bears Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

West Virginia House Opposes Wasting Hunters' Prey

The West Virginia House has voted to make it a crime to waste game by leaving carcasses or just taking trophies such as heads, claws or feathers.

The bill, passed 56-39 on Monday, would set fines ranging from $500 to $2,500 for big game, meaning deer, bear, boars and turkeys. Hunting and fishing licenses would be suspended for five years.

Penalties would range from $100 to $1,000 for other animals.

All could mean 10 to 100 days in jail.

Some lawmakers say the prohibition against abandoning “any portion of game suitable for food” could be misinterpreted as barring field dressing deer by removing their organs.

Judiciary Committee Chairman John Shott says wildlife officials want to address the problem of “people slaughtering large numbers” of animals and taking only display parts.

State Hunters Kill 112,000 Deer and 3,000 Bears

State wildlife officials say hunters killed 112,384 white-tailed deer in West Virginia during the recently completed hunting seasons.

They say hunters took 3,012 black bears, slightly fewer than the record set in 2015.

The Division of Natural Resources reports that hunters killed 46,071 bucks in the traditional buck firearm season and used guns to take 32,508 antlerless deer.

Another 28,808 deer were taken with bows and crossbows and 4,997 killed with muzzleloaders.

Police: 8 Arrested in West Virginia Illegal Black Bear Hunt

Police have arrested eight men on a variety of charges related to hunting black bears illegally in West Virginia.

A news release Wednesday from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources says an investigation began in September 2015 when an illegal bear baiting site was reported near Mount Storm in Grant County.

Natural Resources police officers say the illegal bear hunting violations occurred between May 2015 and September 2015.

Those arrested include Mark Allen Lampka Jr. of Mount Storm; Daniel Boddy of New Creek; Chad Fridley of Mount Storm; Steve Thomas Lyons Jr. of Elk Garden; Dustin Knaggs of New Creek; Terry Kuh of Maysville; James Scott Kuhn of New Creek; and Ronnie P. Bothwell of Burlington.

The men face 77 combined charges in Grant and Mineral counties.

Permits for Limited Hunting Seasons Have Been Mailed

West Virginia hunters who were selected to participate in this year’s limited antlerless deer and bear firearms seasons should be receiving their permits any day now.

Paul Johansen, chief of the Division of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Section, says the permits have been mailed. The permits will provide 2,220 antlerless deer hunters and 2.995 bear hunters an opportunity to help wildlife biologists meet management objectives in designated areas of the state.

Hunters also can see if they were selected for a permit by logging on to their account at www.wvhunt.com . Johansen said applicants can click on “Enter Lottery” on their home screen, and those who were selected will see the word “picked” in the box beside that respective hunt.