West Virginia 2026-2027 Hunting Seasons – Firearms, Tag Rules & Areas

Hey folks — if you’ve been waiting all summer for that first crisp morning in the mountain hollow, this one’s for you. Below you’ll find the full rundown on what’s open, when, and how to grab a tag for the new 2026–2027 cycle across the Mountain State.

Why this 2026–2027 cycle matters in West Virginia

WVDNR rolled out a handful of changes worth knowing. Antlerless deer split windows shifted slightly, fall wild turkey county groupings were rebalanced, and black bear firearms splits in selected counties moved a few days earlier to deal with rising nuisance complaints. The Mountaineer Heritage Winter window stays in effect for select counties in Logan, McDowell, Mingo, and Wyoming, where any legal weapon may be used for deer, bear, or turkey. Chronic wasting disease guidance has been moved online at WVdnr.gov, so you’ll want to bookmark that before field-dressing any buck.

Deer harvest is managed by county and by license class — Class N (resident antlerless), Class NN (non-resident antlerless), Class RG, Class RB, Class RM — not by zones, so always double-check the county list printed in the regs summary. A new antlered-deer daily bag tweak (two per day) carries over. The state also added more controlled state-park draws this year, including new segments at Pipestem, Stonewall, and Twin Falls.

2026–2027 Key-species Snapshot

Big Game – Archery & Rifle 🦌

Whitetails are the headline act in the Mountain State, and you’ll run into plenty of them across the Monongahela, the Greenbrier, and the southern coalfields.

• Buck Firearms (Rifle): Opens Monday, November 23, 2026 and closes Sunday, December 6, 2026. Two antlered per day allowed, no more than one buck per firearm segment.
• Archery & Crossbow: Opens Saturday, September 26, 2026, runs through December 31, 2026 statewide — bowhunters get nearly 100 days afield.
• Muzzleloader: December 14–20, 2026 (single-window projection; confirm at the WVDNR final posting before packing the powder horn).
• Antlerless Deer (Class N/NN/RG): Four splits — Oct 22–25, Nov 23–Dec 7, Dec 10–13, and Dec 28–31. Open counties rotate annually; pick up the printed list in the regs booklet or pull it from wvdnr.gov.
• Youth / Class Q / Class XS Split: Oct 17–18 and Dec 26–27, 2026 — holders may take one antlered buck during the special segment.
• Winter Mountaineer Heritage Window: Jan 7–10, 2027 in Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Wyoming. One buck + one bear + one turkey allowed; any legal weapon within WVDNR rules.
• Wild Boar (Feral Hog): October 24–31, 2026 plus a February 5–7, 2027 extension. Tag required.

For black bear, harvest is split into multiple runs — Archery/Crossbow (Sep 26 – Dec 31), plus firearms segments in selected counties running August 29 – September 6, Sep 19–26, Oct 3–9, Oct 23–26, and Dec 8–31, 2026. Dog use is allowed during bear firearms only, never during archery. Baiting remains illegal. Use of dogs is prohibited across the January 12–31, 2026 ice-in period (carry-over pattern).

Elk: No open window. There’s no public elk draw in WV — the state manages a small restoration herd but does not hold a general elk lottery. If you’re after elk, look at neighbors like Virginia and Kentucky.

Turkey Season 🦃

Gobblers get their own calendar because the spring push is what most folks live for here.

• Spring Gobbler 2027: Statewide, projected April 19 – May 23, 2027, with the youth-only weekend April 17–18, 2027 (confirm at wvdnr.gov when the final summary posts). Only shotguns, bows, or crossbows — no rifles, no baiting.
• Fall Turkey 2026: Three county-tiered splits — 1-week (Oct 10–18), 2-week (Oct 10–18 and Oct 25 – Nov 1), and 4-week (Oct 10–18 and Oct 25 – Nov 15, 2026). Sundays are closed during fall.
• Bag: 1 bearded bird in spring; 1 either-sex in fall. Possession 2, season 2.
• Notes: Class XS licensees can’t hunt the youth gobbler segment. Shot-size restrictions have been removed, but arrow broadheads still must have at least two cutting edges of ≥¾ inch.

Furbearers & Trapping 🦝

Big cool-season block with most runs starting the first Saturday of November.

