger, our easyload boltretention arm, and our oneofakind decocking button that allows shooters to safely decock their crossbow without disengaging the.
The archery and crossbow deer and bear seasons run through dec. West virginia dnr deer archery regulations fact sheet. West virginias 2018 archery and crossbow seasons for whitetailed deer, black bear and wild boar will open saturday, sept. Take your hunt to the next level with a powerful, dependable crossbow from dicks sporting goods. Im a retired disabled veteran and served with the us army for 10 years. New season proposed for west virginia whitetail deer. Ny state senate bill s86a the new york state senate. Class y crossbow permit for persons with permanent and substantial physical impairment ddfl application fishing license for wv residents with a. Its hard to believe were in our 10th season of delivering the best in online bowhunting adventure to hunters across the country.
From the wv department of natural resources south charleston west virginias 2018 archery and crossbow seasons for whitetailed deer, black bear and wild boar will open saturday, sept. In the past, bowhunters were prohibited from hunting bears during the firearm season for buck deer. State prepares for inaugural crossbow season august 28, 2015 west virginia, the rut is. West virginias archery and crossbow seasons open sept. Shoot, hunt or trap upon the fenced or posted grounds of another person without having in your possession written permission from the landowner. Archery and crossbow seasons for whitetailed deer, black bear, and wild boar will open saturday, sept. West virginias season historically has opened the monday before. Hunt in state parks, in safety zones in state forests or wildlife management areas,and in harpers ferry national historical park. From new hunters to the oldseasoned deer camp veterans, this season is special to all. Crossbow hunting regulations and laws in west virginia. They also instructed the division of natural resources to establish a separate crossbow hunting season and identify those game species that could be. The slings and arrows well, mainly the arrows of hunting fortunes take a new turn this weekend. Wild boar seasons will be split, with the second portion for gun, archery and crossbow to be held feb. Photo courtesy of the west virginia department of commerce.
The officials also proposed splitting the states existing archeryandcrossbow season for urban deer into two parts, with one. Arizona elk prepared for their new west virginia home may 15, 2018. Be sure to visit the divisions website for additional details and regulations. Ap west virginia wildlife officials have stretched the states 2018 whitetail hunting season by creating a new season and extending an existing one. The west virginia division of natural resources wvdnr has released preliminary counts that show hunters in west virginia harvested more than 99,000 whitetailed deer during the 20192020 seasons. The west virginia department of natural resources wvdnr will have to see where there would be enough time to squeeze crossbow hunting season in. Wvs 2018 hunting season will extend into 2019 hunting. Were kicking things off for season 10 with an exciting turkey hunt with tommy alford and his young son, jack. Effective july 2011, the florida fish and wildlife conservation commission passed a new rule which will extend zonal crossbow seasons by a month. Hunters are required to purchase a crossbow permit to use one during the archery only season. As an additional exception, if youre a class yyy holder, you are allowed to hunt with a crossbow in these counties as. Wv archery asscociation member of national field archery assoc.
Crossbows finally legal for deer hunting in wv the. Bag limits, special seasons and hunting regulations for west virginia hunting seasons do vary based on animal and seasons. State wildlife officials have voted to extend the 2018 whitetail hunt into 2019 by creating an entirely new season and. Commissioners also approved the dnrs proposal to split the states existing archeryandcrossbow season for urban deer into two segments, and to hold one of those segments in midtolate january. Jeremy rowbotham shoots a good buck last day of the new york crossbow season 2019. The state has eliminated the handicapped regulations for the use of a crossbow in their deer season. The class y crossbow permit must be accompanied by a valid hunting license and any stamps necessary to participate in the designated season unless the. Alabama, delaware, kansas, nebraska, new hampshire, nevada, new york, pennsylvania, rhode island, utah. Archery and crossbow seasons for whitetailed deer, black bear and wild boar will open on saturday, september 28 and run through december 31, according to west virginia dnr director stephen mcdaniel. Official site of the west virginia division of natural resources, wv state parks, and wv hunting and fishing license. Another change to the 2015 regulations was the use of crossbows. Sunday hunting is legal on public lands throughout west virginia. Wvs 2018 hunting season will extend into 2019 news. I am a life long hunter, been bow hunting about 10 years, and just pulled the trigger on my first crossbow.
1446 544 516 526 301 96 172 1544 1234 709 9 1508 1206 472 850 893 309 1084 946 1056 151 846 1235 755 1482 426 1410 1008 96 718 1218 1496 950 1417 411 1441 107 389 934 1108