West Virginia Buck and Antlerless Firearm Seasons Open Nov. 21
OutdoorHub 11.09.11
South Charleston, W.Va. – West Virginia’s traditional antlered buck gun season begins on Monday, Nov. 21, according to Curtis I. Taylor, Chief of the Wildlife Resources Section of the Division of Natural Resources (DNR). West Virginia’s buck gun season provides a wealth of recreational opportunities for resident and nonresident hunters and has a tremendous economic impact on the state’s economy.
“Hunters should enjoy a great season of hunting in 2011,” said Taylor. “Mast conditions are not as good this year as last year, and deer will be more concentrated around specific food sources. In addition, there should be more mature bucks available to hunters this year because of the lower harvest and abundant food conditions in 2010.”
Taylor reminds hunters that they can harvest an additional buck with the purchase of the appropriate stamp. Resident hunters wanting the extra buck should purchase the Class RG stamp. The RG stamp must be purchased prior to the beginning of the season, and the cost is $21. The RG stamp must be accompanied by a Class A and BG, A-L, AB-L, X, XJ, or free license. Resident landowners have the privilege of harvesting the extra buck without purchasing the RG stamp if they are hunting on their own property.
“The extra buck stamp could prove to be a good investment this hunting season because the number of mature bucks being spotted by DNR field personnel and hunters is higher than normal,” Taylor said.
Nonresident hunters wanting an extra buck must purchase an RRG stamp prior to the beginning of the season, and the cost is $43. The RRG stamp must be accompanied by the Class E or XXJ license. Nonresident hunters who own land in West Virginia are not exempt from purchasing a license or the extra buck stamp, even if hunting on their own property.
Many counties are open to concurrent antlerless hunting during the traditional buck gun season. Antlerless hunting starts on Nov. 21 on private land in open counties and Nov. 23 on public land on open wildlife management areas (WMA). Hunters should consult the 2011–2012 Hunting Regulations and Summary for specific antlerless deer regulations in each county and WMA.