• Raccoon (Hound Hunting): Oct 17, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027. 4-bag in any rolling 24-hour period.
• Raccoon (Trapping): Nov 7, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027.
• Red & Gray Fox (Hunt / Trap): Nov 7, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027.
• Night Hunting of Red/Gray Fox w/ Artificial Light or NV: Jan 1 – Feb 28, 2027 (prior split continues).
• Bobcat (Hunt / Trap): Nov 7, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027. Season bag 3.
• Fisher (Trap Only): Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027. Bag 1.
• Beaver (Trap): Nov 7, 2026 – Mar 31, 2027.
• Otter (Trap): Nov 7, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027. Bag 1 otter per season.
• Mink, Muskrat (Trap): Nov 7, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027.
• Skunk, Opossum, Coyote, Weasel (Trap): Nov 7 – Feb 28, 2027.
• Coyote (Hunt only): Year-round, no bag limit.
• Skunk, Opossum, Woodchuck, Weasel, English Sparrow, European Starling, Pigeon (Hunt only): Year-round.
• Trappers: Foot snares must meet the loop-size restrictions in the regs summary; first three days of buck firearms is the only period in-line trapping and firearms continue concurrently.

Upland Birds 🦆

Walk the early frost — grouse and quail will find you if you find the right cover.

• Ruffed Grouse: Oct 17, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027. Daily 4, possession 16, no season cap.
• Bobwhite Quail: Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027. Closed at Tomblin WMA. Bag 3 / possession 9.
• Ring-necked Pheasant (cock birds only): Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027. Bag 2 / possession 2.
• Hillcrest WMA Pheasant (cock birds only): Nov 14 – Dec 13, 2026. Bag 1 / possession 1.

Upland Animals (Cottontail, Hare) 🐇

• Cottontail Rabbit: Nov 7, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027. Daily 5, possession 20.
• Snowshoe / Varying Hare: Nov 7, 2026 – Feb 28, 2027. Daily 2, possession 8.

Both run on the higher Allegheny plateaus and the cranberry bogs — snowshoe hares do best in the thicker regeneration.

Other Small Game (Dove, Quail, Squirrel, etc.) 🐿️

Migratory Birds (Doves, Woodcock, Rails) 🕊️

• Mourning Dove (3-way split): Sep 1 – Oct 11; Nov 2 – 15; Dec 7 – Jan 10 (2026–27). Bag 15, possession 45. HIP registration required.
• Woodcock (2-way split): Oct 17 – Oct 31, plus a Nov 22 – Dec 6 segment. Bag 3, possession 9.
• Sora & Virginia Rails: Sep 1 – Nov 9, 2026. Bag 25 combined daily, possession 25.
• Common Snipe: Oct 17 – Jan 10, 2027. Bag 8, possession 24.
• Gallinules: Same opener as rails through Nov 9. Bag 15, possession 45.

HIP registration is free — you’ll get it when you buy your base license at any agent or online at wvhunt.com. No HIP, no feathers.

Ducks, Scaup, Mergansers, Geese 🦆

Most of the action sits in the Ohio River, the Potomac, and the bigger impoundments.

• Ducks / Coots / Gallinules / Mergansers (1st segment): Oct 4–12, 2026. Scaup are bundled inside the duck daily bag.
• Canada, White-fronted, Snow, Blue Geese (1st segment): Oct 4 – 19, 2026.
• Subsequent duck splits: Late-November and mid-December segments follow the federal framework (check WV Migratory Bird Summary).
• Bag: 6 ducks total — no more than 4 mallards (only 2 hens), 2 black ducks, 3 wood ducks, 3 pintails (under federal interim strategy), 2 redheads, 1 canvasback, plus scaup and merganser caps per the regs.
• Possession: Triple the daily limit once you leave the field.
• Mandatory: Federal Migratory Bird (Duck Stamp), HIP registration, WV Conservation/Law Enforcement stamp, and only approved non-toxic shot in the gun.

Other Waterfowl 🦢

• Light Geese (Conservation Order): Spring control window typically opens Feb 1 through end of March. Possession no limit; no federal Duck Stamp needed.
• Brant: Limited segment in November per federal framework.
• Swans, Eagles, Hawks, Falcons, Owls: No open season.

