The three separate early season include a week of hunting in 15. Everything you need to plan your west virginia hunting trips for 2020. The black bear roams freely throughout 36 states and canada, while its west virginia habitat primarily is in the eastern mountain region of the state. Bears may be harvested using any lawful weapon within the incorporated limits of any city or town that allows bear hunting from october 5 to january 4. Plus, the season focuses on the mountain counties, where we have a dense bear. Click the link above to reserve your seats, and a black bears. The 11,000 acres of secluded woodlands and the oldest of west virginias state forests, seneca borders the beautiful greenbrier river in pocahontas county. Limited bear firearms season permit applications now available. Hunters in west virginia harvested 3,099 black bears during the combined 2019 archery and firearms seasons. Some changes to 201819 wv hunting regulations sports. Both livingstone basketball teams opened their 201920 seasons in west virginia last weekend. When the season opens, bear, deer, and turkey hunters from virginia and from states all over the country flock to this area to hunt. On cavalier wma dogs may only be used during the bear hound training season from august 17 through 31. It is estimated less than 500 bear roamed west virginias mountainous landscape in.
Early bear hunting moves to wvs mountain counties hunting. Official site of the west virginia division of natural resources, wv state parks. Beartown state park west virginia state parks west. Theres hiking, swimming, fishing, boating and vacation cabins, open yearround. Hunters harvested 3099 black bears during the combined archery and firearms seasons in west virginia in 2019the thirdhighest harvest. Countless wild berry patches attract bear from miles around. Except as otherwise specifically provided in the sections appearing in this chapter, there shall be a continuous open season for chasing raccoon with dogs, without capturing or taking, except on departmentcontrolled lands west of the blue ridge mountains. West virginia offers several big game hunting seasons through the beautiful appalachian mountains. West virginia hunters harvest 3,099 black bears in 2019. Hunters throughout west virginia on the hunt for bucks, bear news. One bear was harvested in preston county during the states first mountaineer heritage season, which ran jan. Parkersburg the traditional buck firearms season and a concurrent bear season open today in west virginia. Bear season underway in west virginia news register. Virginia hunting seasons take place throughout the year in the beautiful appalachian mountains.
Species opening date closing date daily bag limit possession limit season limit. Major regulation changes for 20182019 include the following. West virginia state animal black bear ursus americanus adopted on march 23, 1973. Counties that will be open for early bear hunting are above their management objective and need additional bears to be harvested to achieve their goal, said colin carpenter, black bear project leader for the west virginia division of natural resources dnr. Virginia black bear harvest by county virginia dgif. Hunters are reminded to purchase their bear damage stamp as. This week we traveled to southern west virginia to do a black bear hunt. Wild boar archery and crossbow september 28 december 31 split season february 7 february 9. Let us make our home yours, and your next visit to canaan valley, west virginia an unforgettable experience. During the firearms deer season in the counties west of the blue ridge and during the first 16 days of the deer open season. Blaze color is required in areas with an open deer firearms season during this weekend.
Located about 30 minutes north of beartown, watoga state park provides many recreational activities on more than 10,000 acres of land. The black bear, or ursus americanus, is actually deeply tinted with brown. West virginia 2019 early bear gun seasons open outdoor. The west virginia black bears have announced their playing schedule for the 2018 regular season, which will begin on opening day friday, june 15. Sep 25, 2017 this week we traveled to southern west virginia to do a black bear hunt. Virginia has the perfect combination of beautiful scenery, american history, and southern charm to compliment an exciting hunting season. Timing is critical when setting bear hunting seasons.
Wvs newest bear season will coincide with october antlerless. American black bear, ursus americanus richwood west virginia. Me personally had no luck, but the land owner himself got it done with a nice bear. West virginia hunters harvest 2,606 black bears in 2018. Deer and bear winter 2020 mountaineer heritage see page 34. Spend the night in the iconic thorny mountain fire tower located in the forest. Princeton in a region where 500pound black bears are not unheard of, west virginia wildlife checking stations in 28 counties were ready monday when limited bear hunting season lasting until. The mountaineer heritage season for deer and bear will be open january 10, 2019. How to deal with problem black bear in west virginia black bear bruin, bear black bears range widely throughout north america, frequenting mountainous forests and swamps as well as woodlots in suburban neighborhoods. Me personally had no luck, but the land owner himself got it done with a. Sep 29, 2019 this year, black bear archery season will be open for three months, during three different early firearms seasons hunters can hunt bear with or without dogs in 24 counties, and 51 counties will be open to deer and bear hunting during the buck firearms seasons with no permits required, according to the 2019 west virginia mast survey and hunting. West virginias top bear biologist said the next season on the fall hunting calendar should be a good one. When hunting during the archery or muzzleloading bear seasons, except in certain counties during the youthapprentice bear hunting weekend see bear hunting regulations.
