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2023 - 2024 Antlerless Regulations


An antlerless deer is any deer having no antlers or having both antlers less than 3 inches long above the hairline. A maximum of three antlerless deer (one per day) may be taken during the antlerless deer season in selected counties. Two deer may be taken with Class N licenses, at least one of which must be taken in a county specified to have a bag limit of 2 Class N deer. One deer may also be taken with an unfilled Class RG or Class RRG gun license in a county open for its use in the antlerless season. In all instances the first deer taken during the antlerless deer season or the portion of the antlerless deer season concurrent with bucks-only season must be taken on a Class N license or as a landowner. All West Virginia residents, regardless of age, must purchase a Class N license to hunt during the antlerless season with the following exceptions:
  • Resident landowners may hunt antlerless deer on their land without a license provided the land is in a county or part thereof open to antlerless deer hunting.
  • Resident landowners, their resident children or resident parents do not have to live on the property. However, a resident tenant must permanently live on the land.
  • Resident stockholders of resident corporations formed for the primary purpose of hunting or fishing who own no less than 1,000 acres may hunt antlerless deer on their own land, provided the land is in a county or part thereof open to antlerless deer hunting.
All non-residents,military personnel, senior citizens, Class Q, disabled veterans, former POWs and underage hunters must purchase a Class N license to hunt antlerless deer. Class N licenses may be purchased anytime after August 1, 2000 at any license agent, county clerk's office, the Elkins Operations Center, or the DNR License Section in Charleston. Class N licenses are county specific and nontransferable. Only one antlerless deer may be taken on each Class N license. No person may actively participate (driving) in any manner in hunting antlerless deer without a valid Class N license or otherwise being exempt from having a Class N license. LIMITED RESIDENT ANTLERLESS DEER HUNTING
Seven (7) counties or parts thereof,two (2) state forests, Monongahela NF in Pocahontas County and fourteen (14) wildlife management areas (WMAs) have a limited number of Class N licenses for resident antlerless deer hunting. To be eligible to hunt in one of these counties or wildlife management areas an application must be submitted by August 15, 2000. Successful applicants will receive notification from the DNR by mail. Resident landowners may hunt on their own land in these counties or parts thereof without a permit. In limited resident antlerless counties or parts thereof and limited resident antlerless WMAs, a hunter may take only one deer in the antlerless season. UNLIMITED RESIDENT AND NONRESIDENT ANTLERLESS DEER HUNTING
Forty-two (42) counties or parts thereof have an unlimited number of Class N licenses for resident and nonresident antlerless deer hunting. No application is necessary for these counties. Wallback and East Lynn WMAs are closed to antlerless deer hunting. Lewis Wetzel WMA is open to unlimited resident antlerless deer hunting only Dec. 4-9. Nonresidents may not hunt antlerless deer with a firearm on Lewis Wetzel WMA during antlerless season. With the exception of Wallback, East Lynn and Lewis Wetzel WMAs and the 14 WMAs listed on page 16, the remaining WMAs in the 42 counties are unlimited and open to resident and nonresident hunters. Counties with a bag limit of 2 Class N Deer and counties for use of unfilled Class RG and Class RRG in Antlerless Season
There are 40 counties or parts thereof where a hunter can take an additional antlerless deer during the antlerless season by purchasing an additional Class N license. In addition, unfilled Class RG and Class RRG gun licenses may be used to take an additional antlerless deer during the Class N season in forty (40) specified counties or parts thereof. Deer hunting on the Class RG or Class RRG license in the antlerless season or the portion of the antlerless season concurrent with the first 6 days of bucks-only season can begin on the day after legally checking the first antlerless deer on a Class N license or as a resident landowner. The use of these licenses (RG, RRG, additional Class N) does not apply to Beech Fork, Big Ugly, Bluestone, Burnsville, East Lynn, Elk River, Hillcrest, Sleepy Creek, Chief Cornstalk, Handley, Lewis Wetzel, Pleasants Creek, Pruntytown, Amherst/Plymouth, Stonecoal, Stonewall Jackson, Wallback and McClintic WMAs, and Cal Price and Seneca State Forests and Monongahela NF in Pocahontas County. The remaining WMAs in these 40 counties are open for the use of additional Class N or the RG or RRG licenses. CONCURRENT HUNTING DURING THE ANTLERLESS DEER SEASON
During antlerless season (Dec. 4-9) concurrent hunting for small game and bear (where the season is open) is legal, however, no hunter except those legally hunting antlerless deer or bear shall be afield with a firearm with solid ball ammunition or shot shells containing larger than No. 4 shot. Concurrent archery hunting is legal during the antlerless season subject to all archery deer hunting regulations. All persons hunting during deer firearms seasons (except those engaged in farming activities on their own land and waterfowl hunters) must wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange as an outer garment. Concurrent waterfowl hunting (See Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations) is legal. SPECIAL YOUTH ANTLERLESS DEER SEASON - OCTOBER 28, 2000
A special one day deer season for youth hunters will be held on private land in counties or parts thereof open to Antlerless (Class N) deer hunting and on 21 specified Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs). Only one antlerless deer may be taken. To participate youth hunters must:
  • Be at least 10 and no more than 14 years of age on the day of the season.
  • Possess a free permit from DNR for WMAs only.
  • Be accompanied by a licensed adult, at least 21 years of age, who must also wear 400 square inches of blaze orange, cannot carry a gun or a bow and must remain near enough to the youth to render advice and assistance.
The bag limit of one antlerless deer will not count towards the hunter's annual deer season bag limit. A class N license is not required. Deer taken must be checked at an official game checking station within 24 hours of the close of this special season. Youth hunt participants and all other hunters hunting on private land or on any of the specified WMAs on the day of the special youth deer hunt, with the exception of waterfowl hunters, must wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange as an outer garment. All nonresident participants must possess Class E, Class CS and Class LE licenses. Permits to participate in the special youth deer hunt on WMAs are limited and will be issued on a first come - first serve basis to residents. Any permits not issued by October 1, 2000 will be issued to either residents or nonresidents on a first come - first serve basis.
The 21 WMAs open for the Special Youth Deer Hunt are listed below. Permit information may be obtained by calling the appropriate phone number as listed. Permits will be available beginning August 15, 2000. A permit is not required if hunting on private land. Wildlife Management Areas and Number of Permits Available for Special One-Day Youth Deer Season October 28, 2000
Wildlife Management Areas# PermitsPhone #
Allegheny (Mineral County)50304-822-3551
Amherst/Plymouth (Putnam County)50304-675-0871
Beech Fork (Cabell & Wayne counties)75304-675-0871
Beury Mountain (Fayette County)50304-256-6945
Bluestone (Summers, Mercer & Monroe counties)300304-256-6945
Burnsville (Braxton County)200304-924-6211
Chief Cornstalk (Mason County)110304-675-0871
Cranberry (Nicholas, Greenbrier & Webster counties)225304-924-6211
Frozen Camp (Jackson County)25304-420-4550
Handley (Pocahontas County)10304-924-6211
Hughes River (Ritchie & Wirt counties)200304-420-4550
Jug (Tyler County)25304-420-4550
Lewis Wetzel (Wetzel County)135304-367-2720
McClintic (Mason County)50304-675-0871
Nathaniel Mountain (Hampshire County)50304-822-3551
Shannondale (Jefferson County)20304-822-3551
Short Mountain (Hampshire County)50304-822-3551
Sleepy Creek (Berkeley & Morgan counties)200304-822-3551
Springfield (Hampshire & Mineral counties)50304-822-3551
Stonewall Jackson (Lewis County)200304-924-6211
Stumptown (Gilmer County)25304-420-4550
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