More Dates Worth Marking 📅

• Deer/Bear/Turkey (Mountaineer Heritage, Logan/McDowell/Mingo/Wyoming): Jan 7–10, 2027. Any legal weapon. 1 each per hunter.
• State Park Controlled Lottery Hunts (Beech Fork, Pipestem, Stonewall, Twin Falls): Nov 2–18, 2026. $15 per application; drawings Sept 3.
• Class N/NN Lottery Hunts (County/Forest): Oct 22–25, Nov 23–Dec 7, Dec 10–13, Dec 28–31. Apply by Sept 4, 2026. Group applications allowed if you have DNR IDs.
• Youth Squirrel / Squirrel Opener: Sep 12, 2026 main run; youth Sep 5–6.
• Raccoon & Bobcat Hound Start: Oct 17 – Nov 7 handoff.

Game Units & Public Access 🗺️

West Virginia doesn’t carve up the state into numbered “zones.” Instead, antlerless opportunity, lottery permits, and bear gun windows are listed by county, state forest, national forest, and Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Open access on ~1.4 million acres is managed by WVDNR across 96 WMAs — names like Slatyfork, Elk River, Panther, Big Ugly, and Green Bottom should already be on your radar. Free onX-style and Avenza topographic maps are linked right from the WMA directory so you can drop a pinpoint before you leave the truck. National Forest lands in the Monongahela and the George Washington also require a $2 Class I stamp if you plan to hunt off-pavement.

Need a planning map? Pull the official interactive planner here: WVDNR Hunting Seasons Page.

License & Tag Details 🎟️

Anyone born on or after Jan 1, 1975 must show proof of a certified hunter-education card before buying any base license. Lifetime license holders still need to add annual stamps and HIP if they pursue migratory game or antlerless deer.

Quick FAQ ❓

Do I need a separate tag for antlerless deer?

Yes. A Class N (resident) or NN (non-resident) stamp, plus any Class RG or RB after your first buck, depending on season.

Can non-residents hunt on their own WV property without a license?

No. Out-of-state owners still must carry a non-resident base license.

Is hunting on Sundays allowed in WV?

Only fall turkey, only in selected counties per the published list. Otherwise, Sunday is closed.

Can I coyote hunt at night with thermal?

Yes — coyotes are year-round and night-light hunting with .22-cal rimfire is allowed on private land with landowner permission.

Are bait stations legal?

Illegal for bear and turkey. Legal for deer on private land (with restrictions) but discouraged on public land.

Are there elk hunts in West Virginia?

No general elk draw at this time.

Do I have to check my game electronically?

Yes. All deer, bear, and turkey must be checked through wvhunt.com within 24 hours.

Are outfitters / guides required on WMAs?

No, but parties of three or more during deer firearms must wear solid orange.

Prepare for Your West Virginia Hunt 🎯

A few WV-specific details worth pinning to the fridge before the opener: print the county-by-county antlerless list, not just the statewide summary — counties flip-flop annually based on population goals. If you’re tagging a bear in Monroe or Mingo, carry a Bear Damage Stamp ($10) on top of your Class E, and never carry bait in your pack, even sealed. On state-park controlled hunts at Pipestem or Stonewall, you’ll be required to take an antlerless deer before harvesting a buck — plan your tag draw accordingly so you don’t burn your buck early. The Mountaineer Heritage window in the southern coalfield counties in early January is a real bonus run — bring vented boots, layered orange, and a rifle chambered for straight-walled cartridges as well as the typical in-line muzzleloader.

For migratory birds, register your HIP card at wvhunt.com the same minute you print your license — it’ll save you a $100-plus ticket if a game warden runs your number on the Potomac. The federal Duck Stamp is also sold electronically now through duckstamp.com/e-stamp, no post office stop needed. And finally — join Hunters Helping the Hungry at checkout: any extra venison you take off the mountain can be donated to a regional processor for free, and the program covers the fees.

That’s your full playbook for the 2026–2027 cycle in the Mountain State. Whether you’re slipping into a beech ridge for October archery or settling behind a beaver pond at sunrise in February, get your stamps early, study the county maps, and scout the gas-line clearings before opening morning. Good luck out there — and stay safe in those hollers.