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 is West Virginia's firearm deer season?

West Virginia does not have a firearm deer row in the current data set yet. Check West Virginia DNR for firearm, rifle, or general deer season details.

When does spring turkey open in West Virginia?

A current spring turkey opener is not listed for West Virginia yet. Check West Virginia DNR for the latest turkey dates.

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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West Virginia Deer Season 2026-27

West Virginia deer season dates start with Sep 26-Dec 31, 2026. The table below keeps every listed deer row together with zones and notes where available.

Quick answer

West Virginia's listed 2026-27 archery deer season runs Sep 26-Dec 31, 2026.

Youth/Class Q/Class XS Split Season White-tailed Deer opens Oct 17, 2026 and closes Oct 18, 2026.

Antlerless Split Season White-tailed Deer opens Oct 22, 2026 and closes Oct 25, 2026.

The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to West Virginia DNR.

Last verified: July 9, 2026 · Source: West Virginia DNR

Deer

30 listed rows

White-tailed Deer

Urban Archery/Crossbow Special

Closed

—

Sep 6-Dec 31, 2025

Split season: Sept 6-Dec 31, 2025, and Jan 12-31, 2026. Deer/bear taken do not apply to regular archery/crossbow bag limits.

Zone: Incorporated cities, towns, villages and incorporated homeowner associations

White-tailed Deer

Archery and Crossbow

Closed

—

Sep 27-Dec 31, 2025

Crossbow not permitted in Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming counties except Class Y permit holders. Daily bag limit 2.

Zone: Statewide (except Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming - crossbow restricted)

White-tailed Deer

Archery and Crossbow

Closed

—

Sep 27-Dec 31, 2025

Crossbows not permitted in Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming counties except for Class Y permit holders

Zone: Statewide (crossbow not permitted in Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming except Class Y)

White-tailed Deer

Youth/Class Q/Class XS Antlerless Split 1

Closed

—

Oct 18-19, 2025

Antlerless deer only; second segment Dec 26-27, 2025

Zone: Private land in all counties with firearms deer season and all public lands within those counties

White-tailed Deer

Youth/Class Q/Class XS Antlerless

Closed

—

Oct 18-19, 2025

Split season: Oct 18-19 and Dec 26-27. Antlerless deer only. Bow/crossbow can be substituted for firearm. Class N/NN stamp not required.

Zone: Private land in all counties with firearms deer season and public lands within these counties

White-tailed Deer

Antlerless Firearms

Closed

—

Oct 23-26, 2025

Split season with additional segments Nov 24-Dec 7, Dec 11-14, Dec 28-31. Counties vary by bag limit; see regulations for details.

Zone: Selected counties

White-tailed Deer

Antlerless Firearms

Closed

—

Oct 23-26, 2025

Split season: Oct 23-26, Nov 24-Dec 7, Dec 11-14, Dec 28-31. Closed in Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming, and some other counties.

Zone: Selected counties - see pages 15-20

White-tailed Deer

Antlerless Firearms Split 2

Closed

—

Nov 24-Dec 7, 2025

Concurrent with buck firearms season

Zone: Selected counties

White-tailed Deer

Buck Firearms

Closed

—

Nov 24-Dec 7, 2025

Only antlered deer (antlers >3 inches above hairline) legal. Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming closed to all firearms deer hunting.

Zone: All counties except Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming

White-tailed Deer

Antlerless Firearms

Closed

—

Nov 24-Dec 7, 2025

Concurrent with Buck Firearms season. Split season segment.

Zone: Selected counties - see pages 15-20

White-tailed Deer

Antlerless Firearms Split 3

Closed

—

Dec 11-14, 2025

Third split segment of antlerless season

Zone: Selected counties

White-tailed Deer

Antlerless Firearms

Closed

—

Dec 11-14, 2025

Split season segment.

Zone: Selected counties - see pages 15-20

Show 18 more deer rows

White-tailed Deer

Muzzleloader

Closed

—

Dec 15-21, 2025

Only single-shot muzzleloaders of .38 caliber or larger. Bow/crossbow/air rifle may not be substituted during muzzleloader season.

Zone: All counties except Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming

White-tailed Deer

Youth/Class Q/Class XS Antlerless

Closed

—

Dec 26-27, 2025

Split season second segment. Antlerless deer only.

Zone: Private land in all counties with firearms deer season and public lands within these counties

White-tailed Deer

Youth/Class Q/Class XS Antlerless Split 2

Closed

—

Dec 26-27, 2025

Antlerless deer only; second segment of split youth season

Zone: Private land in all counties with firearms deer season and all public lands within those counties

White-tailed Deer

Antlerless Firearms Split 4

Closed

—

Dec 28-31, 2025

Fourth split segment of antlerless season

Zone: Selected counties

White-tailed Deer

Antlerless Firearms

Closed

—

Dec 28-31, 2025

Split season segment.

Zone: Selected counties - see pages 15-20

White-tailed Deer

Mountaineer Heritage Season

Closed

—

Jan 8-11, 2026

Only percussion side lock/flintlock rifles/pistols, long bows, recurve bows legal. No crossbows or compound bows. Also open for bear and turkey.

Zone: Statewide (only long and recurve bows in Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming)

White-tailed Deer

Mountaineer Heritage Season

Closed

—

Jan 8-11, 2026

Only percussion sidelock/flintlock rifles or pistols, longbows, recurve bows legal. No crossbow, compound bow, or air rifle. Telescopic sights not permitted.

Zone: Statewide (Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming - longbow/recurve only)

White-tailed Deer

Urban Archery/Crossbow Special

Closed

—

Jan 12-31, 2026

Second segment of urban archery split season.

Zone: Incorporated cities, towns, villages and incorporated homeowner associations

White-tailed Deer

Archery and Crossbow

Upcoming

78d

Sep 26-Dec 31, 2026

Must be electronically registered.

White-tailed Deer

Youth/Class Q/Class XS Split Season

Upcoming

99d

Oct 17-18, 2026

Split season; second split December 26-27. Must be electronically registered.

White-tailed Deer

Antlerless Split Season

Upcoming

104d

Oct 22-25, 2026

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

Buck Firearms

Upcoming

136d

Nov 23-Dec 6, 2026

Must be electronically registered.

White-tailed Deer

Antlerless Split Season

Upcoming

136d

Nov 23-Dec 6, 2026

Second split of Antlerless season. Must be electronically registered.

Zone: Selected Counties

White-tailed Deer

Antlerless Split Season

Upcoming

153d

Dec 10-13, 2026

Third split of Antlerless season. Must be electronically registered.

Zone: Selected Counties

White-tailed Deer

Muzzleloader

Upcoming

157d

Dec 14-20, 2026

Must be electronically registered.

White-tailed Deer

Youth/Class Q/Class XS Split Season

Upcoming

169d

Dec 26-27, 2026

Second split of Youth/Class Q/Class XS season. Must be electronically registered.

White-tailed Deer

Antlerless Split Season

Upcoming

171d

Dec 28-31, 2026

Fourth split of Antlerless season. Must be electronically registered.

Zone: Selected Counties

White-tailed Deer

Mountaineer Heritage (Winter 2027)

Upcoming

188d

Jan 14-17, 2027

Combined Deer, Bear and Turkey season. Must be electronically registered.