West Virginia 2026-27 Hunting Season Dates
Quick answer
West Virginia's listed 2026-27 archery deer season runs Sep 26-Dec 31, 2026.
Spring 2027 Youth Season Wild Turkey opens Apr 17, 2027 and closes Apr 18, 2027.
Regular - 3-way Split Season Canada Geese/White-fronted Geese opens Oct 3, 2026 and closes Jan 31, 2027.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to West Virginia DNR.
- archery deer
- Sep 26-Dec 31, 2026
- spring turkey
- Apr 17-18, 2027
- waterfowl
- Oct 3, 2026-Jan 31, 2027
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Key seasons by species
How to read West Virginia's seasons
County rules decide bucks-only versus antlerless
West Virginia's deer seasons are governed heavily at the county level, where rules differ on antlerless firearm days, concurrent seasons, and weapon type. A statewide date is only a starting point.
Confirm county-specific dates and antlerless rules with the official West Virginia Division of Natural Resources source.
We summarize official agency information and link to the source for verification. Regulations can change, and zone details matter. Always confirm final dates, bag limits, permits, and legal requirements with West Virginia DNR before hunting.
New 2026-27
federal openings
in West Virginia
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opened or expanded hunting and fishing access at 2 stations in West Virginia. The final rule took effect August 31, 2026.
Deer
White-tailed Deer
Archery and Crossbow
Must be electronically registered.
White-tailed Deer
Youth/Class Q/Class XS Split Season
Split season; second split December 26-27. Must be electronically registered.
White-tailed Deer
Antlerless Split Season
Split season with multiple segments: Oct 22-25, Nov 23-Dec 6, Dec 10-13, Dec 28-31. Must be electronically registered.
Zone: Selected Counties
White-tailed Deer
Antlerless Split Season
Second split of Antlerless season. Must be electronically registered.
Zone: Selected Counties
White-tailed Deer
Buck Firearms
Must be electronically registered.
White-tailed Deer
Antlerless Split Season
Third split of Antlerless season. Must be electronically registered.
Zone: Selected Counties
White-tailed Deer
Muzzleloader
Must be electronically registered.
White-tailed Deer
Youth/Class Q/Class XS Split Season
Second split of Youth/Class Q/Class XS season. Must be electronically registered.
White-tailed Deer
Antlerless Split Season
Fourth split of Antlerless season. Must be electronically registered.
Zone: Selected Counties
White-tailed Deer
Mountaineer Heritage (Winter 2027)
Combined Deer, Bear and Turkey season. Must be electronically registered.
Turkey
Wild Turkey
Fall Split Season
Multiple splits: Oct 10-18, Oct 26-Nov 1, Oct 26-Nov 15. Must be electronically registered.
Zone: Select Counties
Wild Turkey
Fall Split Season
Third split of Fall Turkey season. Must be electronically registered.
Zone: Select Counties
Wild Turkey
Fall Split Season
Second split of Fall Turkey season. Must be electronically registered.
Zone: Select Counties
Wild Turkey
Mountaineer Heritage (Winter 2027)
Combined Deer, Bear and Turkey season. Must be electronically registered.
Wild Turkey
Spring 2027 Youth Season
Must be electronically registered.
Wild Turkey
Spring 2027 Bearded Only
Possession limit 2, season limit 2. Must be electronically registered.
Bear
Black Bear
Archery and Crossbow
Possession limit 2, season limit 2. Must be electronically registered.
Black Bear
Firearm Split Season
Third split of Bear Gun season. Must be electronically registered.
Zone: Selected Counties
Black Bear
Youth/Class Q/Class XS Split Season
Second split of Bear Youth/Class Q/Class XS season. Must be electronically registered.
Black Bear
Firearm Split Season
Fourth split of Bear Gun season. Must be electronically registered.
Zone: Selected Counties
Black Bear
Firearm Split Season
Fifth split of Bear Gun season. Must be electronically registered.
Zone: Selected Counties
Black Bear
Firearm Split Season
Sixth split of Bear Gun season. Must be electronically registered.
Zone: Selected Counties
Black Bear
Mountaineer Heritage (Winter 2027)
Combined Deer, Bear and Turkey season. Must be electronically registered.
Black Bear
Firearm Split Season
Multiple splits: Aug 29-Sep 7, Sep 19-25, Oct 3-9, Oct 22-25, Nov 23-Dec 6, Dec 7-Dec 31. Must be electronically registered.
Zone: Selected Counties
Black Bear
Youth/Class Q/Class XS Split Season
Split season; second split October 17-18. Must be electronically registered.
Black Bear
Firearm Split Season
Second split of Bear Gun season. Must be electronically registered.
Zone: Selected Counties
Waterfowl
Canada Geese/White-fronted Geese
Regular - 3-way Split Season
3-way split: Oct. 3-18, Nov. 7-15, Dec. 8 - Jan. 31. Nontoxic shot required.
Zone: Statewide
Coots
Regular
Same season dates as ducks (3-way split: Oct. 3-11, Nov. 7-15, Dec. 21 - Jan. 31). Nontoxic shot required.
Zone: Statewide
Ducks
Youth Waterfowl
Two single days: Sept. 19 and Oct. 31. Youth under 18. Youth under 15 must be accompanied by a licensed adult 18+. The accompanying adult may not hunt or possess a firearm.
Zone: Statewide
Ducks
Regular - 3-way Split Season
3-way split: Oct. 3-11, Nov. 7-15, Dec. 21 - Jan. 31. Daily bag of 6 ducks includes no more than 4 mallards (no more than 2 female), 2 black ducks, 3 pintails, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 4 sea ducks (including no more than 3 scoters and 3 long-tailed ducks). Scaup sub-limit applies. Nontoxic shot required. McClintic WMA and Green Bottom WMA have special hours/permit rules Oct. 3-11, 2026.
