West Virginia hunting and fishing laws
The West Virginia rules that catch people out, in plain English: hunter education, minimum age, blaze orange, Sunday hunting, shooting hours, baiting, night hunting, tagging and private land. Each one links to the state's own text.
Season dates for 2026-27. Page updated October 12, 2026.
These pages sum up the rules to help you find them. They are not legal advice. The state's own regulations govern, so check them before you go.
Hunter education in West Virginia
No base hunting license may be issued to a person born on or after January 1, 1975 without a hunter education certificate or certification from a prior year's license. An Apprentice Hunting License, Classes AH, AHJ, AAH and AAHJ, permits hunting without hunter education, but the holder must be accompanied and directly supervised by a licensed adult.
Minimum hunting age in West Virginia
No absolute minimum age is stated. Children under 15 may hunt without a license but they must be accompanied by a licensed adult who remains near enough to the youth to render advice and assistance.
Blaze orange in West Virginia
Applies to: Deer
At least 400 square inches of blaze orange must be worn as an outer garment by persons hunting in counties where deer firearms or muzzleloader seasons are open. Waterfowl hunters and persons engaged in farming on their own land are exempt, and archery and crossbow seasons do not require it. Blaze pink is not authorized.
Sunday hunting in West Virginia
Under W. Va. Code 20-2-5, Sunday hunting is legal statewide on private land with written permission from the landowner, so verbal permission is not enough. It is also lawful to hunt on federal land where hunting is permitted, in a state forest, and on land owned, leased or managed by the state for wildlife purposes. The old county referendum opt-out no longer appears in the code.
Shooting hours in West Virginia
Applies to: Big game
You may hunt deer from 1/2 hour before sunrise until 1/2 hour after sunset. The same hours apply to bear, wild turkey and wild boar.
Baiting in West Virginia
It is illegal to bait or feed any wildlife on public land at any time. Baiting and feeding of cervids is prohibited in CWD Containment Areas. Private land deer baiting is not otherwise prohibited.
Night hunting in West Virginia
It is unlawful to use or attempt to use any artificial light or any night vision technology while hunting, except for coyote, fox, raccoon, opossum and skunk. Coyote may be hunted at night with any color artificial light or night vision year-round, with part of the year restricted to private property only. Big game may not be hunted between 1/2 hour after sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise.
Tagging and reporting a harvest in West Virginia
Applies to: Deer
Before moving a deer, attach a completed field tag to it, or stay with the deer while carrying the completed tag. Register the deer electronically (online, at a license agent, or by phone) within 72 hours of the kill or 24 hours after the season closes, whichever comes first, and attach the 13-digit confirmation number with your name and address. Anyone carrying a deer killed by another hunter needs a paper tag with that hunter's details and confirmation number.
Hunting on private land in West Virginia
It is illegal to shoot, hunt or trap upon the fenced, enclosed, purple paint marked or posted lands of another person without having in possession written permission from the landowner. Purple paint marking is statutory.
Can you show your West Virginia license on your phone?
Phone license not addressed. Paper field tag on deer.
WVDNR's summary says a hunter must have “the proper licenses, stamps or permits or other proof that a valid license has been issued,” plus a state photo ID; no published statement on showing the license on a phone was found, and the buy page tells buyers to “Print Active License.” Game checking is electronic, but the 13-digit check number “should be written on their field tag or on a sheet of paper … and attach it to the animal.”
License (printed is safest), photo ID, field tag
West Virginia hunting season dates, 2026-27
The main seasons, from the state's published dates. Zones and units can differ; each season links to the state's own page for it.
| Season | Dates | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer — archery and crossbow | Sep 26 – Dec 31, 2026 | Statewide | |
| Deer — buck firearms | Nov 23 – Dec 6, 2026 | Statewide | |
| Deer — muzzleloader | Dec 14 – Dec 20, 2026 | Statewide | |
| Black bear — archery and crossbow | Sep 26 – Dec 31, 2026 | Open counties (see summary) | Gun seasons in selected counties, Aug 29-Dec 31 in segments |
| Spring gobbler | Apr 19 – May 23, 2027 | Statewide | |
| Fall turkey | Oct 10 – Oct 18, 2026 | Open counties (varies) | Other counties Oct 26-Nov 1 or Oct 26-Nov 15 |
| Ruffed grouse | Oct 17, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027 | Statewide | |
| Pheasant and bobwhite quail | Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027 | Open areas (see summary) | |
| Mourning dove | Sep 1 – Oct 11, 2026 | Statewide | Also Nov 2-15 and Dec 7-Jan 10 |
| Ducks — regular season | Oct 3, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | Statewide | Split: Oct 3-11, Nov 7-15, Dec 21-Jan 31 |
What you can hunt in West Virginia
Big game
- White-tailed deer General season Some limited-permit hunts on specific areas
- Black bear General season Gun season in selected counties
- Wild boar General season Southern coalfield counties, gun and archery splits
- Elk No season Listed under no open season
Upland and small game
- Wild turkey General season Spring statewide; fall in select counties
- Ruffed grouse General season
- Bobwhite quail General season
- Pheasant General season Cocks only
- Cottontail rabbit and snowshoe hare General season
- Squirrel General season
- Raccoon and opossum General season
- Woodchuck and crow General season
Waterfowl and migratory
- Ducks and geese General season
- Dove, woodcock, snipe, rail General season
Furbearer and predator
- Coyote General season Year round
- Bobcat General season
- Red and gray fox General season Night hunting permitted
What you can fish for in West Virginia
License plus a Conservation Stamp and a Trout Stamp
Fishing licenses sold: 1-day, 5-day, Annual
Trout and char
- Rainbow, brook, brown, tiger and golden rainbow trout Needs a stamp Trout Stamp
Warmwater
- Black bass General season
- Walleye and sauger General season
- Muskellunge and tiger muskie General season
- Northern pike General season
- Channel, blue and flathead catfish General season
- Crappie and panfish General season
- Striped, hybrid and white bass General season
Other
- American eel General season May be gigged, snagged or snared in season
- Lake and shovelnose sturgeon No season Return to the water immediately
- Paddlefish No season Return to the water immediately
Official West Virginia links
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources
Carry your West Virginia license on your phone
Sportsmen Ledger holds your hunting and fishing licenses and tags, these rules and your harvest log, and it works with no signal. Free to start.
Compare with other states
- Hunter education requirements by state
- Minimum hunting age by state
- Blaze orange requirements by state
- Sunday hunting laws by state
- Legal shooting hours by state
- Baiting laws by state
- Night hunting laws by state
- Tagging and harvest reporting by state
- Hunting on private land, state by state
- Can you show your hunting or fishing license on your phone? Every state