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Seasons, Dates and Limits
2008-2009 Hunting Regulations

Species - Deer | Bear | Turkey | Squirrel | Ruffed Grouse | Bobwhite Quail | Cottontail Rabbit | Snowshoe or Varying Hare | Ring-necked Pheasant | Raccoon | Red Fox, Gray Fox | Bobcat | Mink, Muskrat | Fisher | Beaver | Crow | Coyote | Skunk, Opossum, Woodchuck, Weasel, English Sparrow, European Starling and Pigeon | Mountain Lion, Elk, Otter, Song and Insectivorous Birds, Hawks, Falcons and Eagles | Geese, Ducks, Mourning Doves, Gallinules, Rails, Woodcock, and Common Snipe

Species Opening
Date		 Closing
Date		 Daily Bag
Limit		 Possession
Limit		 Season
Limit
*Wild Boar (Gun) October 25 November 1 1
*Wild Boar (Archery) October 18 December 31
*Deer (Buck) November 24 December 6 See White-tailed Deer Hunting Seasons and Deer-Antlerless Seasons.
*Deer (Archery) October 18 December 31
*Deer (Antlerless) November 24** December 13
Split Season
(Antlerless)		 December 24 December 27
Hampshire County
(Antlerless)		 October 31 November 1
*Deer (Muzzleloader) December 15 December 20
*Deer
(Youth/
Class Q Hunt)		 November 1 November 1 1
Split Season
(Youth/
Class Q Hunt)		 December 22 December 23 1 2 2
*Bear (Archery) October 18 November 22 1
*Bear (Gun)
(Selected Counties)		 September 18 September 27
September 22 September 27
November 24 December 6
December 8 December 31
*Turkey, Fall (Selected Counties) October 25 November 22 1
October 25 November 1
*Turkey, Fall
(Preston County)		 October 25 November 8
*Turkey
Spring 2009
(Bearded Only)		 April 27 May 23 1 2 2
*Turkey
Spring 2009
(Youth Hunt)		 April 25 April 25 1 - counts towards spring season bag limit of two
Squirrel
(Gray, Black, Albino and Fox) 		October 11 January 31 6 24 None
Squirrel
(Youth Hunt)		 October 4 October 4 6
Ruffed Grouse October 18 February 28 4 16 None
Bobwhite Quail November 1 January 3 3 9 None
Cottontail Rabbit November 1 February 28 5 20 None
Snowshoe or Varying Hare November 1 February 28 2 8 None
Ring-necked Pheasant
(cock birds only)		 November 1 January 3 2 2 None
Ring-necked Pheasant
(cock birds only) Hillcrest WMA		 November 8 November 29 1 1 None
Raccoon (Hunting)
The bag limit during an 11-hour period beginning at 6 p.m. and ending at 5 a.m. is four raccoons for each person or groups of persons hunting as a party.		 October 18 February 28 4 See definition of possession limit. None
Raccoon (Trapping) November 1 February 28 None
Red Fox, Gray Fox (Hunting and Trapping) November 1 February 28 None
*Bobcat
(Hunting and Trapping)		 November 1 February 28 3
Mink, Muskrat (Trapping) November 1 February 28 None
*Fisher (Trapping) November 1 January 31 1
*Beaver (Trapping) November 1 March 31 None
Crow
 October 1 November 22 None
Crow Split Season January 1 March 7
Nuisance Crows - crows committing depredations upon ornamental or shade trees, agricultural crops, home gardens, livestock, or wildlife, or when concentrated so as to constitute a health hazard and or other nuisance may be killed at any time.
Coyote (day) Continuous Open Season None
Coyote (night)*** January 1 July 31
Skunk, Opossum, Woodchuck, Weasel, English Sparrow, European Starling and Pigeon Continuous Open Season None
Skunk, Opossum, Coyote, and Weasel (Trapping) November 1 February 28
Mountain Lion, Elk, Otter, Song and Insectivorous Birds, Hawks, Falcons and Eagles No Open Season
Geese, Ducks, Mourning Doves, Gallinules, Rails, Woodcock, and Common Snipe Harvest Information Program (HIP) card required. See WVDNR Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations available in September.

*Must be checked at an official game checking station

 **December 7 Closed ***Can only use amber-colored or red-colored light
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