Hunters killed 38 wild boar during the 2002 season.  This represents the third year in succession harvests have declined.  Bowhunters took nine during the October 12 through December 31 archery season.  The early firearms harvest was three and during the late season 26 were killed.

 

In 2002, 3,435 hunters applied for 4,000 permits. The December season, the most popular segment, was oversubscribed by 89 applicants, and 89 of the unsuccessful applicants were issued eligibility cards for the early season.  The early season received 1,261 applications.  Eighty-five applicants were rejected for omitting or providing incorrect information.

 

The wild boar population continues to decline, even though permit allocations were reduced the last two years.  Habitat changes and poor reproduction in the boar area are believed to be the primary reason for the decline, and further season restrictions are being considered.

 

Traditionally hunters have been less successful during the early gun season. Weather conditions are usually warm and dry and leaf fall makes boar and boar sign more difficult to find during this time.  A single firearms season scheduled in late October or early November should reduce the harvest and provide an increased number of boar the additional time needed to occupy more productive habitats.

 

The 2003 boar archery season is scheduled for October 18 through December 31.  It is proposed to eliminate the December gun season and schedule the boar firearms season for the last week in October 2003.

 

In addition, it is proposed to eliminate the permit system.  During the last two seasons, fewer than 1,300 hunters applied for the early gun season.  It is felt the demand for boar hunting will remain low as a result of low boar populations.  We no longer believe the permit system is necessary to reduce hunting pressure.

 

Should these proposals be approved, hunters wishing to hunt during the wild boar firearms or archery seasons will need only purchase a Class P license.

Written by Thomas L. Dotson

Click On Link Below For PDF Version of Table 1.

Table 1. Hunting Statistics For West Virginia Wild Boar Seasons, 1979-2002.
(PDF format, 4.69KB)

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