Zone: Statewide
Gallinules
Regular - 2-way Split Season
2-way split: Oct. 3 - Oct. 11 and Dec. 2 - Jan. 31.
Zone: Statewide
Mergansers
Regular
Same season dates as ducks (3-way split: Oct. 3-11, Nov. 7-15, Dec. 21 - Jan. 31). Nontoxic shot required.
Zone: Statewide
Scaup
Regular - Split Season (included in duck bag limit)
Scaup included in duck daily bag limit. Sub-limit of 1 scaup Oct. 3 - Oct. 11, Nov. 7 - Nov. 15, Dec. 21 - Jan. 11; sub-limit of 2 scaup Jan. 12 - Jan. 31.
Zone: Statewide
Snow and Blue Geese
Regular - 3-way Split Season
3-way split: Oct. 3-18, Nov. 7-15, Dec. 8 - Jan. 31. Nontoxic shot required.
Zone: Statewide
Brant
Regular
Nontoxic shot required.
Zone: Statewide
Canada Geese
Early Season
Early Canada Geese season. Nontoxic shot required.
Zone: Statewide
Dove
Mourning Dove
Regular - 3-way Split Season
3-way split: Sept. 1 - Oct. 11, Nov. 2 - Nov. 15, Dec. 7 - Jan. 10. Shooting hours noon to sunset on opening day of first segment; one-half hour before sunrise to sunset remainder. Stonewall Jackson WMA has controlled dove hunting by permit only Sept. 1-2, 2026 on two designated fields. South Branch WMA no longer under special regulations for dove hunting.
Zone: Statewide
Mourning Dove
Controlled/Permit - Stonewall Jackson WMA
Controlled hunting on two designated mourning dove fields, restricted to dove hunting from state-controlled hunting posts, by permit only. Permits are nontransferable. Applications due by August 1, 2026. Hunting must occur within five yards of assigned posts. Shooting hours follow statewide mourning dove hours.
Zone: Stonewall Jackson WMA
Pheasant
Ring-necked Pheasant
General (Cock Birds Only)
Possession limit 2, season limit none. Cock birds only.
Ring-necked Pheasant
General (Cock Birds Only)
Possession limit 1, season limit none. Cock birds only.
Zone: Hillcrest WMA
Quail
Bobwhite Quail
General
Possession limit 9, season limit none. Closed on Tomblin WMA.
Grouse
Ruffed Grouse
General
Possession limit 16, season limit none.
Rabbit
Cottontail Rabbit
General
Possession limit 20, season limit none.
Snowshoe or Varying Hare
General
Possession limit 8, season limit none.
Squirrel
Gray, Black, Albino and Fox Squirrel
General
Possession limit 24, season limit none.
Gray, Black, Albino and Fox Squirrel
Youth Season
Possession limit 12, season limit 12.
Furbearer
Raccoon
Hunting
Bag limit of 4 is for the 24-hour period of 6 a.m. to 6 a.m.
Beaver
Trapping
Must be electronically registered.
Bobcat
Hunting and Trapping
Must be electronically registered.
Fisher
Trapping
Must be electronically registered.
Mink, Muskrat
Trapping
Otter
Trapping
Must be electronically registered.
Raccoon
Trapping
Red Fox, Gray Fox
Hunting and Trapping
Skunk, Opossum, Coyote, and Weasel
Trapping
Red Fox, Gray Fox
Hunting Night with Artificial Light/Night Vision Technology
Small Game
Skunk, Opossum, Woodchuck, Weasel, English Sparrow, European Starling and Pigeon
Hunting
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Year-round season.
Big Game
Wild Boar
Archery and Crossbow Split Season
Split season; second split February 5 - February 7, 2027. Must be electronically registered.
Wild Boar
Firearm Split Season
Split season; second split February 5 - February 7, 2027. Must be electronically registered.
Wild Boar
Firearm Split Season
Second split of Wild Boar Gun season. Must be electronically registered.
Wild Boar
Archery and Crossbow Split Season
Second split of Wild Boar Archery and Crossbow season. Must be electronically registered.
Migratory Birds
Sora and Virginia Rails
Regular
Shooting hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Zone: Statewide
Wilson's Snipe
Regular
Shooting hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Zone: Statewide
Woodcock
Regular - 2-way Split Season
2-way split: Oct. 17 - Nov. 21 and Nov. 30 - Dec. 8. Shooting hours one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Zone: Statewide
Coyote
Coyote
Hunting
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
Year-round season. Additional regulations see page 6 in the Hunting Regulations Summary.
Other
Crow
Hunting Split Season
Split season; second split January 1 - March 6, 2027. Nuisance crows may be killed at any time.
Crow
Hunting Split Season
Second split of Crow season. Nuisance crows may be killed at any time.
Elk, Porcupine, Song and Insectivorous Birds, Owls, Hawks, Falcons and Eagles
General
dates not listed
Exact dates not listed in the current data.
No open season.
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West Virginia Hunting Season FAQ
When does deer season start in West Virginia?
September 26, 2026 is the first listed deer opener for West Virginia; it is archery and crossbow white-tailed deer Sep 26-Dec 31, 2026.
When does spring turkey open in West Virginia?
April 17, 2027 is the first listed spring turkey opener for West Virginia; the listed window is Apr 17-18, 2027.
Do I need a license to hunt in West Virginia?
Yes. Hunters generally need the appropriate West Virginia hunting license, and some seasons may require tags, permits, stamps, or zone-specific authorizations. Confirm final requirements with West Virginia DNR.
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