Winners will be announced in January 2023.įor more information about the giveaway, rules and prize descriptions, visit /licensegiveaway.SOUTH CHARLESTON, WV - Preliminary data indicates West Virginia hunters harvested 42,674 antlered deer during the two-week firearm season from Nov. The prize drawing is sponsored by the WVDNR and the West Virginia Department of Tourism. Other prizes include state park gift cards, cabin stays and gift bags. One resident will win a lifetime hunting, trapping and fishing license, and one non-resident will win a three-night lodge stay at Pipestem Resort State Park with two zipline tour tickets.

The giveaway is open to residents and non-residents. West Virginia’s lifetime license giveaway is back for a fourth year and hunters and anglers who purchase an annual 2023 hunting, trapping or fishing license in the month of December will automatically be entered into a drawing for a lifetime license and other prizes. Lifetime Hunting and Fishing License Giveaway Returns Those entering must have a valid 2022 West Virginia Hunting License and will need to enter the 13-digit DNR-issued game check number for their bucks. Submissions may be uploaded using the Big Buck Photo Contest entry form at /photocontest. To enter the contest, hunters must submit a photo with a buck they harvested during a 2022 hunting season along with a short account of their hunt. Five youth participants will win a lifetime hunting and fishing license and five adults will win a lifetime hunting license or state park cabin stay. The contest is open to West Virginia residents and nonresidents and includes a youth division for hunters 17 and younger and an adult division for hunters 18 and older. Hunters are also reminded that the deadline to submit a photo into the WVDNR’s Big Buck Photo Contest is is Dec. Hunters who need to register their DNR ID number, buy a license or electronically check game, should visit. Concurrent waterfowl hunting is also legal.įor more information about the muzzleloader deer season and other hunting opportunities in West Virginia, hunters should consult the 2022-23 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary, available to download at /hunting-regulations. Concurrent archery/crossbow hunting is legal during the muzzleloader season and is subject to all archery/crossbow season deer hunting regulations. All hunters afield during this week are required to wear a minimum of 400 square inches of blaze orange.Ī bow, crossbow or air rifle cannot be substituted for a muzzleloader during the muzzleloader deer season. No more than three antlered bucks can be harvested during the regular deer seasons and the 2023 Mountaineer Heritage Season combined. There are 10 counties or parts thereof that require hunters to take an antlerless deer within the county during any regular deer season open to antlerless deer hunting before killing a second antlered deer within the county. Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties are closed to all firearms deer hunting, including the muzzleloader deer season. Nonresident hunters must purchase a Muzzleloader Deer Hunting Stamp (Class VV) in addition to their statewide hunting license.ĭuring the muzzleloader season, antlered deer are legal in all counties that have a buck firearms season and deer of either sex are legal in all counties or parts thereof that have a Class N or NN antlerless season. Resident hunters may harvest one deer on their base license. “Also, there is an increased possibility of hunting in the snow during muzzleloader season, which offers a unique deer hunting experience.” “The muzzleloader season offers an opportunity to pursue deer with a firearm when fewer hunters are hitting the woods compared to the traditional buck firearms season,” said Holly Morris, a WVDNR assistant district wildlife biologist. 12–18 and hunters who want a chance to harvest an extra deer must purchase their RM or RRM stamp before the season starts.

West Virginia’s muzzleloader deer hunting season will be open Dec.

Muzzle loader season va