West Virginia
Disclaimer: Season dates are gathered on a best-effort basis and may contain errors or be outdated. Always verify dates, bag limits, and regulations directly with West Virginia DNR before hunting.
Proposed 2026-27
federal openings
in West Virginia
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing hunting and fishing access changes at 2 stations in West Virginia. Public comment closes June 26, 2026.
Deer
White-tailed Deer
Archery and Crossbow
September 27 — December 31
Zone: Statewide (except Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming - crossbow restricted)
White-tailed Deer
Antlerless Firearms
December 11 — December 14
Zone: Selected counties - see pages 15-20
White-tailed Deer
Buck Firearms
November 24 — December 7
Zone: All counties except Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming
White-tailed Deer
Antlerless Firearms
December 28 — December 31
Zone: Selected counties - see pages 15-20
White-tailed Deer
Antlerless Firearms
October 23 — October 26
Zone: Selected counties - see pages 15-20
White-tailed Deer
Antlerless Firearms
November 24 — December 7
Zone: Selected counties - see pages 15-20
White-tailed Deer
Youth/Class Q/Class XS Antlerless
October 18 — October 19
Zone: Private land in all counties with firearms deer season and public lands within these counties
White-tailed Deer
Urban Archery/Crossbow Special
January 12, 2026 — January 31, 2026
Zone: Incorporated cities, towns, villages and incorporated homeowner associations
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader
December 15 — December 21
Zone: All counties except Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming
White-tailed Deer
Youth/Class Q/Class XS Antlerless
December 26 — December 27
Zone: Private land in all counties with firearms deer season and public lands within these counties
White-tailed Deer
Mountaineer Heritage Season
January 8, 2026 — January 11, 2026
Zone: Statewide (Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming - longbow/recurve only)
White-tailed Deer
Urban Archery/Crossbow Special
September 6 — December 31
Zone: Incorporated cities, towns, villages and incorporated homeowner associations
Turkey
Wild Turkey
Fall Firearms/Archery - Split
October 11 — November 2
Zone: 14 counties: Brooke, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Monongalia, Ohio, Preston, Taylor, Tyler, Wood
Wild Turkey
Youth Spring Gobbler
April 18, 2026 — April 19, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Spring Gobbler
April 20, 2026 — May 24, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Mountaineer Heritage Season
January 8, 2026 — January 11, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Wild Turkey
Fall Firearms/Archery - Split
October 11 — November 16
Zone: 15 counties: Berkeley, Grant, Greenbrier, Hampshire, Hardy, Mineral, Monroe, Morgan, Nicholas, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Tucker, Webster
Bear
Black Bear
Firearms - With or Without Dogs
October 4 — October 10
Zone: Boone, Fayette, Kanawha, Raleigh
Black Bear
Firearms - Without Dogs
November 24 — December 7
Zone: Large number of counties - see page 41
Black Bear
Firearms - With or Without Dogs
December 8 — December 31
Zone: Many counties including eastern/mountain counties - see page 42
Black Bear
Youth/Class Q/Class XS
September 13 — September 14
Zone: Private and public lands in all or parts of 26 counties open to bear hunting with or without dogs
Black Bear
Firearms - Without Dogs
November 24 — December 31
Zone: Boone, Fayette, Gilmer, Kanawha, Raleigh, Ritchie - see page 41
Black Bear
Archery and Crossbow
September 27 — December 31
Zone: Statewide
Black Bear
Youth/Class Q/Class XS
October 18 — October 19
Zone: Private and public lands in 51 counties open to firearms deer hunting season
Black Bear
Firearms - Without Dogs
September 20 — September 26
Zone: Barbour (W of Rt 92/250), Braxton (W of I-79), Calhoun, Clay (N of Elk River), Harrison, Lewis, Mercer, Monongalia, Monroe (W of Rt 219), Roane, Summers, Taylor, Upshur (W of Rt 20)
Black Bear
Firearms - Without Dogs
October 23 — October 26
Zone: Large number of counties on public and private land in portions of counties open to antlerless deer hunting - see page 41
Black Bear
Firearms - With or Without Dogs
August 30 — September 7
Zone: Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming
Black Bear
Mountaineer Heritage Season
January 8, 2026 — January 11, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Pheasant
Ring-necked Pheasant
General
November 1 — January 3
Zone: Statewide (cock birds only)
Ring-necked Pheasant
General - Hillcrest WMA
November 8 — December 6
Zone: Hillcrest WMA (cock birds only)
Quail
Bobwhite Quail
General
November 1 — January 3
Zone: Statewide (closed on Tomblin WMA)
Grouse
Ruffed Grouse
General
October 18 — February 28
Zone: Statewide
Rabbit
Cottontail Rabbit
General
November 1 — February 28
Zone: Statewide
Squirrel
Gray, Black, Albino and Fox Squirrel
General
September 13 — February 28
Zone: Statewide
Squirrel
Youth
September 6 — September 7
Zone: Statewide
Furbearer
Beaver
Trapping
November 1 — March 31
Zone: Statewide
Bobcat
Hunting and Trapping
November 1 — February 28
Zone: Statewide
Fisher
Trapping
November 1 — January 31
Zone: Statewide
Mink, Muskrat
Trapping
November 1 — February 28
Zone: Statewide
Raccoon
Trapping
November 1 — February 28
Zone: Statewide
Red Fox, Gray Fox
Night Hunting with Artificial Light/Night Vision
January 1 — February 28
Zone: Statewide
Red Fox, Gray Fox
Hunting and Trapping
November 1 — February 28
Zone: Statewide
River Otter
Trapping
November 1 — February 28
Zone: Statewide
Skunk, Opossum, Coyote, Weasel
Trapping
November 1 — February 28
Zone: Statewide
Small Game
Skunk, Opossum, Woodchuck, Weasel, English Sparrow, European Starling, Pigeon
Hunting
Zone: Statewide
Snowshoe/Varying Hare
General
November 1 — February 28
Zone: Statewide
Big Game
Wild Boar
Archery and Crossbow
September 27 — December 31
Zone: Boone, Logan, Raleigh, Wyoming counties
Wild Boar
Firearms
October 25 — November 1
Zone: Boone, Logan, Raleigh, Wyoming counties
Wild Boar
Firearms
February 6, 2026 — February 8, 2026
Zone: Boone, Logan, Raleigh, Wyoming counties
Wild Boar
Archery and Crossbow
February 6, 2026 — February 8, 2026
Zone: Boone, Logan, Raleigh, Wyoming counties
Coyote
Coyote
Hunting
Zone: Statewide
Other
Crow
Hunting
January 1, 2026 — March 7, 2026
Zone: Statewide
Crow
Hunting
October 1 — November 22
Zone: Statewide
Raccoon
Hunting
October 18 — February 28
Zone: Statewide