RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (WOAY) – West Virginia’s white-tailed deer muzzleloader season kicked off Monday, December 16, and runs through December 22.
There are always benefits to reducing a deer herd in a given area where the numbers are too high.
“Certain areas are over harvest objectives; others are under harvest objective,” said
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) District Wildlife Biologist Todd Dowdy. “We gauge the seasons and bag limits based on that. It’s open in all counties except for the four archery-only counties.”
This muzzleloader-only season allows hunters to get out and participate with that firearm.
“We’ve already gone through the buck firearm season and an antler deer season. Now it’s another opportunity to go out with a more primitive weapon to pursue deer,” Dowdy said. “It’s a single-shot weapon that uses black powder, a different ignition system, and a bit more challenging (with) less distance that you can shoot.”
The hunting locations range from private (hunting one’s own property or permission from the landowner to hunt that property) to public land that the DNR owns.
“We have wildlife management areas that we maintain for public hunting,” said the district wildlife biologist. “You can also in this region hunt on certain tracts of the park service land of the New River Gorge Park and Preserve.”
Most hunters prefer to keep their catch.
“It’s great table fare. There are some opportunities for hunters to donate their meat to the ‘Hunters Helping the Hungry’ program,’ Dowdy said. “I recommend they look at our website to determine the closest processor to them to donate a deer if they choose to do so.”
Check out the 2024 hunting regulations for the county you’re hunting in to ensure you have the proper license and stamps. For an additional deer, you must have purchased an RM stamp before the season opener. According to the district wildlife biologist, there are multiple benefits to hunting, not just thinning deer herds — but also providing outdoor recreation.
“If you didn’t have success in the buck firearm season this is another opportunity to harvest a buck, or reduce your numbers on your property,” said Dowdy. “Also another way to fill the freezer with some high-quality venison.”