We invite you to visit our winter wonderland at black bear resort. This year, black bear archery season will be open for three months, during three different early firearms seasons hunters can hunt bear with or without dogs in 24 counties, and 51 counties. West virginia to see higher black bear harvest, similar. The students, teachers, and sportsmen of west virginia chose the black bear as the animal symbol for their state by a large margin. Brit stoudenmire of pearisburg with a giles county bear that he killed last fall during the deer muzzleloading season. Properly licensed hunters who head afield in search of deer during west virginias early firearm season for antlerless deer will also be allowed to bag a. Come stay with us in the heart of canaan valley, west virginia. Except as otherwise specifically provided in the sections appearing in this chapter, there shall be a continuous open season for chasing raccoon with dogs, without capturing or taking, except on departmentcontrolled lands west of the blue ridge. Two black bear may be taken during the archery season or firearms season, or one each in the archery and firearms seasons combined provided that at least. An early black bear gun season, with or without hunting dogs, runs from. Numerous regulation changes will be in place this fall, including those that will affect turkey, bear, boar, raccoon and deer hunting. West virginias archery and crossbow seasons for bear, boar, and whitetailed deer opens saturday, sept. If a bear is taken on this weekend, the youth or apprentice hunter may not take another bear in any season.
Virginia hunting seasons, 20192020 hunting season hq. Jul 23, 2014 timing is critical when setting bear hunting seasons. Wdtv an early black bear gun season with or without hunting dogs is coming to multiple counties starting august 31. Properly licensed hunters who head afield in search of deer during west virginias early firearm season for antlerless deer will also be allowed to bag a black bear, should they happen upon one. Hunters in west virginia harvested 3,160 black bears during the combined 2017 archery and firearms seasons, which is the second highest recorded bear kill in state history. West virginia particulars destinations bear hunting magazine. Despite being a smaller state, west virginia is home to more than 350,000. Harvest records show more bear are taken in this area compared to any other area of virginia most years. The concurrent bear season without dogs will run from monday to dec. In the united states there are estimated to be over 300,000 black bears and approximately 8,000 individuals bears in west virginia.
It is unlawful to have a firearm in possession, except that a muzzleloading firearm as defined in the muzzleloader bear season section may also be in possession when and where there is an overlap with a muzzleloading bear season where bear hunting with a rifle or muzzleloading firearm is permitted. The west virginia black bears are a minor league baseball team based in granville, west virginia. Required of class a license holders to hunt deer, turkey, bear, and boar with a bow or muzzleloader. Aug 10, 2018 numerous regulation changes will be in place this fall, including those that will affect turkey, bear, boar, raccoon and deer hunting. West virginia 2019 early bear gun seasons to open outdoor. The age of your harvested bear will be available online 9 to 10 months after the hunting season ends at. Applications are now available for permits for the limited bear firearms season this. Bear archery and firearms seasons west virginia division of. As part of our comprehensive guide to us hunting seasons by state on this page you will find out when is hunting season for west virginia. Deer season opens the monday before thanksgiving every year, but the later opening. It is estimated less than 500 bear roamed west virginias mountainous landscape in the late 1960s.
Double spur outfitters hunts in northwest virginia, close to west virginia and maryland. Friday evening, november 8, the men faced urbana university in the first game of the earl lloyd classic. Sunday hunting is legal on public lands throughout west virginia. New hunting regulations include early bear season in. In the cities of chesapeake, suffolk, and virginia beach. Black bear bruin, bear black bears range widely throughout north america, frequenting mountainous forests and swamps as well as woodlots in suburban neighborhoods. South charleston, wv hunters are reminded that a concurrent bear season without dogs will occur from november 23 december 5 on public and private. The untamed crew hunts the mountains of southern west virginia on the last day of early bear season. Sep 30, 2010 brit stoudenmire of pearisburg with a giles county bear that he killed last fall during the deer muzzleloading season. Aptly named the mountain state, west virginia gives hunters the opportunity to hunt in majestic solitude while pursuing deer, bear, turkey and small game. Deer, bear, turkey and small game are popular quarry for hunters. Get your season tickets for the 2020 season of black bears baseball. Proposals for the 2015 hunting, trapping and fishing regulations developed by the west virginia division of natural resources would permit a short firearms season for black bear, with or without. Resident bear hunting license privileges to hunt black bear in west virginia, residents must have a valid class a, ab, x, xj, q, lifetime class al or abl license accompanied by a bear damage stamp class ds.
