Archery and muzzleloader deer hunters in West Virginia will be able to enjoy additional antlerless deer hunting opportunities this fall, according to Frank Jezioro, Director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. The Natural Resources Commission recently approved a special antlerless deer archery season and a special antlerless deer muzzleloader season that will take place on private lands only in selected counties where the harvest of additional antlerless deer is necessary for management purposes. Hunters should be aware of the following details associated with these special antlerless deer seasons.
• The special antlerless deer archery season will open on September 14, 2009, and close on September 19, 2009, and allow for the taking of one additional deer that must be checked on a Class RB or Class RRB Stamp.
• The special antlerless deer muzzleloader season will open on September 21, 2009, and close on September 26, 2009, and allow for the taking of one additional deer that must be checked on a Class RM or Class RRM Stamp.
• Both the special antlerless deer archery season and the special antlerless deer muzzleloader season will take place on private lands only in the following counties or portions thereof: Barbour, Berkeley, Brooke, Cabell, Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Grant, Greenbrier (S of Rt. 60, S of I-64, S&E of Rt. 9, E of Rt. 219 at Renick, S of Rt. 11, W of Greenbrier R., S of I-64, W of Rt. 60/14), Hampshire, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha (N or Elk R. & W of Corridor G), Lewis, Marion, Marshall, Mason, Mercer (E of I-77), Mineral, Monongalia, Monroe, Morgan, Ohio, Pendleton, Pleasants, Preston, Putnam, Ritchie, Taylor, Tyler, Wetzel, Wirt and Wood.
"These special antlerless deer seasons will afford archery and muzzleloader hunters an excellent opportunity to hunt deer earlier in the year and during a time when weather conditions are generally milder," Jezioro said. "These seasons have the added advantage of allowing hunters and landowners to harvest additional antlerless deer from private lands where needed for management purposes."
