Deer - Muzzleloader Season
2008-2009 Hunting Regulations

Muzzleloader Counties Map | Use of Class RM and Class RRM Stamps in Muzzleloader Season | Special Seasons and Restrictions | Concurrent Hunting during theMuzzleloader Deer Seasons

Two deer may be taken with a muzzleloader during the muzzleloader season - the first deer must be taken on one of the following valid base licenses or license combinations: resident (Class X, XJ, AB-L, A-L, Classes A+CS+BG); or a free license (Military, Disabled Veteran, former POW or Senior Citizen); or nonresident (Classes E+CS/LE+VV, or Classes XXJ+CS/LE). Underage residents and resident landowners hunting on their own land (see page 8) may take a first muzzleloader deer without a license. A second muzzleloader deer may only be taken with a Class RM orRRM stamp or by a resident landowner hunting on his/her own land.

Muzzleloader hunting for antlered deer is legal in all counties open to buck season. A deer of either sex may be taken with muzzleloaders in all counties or parts thereof open to the Class N season. One additional deer may be taken on a Class RM or RRM stamp in all counties having a muzzleloader season (see pages 12-15 and 25).

In the muzzleloader season, only single shot muzzleloaders, including “in-lines” of .38 caliber or larger are legal. Telescopic sights are legal. A firearm that has been converted into a muzzleloader by use of a plug, or a doublebarreled or swivel-barreled muzzleloader is illegal for deer hunting during the muzzleloader season.

When being transported in or on a vehicle, muzzleloaders will be considered unloaded when uncapped or when the priming charge is removed from the pan.

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

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Muzzleloader Counties

Logan, McDowell, Mingo, and Wyoming counties are closed to all firearms deer hunting.

	Open: to antlered only muzzleloader hunting on base license and Class RM or RRM*
	Open: to either-sex muzzleloader hunting on base license, and antlered deer only on Class RM or RRM*
	Open: to either-sex muzzleloader hunting on base license and Class RM or RRM*
	Closed: to all firearms deer hunting

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Use of Class RM and Class RRM Stamps in Muzzleloader Season

During a calendar year a resident may purchase only one Class RM stamp and a nonresident may purchase only one Class RRM stamp.

Only one deer may be taken with a Class RM or RRM stamp. The Class RM and RRM stamps must be purchased before December 15, 2008, prior to the opening of muzzleloader season.

To take an additional muzzleloader deer, all residents, except resident landowners (see page 8) hunting on their own land are required to purchase a Class RM stamp. All nonresidents are required to purchase a Class RRM stamp if they choose to take an additional muzzleloader deer.

Class RM and Class RRM stamps may be used to take one additional deer in the muzzleloader season in all counties having a muzzleloader season (see page 25). See pages 14-15 for muzzleloader regulations on Wildlife Management Areas and other public lands.

Deer hunting in the muzzleloader season on the Class RM or RRM stamp can begin on the day after legally checking the first muzzleloader deer.

In all instances (see page 37), the first muzzleloader season deer must be taken on an appropriate base license, license/ stamp combination, free license, resident underage or as a landowner (see page 8) hunting on their own land and legally checked before the Class RM or RRM stamp is legal.

Class RM or RRM stamps may be used to take one antlered deer in all counties having a muzzleloader season OR;

Class RM or RRM stamps may be used to take one either-sex deer in the 35 counties or arts thereof having a Class N or NN antlerless season bag limit of two or more antlerless (Class N) deer (see muzzleloader map page 25). See pages 14-15 for muzzleloader regulations on WMAs and other public lands.

Concurrent waterfowl hunting is legal. (See separate Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations publication.)

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Special Seasons and Restrictions

Wilson Cove Deer Study Area and Hillcrest Wildlife Management Area

Wilson Cove Deer Study Area located in Hardy County on the George Washington National Forest and Hillcrest WMA, located in Hancock County will have muzzleloader only deer season November 24 - December 6, 2008. During this period only single shot muzzleloaders, including “in-lines” of .38 caliber or larger are legal for hunting deer on these areas (see page 9). These two areas will not be open to the traditional buck firearms season. All muzzleloader license requirements apply (see page 24). The annual antlered deer bag limit is one for archery and muzzleloader seasons combined (see page 15).

Older-Aged Deer Management Areas

All antlered deer taken on Beech Fork Lake, Bluestone Lake, Burnsville Lake and McClintic WMAs and Coopers Rock State Forest must have a minimum outside antler spread of 14 inches (ear tip to ear tip). The annual antlered deer bag limit is one for archery and firearms seasons combined. It is illegal to bait or feed wildlife on these areas (see page 11).

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 the Muzzleloader Deer Season

A bow or crossbow cannot be substituted for a muzzleloader during the muzzleloader season. Concurrent archery hunting for antlered and antlerless deer is legal during the muzzleloader season subject to all archery deer hunting regulations, except archery hunters must wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange as an outer garment.

Concurrent hunting is permitted during the muzzleloader season. It is illegal to be afield with solid ball ammunition or shot larger than No. 4 during the muzzleloader season, except for those persons legally hunting bear, and for waterfowl hunters using nontoxic shot.

It is legal to hunt small game with .22 caliber or smaller rimfire during the muzzleloader season.

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