Hunters in West Virginia will only be eligible to bag two antlered deer per season during the 2024 to 2025 hunting season, down from the three permitted last year.
The change marks just one of several updates to state hunting regulations announced by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) Thursday. The new policies will take effect July 1.
Additionally, hunters must adhere to stricter carcass transport regulations in the upcoming season due to cases of chronic wasting disease (CWD) reported among deer in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle earlier this year.
Hunters in designated CWD containment areas will be allowed to take an additional deer per season, raising their daily maximum to three.
In West Virginia, hunting regulations are set by the Natural Resource Commission based upon recommendations from wildlife experts.
The commission tweaks policies each year to “maximize recreational opportunities for hunters” while also considering environmental and game species needs, according to the DNR website.
For a full list of the state’s updated hunting regulations for this season — as well as dates for hunting specific species — residents can review the newly released DNR Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary.