When does deer season start in West Virginia?

January 8, 2026 is the first listed deer opener for West Virginia; it is mountaineer heritage season white-tailed deer Jan 8-11, 2026.

When is West Virginia's firearm deer season?

Jan 8-11, 2026 is the listed firearm deer window for West Virginia. Check zone and permit details with West Virginia DNR before hunting.

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

West Virginia deer season dates start with Jan 8-11, 2026. The table below keeps every listed deer row together with zones and notes where available.

Quick answer

West Virginia's listed 2026 firearm deer season runs Jan 8-11, 2026.

Urban Archery/Crossbow Special White-tailed Deer opens Jan 12, 2026 and closes Jan 31, 2026.

Mountaineer Heritage Season White-tailed Deer opens Jan 8, 2026 and closes Jan 11, 2026.

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

Last verified: June 15, 2026 · Source: West Virginia DNR

Deer

20 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

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

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

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

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

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 2

Closed

—

Nov 24-Dec 7, 2025

Concurrent with buck firearms season

Zone: Selected counties

White-tailed Deer

Antlerless Firearms

Closed

—

Dec 11-14, 2025

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

Show 8 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

Closed

—

Dec 28-31, 2025

Split season segment.

Zone: Selected counties - see pages 15-20

White-tailed Deer

Antlerless Firearms Split 4

Closed

—

Dec 28-31, 2025

Fourth split segment of antlerless season

Zone: Selected counties

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

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

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