The archery harvest in Tables 3, 4, 8, and 9 includes 280 deer taken by hunters in the special urban deer season. This special archery deer-hunting season is available to incorporated cities and homeowner associations, which may open 14 days prior to the opening of archery season and close December 31. During this special season two deer may be taken which do not count toward the regular archery deer season bag limit. In 2004, three cities and one homeowners association had an urban deer archery season. This is the first year that a homeowner association has taken advantage of the special urban archery deer season to address deer population management. For information regarding implementing a special season contact your local city government or local DNR Wildlife Resources office.

The antlerless deer harvest (Tables 5, 6, 8, and 9) includes 4,807 antlerless deer harvested in the special youth and Class Q deer season. The special youth and Class Q season was open on private land in any county, or portion thereof, open to the antlerless deer season and on 28 DNR Wildlife Management Areas across the state on November 6, 2004 and again December 27 and 28, 2004. This was the seventh year this special season was held. To participate hunters had to hold a Class Q license or be a youth at least 10 and no more than 14 years of age on the day of the season, and be accompanied by a licensed adult at least 21 years of age. The daily bag limit was one antlerless deer, which did not count against the hunter's annual antlerless deer season bag limit. Youth and Class Q hunters harvested 3,811 deer on November 6th and an additional 471 and 525 deer on December 27th and 28th, respectively. The recorded harvest for the 2004 special Youth and Class Q deer season increased by 45% from that of 2003. The reduced harvest in December can be attributed to the wariness of the deer and decreased participation because of colder weather in late December. The first day harvest was recorded as up 53% from 2003. However, this increase was likely caused by confusion surrounding the published opening date of the season.

A special controlled deer hunt was held for the eleventh year on the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) property located at Green Bank. Sixty-three deer were taken in 6 days of hunting which are not included in this year's harvest tables. The hunt was held October 2, 7, 8, 9, 14 and 15, 2004. Again, as in the urban and youth and Class Q seasons the deer taken on the NRAO did not count against the hunter's annual bag limit.

Written by James M. Crum

Click On Links Below For PDF Versions of Tables 1-9.

Table 1. West Virginia Antlered Buck Harvest, 2000-2004.
(PDF format, 8.21KB)

Table 2. Antlered Buck Gun Harvest By Locality In West Virginia, 2000-2004.
(PDF format, 9.29KB)

Table 3. West Virginia White-Tailed Deer Bow Harvest, 2000-2004.
(PDF format, 8.10KB)

Table 4. Deer Bow Harvest By Locality In West Virginia, 2000-2004.
(PDF format, 9.15KB)

Table 5. West Virginia Anterless Gun Harvest, 2000-2004.
(PDF format, 8.13KB)

Table 6. Antlerless Deer Harvest By Locality In West Virginia, 2000-2004.
(PDF format, 9KB)

Table 7. Muzzleloader Deer Seasons In West Virginia, 2000-2004.
(PDF format, 7.98KB)

Table 8. Deer Mortality By Type of Season, 2004.
(PDF format, 8.29KB)

Table 9. West Virginia 2004 Deer Kill Per Square Mile of Habitat By Season
(PDF format, 8.41KB)

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