Deer - Special Antlerless Deer Season
2009-2010 Hunting Regulations

One antlerless deer may be taken with a bow on private land only in designated counties (see page 17) during this Special Antlerless Deer Archery Season on one of the following valid licenses or license/stamp combinations: resident (Class X+RB, Class XJ+RB, Class AB-L+RB, Class A-L+RB, Classes A+CS+BG+RB); or a free license (Military+RB, Disabled Veteran+RB, former POW+RB, Senior Citizen+RB, or Class DT); or nonresident (Classes XXJ+CS/LE+RRB , Classes E+CS/ LE+UU+RRB or Class DT). Underage residents must possess an RB stamp. Resident landowners hunting on their own land (see page 9) may take an archery deer without a license or RB stamp. Class DT license holders must be accompanied by a licensed adult 21 years of age or older.

All deer taken in this season must be checked on Class RB or RRB stamps or a Class DT license or by a resident landowner hunting on their own land.

During a calendar year a resident may purchase only three Class RB stamps and a nonresident may purchase three Class RRB stamps. Only one RB or RRB stamp may be used in the Special Antlerless Deer Archery Season. Only two RB or RRB stamps may be used in the traditional archery season October 17 - December 31, 2009.

The Class RB or Class RRB archery stamps may be purchased at any time prior to the October 17, 2009 opening of traditional archery season.

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

To take a deer in this Special Antlerless Deer Archery Season, 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 (see license requirements on page 10).

Concurrent Hunting during this Special Antlerless Deer Archery Season

Concurrent migratory bird hunting is legal (see separate Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations).

Special Seasons and Restrictions

It is illegal to:

• 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.
• to use an electronic call to hunt deer.

Urban Deer Archery Season

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. Deer taken during this special urban archery season shall not apply to the hunters regular archery season bag limit.

One antlerless deer may be taken with a muzzleloader on private land only in designated counties (see page 17) during this Special Antlerless Deer Muzzleloder season on one of the following valid base licenses or license/stamp combinations: resident (Class X+RM, XJ+RM, AB-L+RM, A-L+RM, Classes A+CS+BG+RM); or a free license (Military+RM, Disabled Veteran+RM, former POW+RM, Class DT or Senior Citizen+RM); or nonresident (Classes E+CS/LE+VV+RRM, Classes XXJ+CS/ LE+RRM or Class DT license). Underage residents must possess an RM stamp. Resident landowners hunting on their own land (see page 9) may take a muzzleloader deer without a license or RM stamp. Class DT license holders are not required to have an RM or RRM stamp but must be accompanied by a licensed adult 21 years of age or older.

All deer taken in this season must be checked in on Class RM or Class RRM stamps or a Class DT license or by a resident landowner hunting on their own land.

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 double-barreled 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; when the priming charge is removed from the pan; or if they have an electronic ignition, the battery must be removed.

During a calendar year a resident may purchase two Class RM stamps and a nonresident may purchase two Class RRM stamps. Only one RM or RRM stamp may be used in this Special Antlerless Deer Muzzleloader Season. Only one RM or RRM stamp may be used in the early muzzleloader season on Wilson Cove Study Area and Hillcrest WMA (November 23 – December 5, 2009) or the late Muzzleloader Season (December 14-19, 2009).

Only one muzzleloader season deer may be taken with each Class RM or RRM stamp. The Class RM and RRM stamps must be purchased before December 14, 2009.

Class RM, RRM stamps or Class DT licenses may be used to take one antlerless deer on private land only in specified counties or portions thereof having this Special Antlerless Deer Muzzleloader Season (see page 17).

All participants in this Special Antlerless Deer Muzzleloader Season must wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange as an outer garment.

Concurrent Hunting during this Special Antlerless Deer Muzzleloader Season

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

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.