Bear harvest in west virginia up 19 percent in 2019 west virginia. In order to reciprocate with the state of ohio, ohio residents may train dogs between august 16 and april 30 in accordance with laws and regulations governing west virginia residents. A significant minority of the bears killed in virginia are taken by deer hunters, because deer and bear seasons overlap. Visit our facebook page to see current specials and save. Bear archery and firearms seasons west virginia division. Hunters took 623 bears in september and october, 678.
The daily bag limit for raccoon hunting will be four during a 24hour period from 6 a. Bears are omnivorous and their diets vary seasonally. The season will open august 31 and run through sunday, september 15th. The team began play in the new yorkpenn league in 2015 as an affiliate of the pittsburgh pirates. New hunting regulations include early bear season in southern. West virginia particulars destinations bear hunting. The state division of natural resources conducted a poll to elect a state animal as a symbol for west virginia in 195455. Hunting season changes explained in 20182019 west virginia. Hunters throughout west virginia on the hunt for bucks, bear. Allowed see general hunting information for details. Sep 10, 2019 with the conclusion of another thrilling season of summer baseball, fans can begin preparing for more excitement in the coming year with the release of the west virginia black bears 2020 season. If you are lucky enough to see a bear in west virginia, remember that west virginia bears are wild. Legal methods and restrictions special restrictions apply to specific firearms use during this season. Raccoon chase on areas open to bear hound training.
Early black bear hunting season opening in west virginia. Hunters throughout the state of west virginia can expect a higher black bear harvest and similar whitetail deer harvest this year compared to last year. Bear bag limit, weight limits, and all other take restrictions apply. A an additional early black bear hunting season may lure northern hunters into west virginia s southernmost counties, said black bear project leader colin carpenter. Two bears may be taken with a bow during the bear archery season or one each in the archery and firearms seasons combined, provided at least one bear must be taken in boone, fayette, kanawha, logan, mcdowell, mingo, nicholas, raleigh or wyoming counties. West virginia black bears release schedule for 2018 season. Bear hunting firearms seasons virginia hunting seasons. West virginia hunting seasons, 20192020 hunting season hq.
Thanks to forest regeneration, research and proper management black bear numbers are on the increase in states along the spine of the appalachians and nowhere is that more evident than in the mountain state. Wild boar gun october 26 november 2 1 split season february 7 february 9. With the conclusion of another thrilling season of summer baseball, fans can begin preparing for more excitement in the coming year with the release of the west virginia black bears 2020 season. With the conclusion of another thrilling season of summer baseball, fans can begin preparing for more excitement in the coming year with the. Most visitors who see black bears in west virginia are simply lucky, but you can increase your chances if you know where to look. The firearms hunting portion of the west virginia season in december was very productive, according to officials of the division of natural resources.
Archery seasons for bear, boar, and deer open sept. An early black bear gun season, with or without hunting dogs, runs from aug. There is also general information on the different hunting seasons for a wide range of wild game species. West virginia hunters harvested 2,606 black bears during the combined 2018 archery and firearms seasons. Deer hunters in west virginia are being reminded that a concurrent bear season without dogs will run from nov. Double spur outfitters is conveniently located 2 hours west of washington, dc, and 1 12 hours from dulles international airport. The preliminary harvest for the combined 2018 seasons is 18 percent below the 3,160 bears killed in 2017, but is the sixth highest bear kill recorded, according to colin carpenter, black bear project leader for the west virginia division of natural resources. It shall be lawful to chase black bear with dogs, without capturing or taking, from august 1 through the last saturday.
This season will not supersede local ordinances with respect to hunting or use of weapon. In counties or portions of counties having a bear gun season, ohio residents may train dogs only during the small game hunting season. West virginia to see higher black bear harvest, similar deer. All or parts of 16 counties will be open to bear gun hunting sept. How to deal with problem black bear in west virginia. A bear damage stamp class ds is not required of landowners, senior citizens, underage, military, disabled veterans and former pows.