Morrisey Announces Start Of Buck Firearm Season

Gov. Patrick Morrisey was at a Bass Pro Shops in Charleston Wednesday to announce the start of West Virginia’s buck firearm season. The popular hunting season runs for two weeks from Monday, Nov. 24 to Sunday, Dec. 7.

“Buck firearms season is woven into the fabric of West Virginia,” Morrisey said. “It reflects our respect for the land, our love of the outdoors, and the traditions we pass down from one generation to the next.”

The governor highlighted the cultural and economic importance of the annual buck hunt to the state, noting that 260,000 hunters spent more than $850 million on hunting related purchases in 2022 alone.

“And we know that hunting supports over 7,400 jobs right here in the Mountain State,” he said. “We know that hunting is another great attraction, why people come to visit our great state.”

Morrisey also touted the “Hunters Helping the Hungry” program, which has facilitated the donation of more than 1 million pounds of deer meat to the state’s food banks since its inception in 1992. He said such programs are important given the role food banks played in addressing the recent SNAP crisis.

“I wanted to mention that, and especially after all the activity, we want to make sure that our food banks, our food pantries, are adequately stocked coming up for the holidays. That matters,” Morrisey said.

Brett McMillion, director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, reminded hunters to review game laws, and purchase their hunting licenses and buck stamps before Monday. He also noted this is the first year hunters can legally use drones to track wounded animals after the passage of House Bill 2043.

“There’s a lot of hunters or a lot of outfitters now that are getting on board,” Million said. “I know several have been posting on Facebook about their success, and I tell you, if you have any kind of mobility issue tracking down that mortally wounded animal, it is a definite win for the state of West Virginia to get current with technology.”