Deer - Archery Season
2009-2010 Hunting Regulations

Additional Deer Archery Stamps | Special Seasons and Restrictions | Concurrent Hunting during Deer Archery Season

Three deer may be taken with a bow during this archery season. One deer must be taken on one of the following valid base licenses or license combinations: resident (Class X, Class XJ, Class AB-L, Class A-L, Classes A+CS+BG); or a free license: Military, Disabled Veteran, former POW, Senior Citizen or Class DT; or nonresident (Classes XXJ+CS/LE , Classes E+CS/LE+UU or Class DT). Underage residents and resident landowners hunting on their own land (see page 9) may take an archery deer without a license. Up to two additional deer may be taken with Class RB or Class RRB stamps (one per stamp) or on a Class DT license or by resident landowners hunting on their own property. If two deer are taken on Class RB or RRB stamps, or on a Class DT license or by a resident landowner using those privileges one of the two must be an antlerless deer taken in a county open to Class N antlerless hunting. Class DT license holders must be accompanied by a licensed adult 21 years of age or older.

A hunter may take no more than three antlered deer per calendar year in all archery and firearms seasons combined.

Deer of either sex may be hunted statewide with a bow during this archery season. A bow, but not a crossbow, may be substituted for a firearm during any deer firearms season except muzzleloader season.

It is illegal:

• be afield with both gun and bow, or with a gun and any arrows, except that persons who have a concealed weapon permit may carry a concealed handgun for self-defense only.
• hunt with a crossbow and/or have a crossbow afield except for the holders of Class Y or YY permits during designated archery seasons. Crossbows must have:
  • a draw weight of at least 125 pounds.
  • a working safety.
  • bolts at least 18 inches long.
  • broadheads with at least two cutting edges at least ¾-inch in width.
• hunt deer with arrows having less than two sharp cutting
• edges, measuring less than ¾-inch in width.
• use a bow-locking device, except with a modified bow permit issued by the Director.
• use an arrow with an explosive, drug-laced or poisoned head or shaft.
• use an electronic call to hunt deer.

Additional Deer Archery Stamps

Class RB and Class RRB

A resident may purchase only two Class RB stamps and a nonresident may purchase only two Class RRB stamps for this archery season. The Class RB or Class RRB archery stamps must be purchased before October 17, 2009, prior to the opening of this archery season.

Only one deer may be taken with each Class RB or RRB stamp.

Deer taken on a base license or license stamp combination or Class RB or RRB stamps may be checked in any order. A hunter may not hunt an additional deer until all previously taken deer have been checked.

Class RB or RRB stamps cannot be used for taking deer with a firearm.

Two additional deer may be taken with Class RB or Class RRB stamps, by holders of Class DT licenses or by a resident landowner hunting on their own land during this archery season. If two deer are taken on Class RB or Class RRB stamps, or on a Class DT license, or by a landowner using Class RB stamp privileges, one of the two must be an antlerless deer taken in a county open to Class N antlerless hunting.

The annual limit for the four-county area of Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties is two archery deer, one of which must be antlerless. One Class RB or RRB stamp is valid in these counties, except if the first archery deer was taken in a county open to firearms deer hunting, then two deer (one must be antlerless) may be taken on Class RB or RRB stamps or a Class DT license in these counties. The taking of archery antlerless deer during the buck season is legal in these counties.

To take additional archery deer, all residents except holders of Class DT licenses and resident landowners (see page 9) hunting on their own land are required to purchase Class RB stamps. All nonresidents except holders of Class DT licenses are required to purchase Class RRB archery stamps to take additional archery deer (see license requirements on page 10).

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Special Seasons and Restrictions

Urban Deer Archery Season

A special archery deer hunting season is available between October 3 − December 31, 2009 to incorporated cities, towns, villages and incorporated homeowner associations (see exception below for the City of Charleston). To implement the hunt, homeowner associations must submit a written request to the Director by March 1 of the hunt year. During this special season two deer may be taken which shall not apply to the hunters regular archery season bag limit. For information regarding this special archery deer hunt contact your local municipal government, homeowner association or the appropriate DNR office. The City of Charleston will have a special archery deer season September 19 – December 31, 2009 with a season bag limit of seven deer; provided the first deer taken must be antlerless and no more than two antlered deer may be taken. The daily bag limit is two deer.

Older-Aged Deer Management Areas

All antlered deer taken during archery season on Beech Fork Lake, Bluestone Lake, Burnsville Lake, and McClintic WMAs and Coopers Rock and Calvin Price State Forests must have a minimum outside antler spread of 14 inches (ear tip to ear tip). The annual bag limit for antlered deer on these areas is one for all seasons combined. It is illegal to bait or feed wildlife on these areas.

Hampshire County CWD Containment Area

See page 11 for special regulations regarding deer carcass transport and baiting and feeding of wildlife within this designated portion of Hampshire County.

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Concurrent Hunting during Deer Archery Season

A bow hunter may take small game at any time the small game season is open, except the first three days of buck season in counties having a buck season.

Archery hunting for antlered and antlerless deer is legal during muzzleloader deer season subject to all archery deer hunting regulations. Additionally, archery hunters must wear a blaze orange outer garment of at least 400 square inches during any deer firearms seasons.

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