Deer - Archery Season
2012-2013 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 the archery season. One deer must be taken on one of the following valid base licenses or license combinations: resident license (Class X, Class XJ, Class AB-L, Class A-L, Class XS, Classes A+CS+BG); or a free license: Military, Disabled Veteran, former POW, Senior Citizen or Class DT; or nonresident license (Classes XXJ+CS/LE , Classes E+CS/LE+UU or Class DT). Underage residents and resident landowners hunting on their own land (see page 10) 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 parent, guardian, or with written consent of the parent or guardian or any other competent 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 the 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 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.
• 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 the archery season. The Class RB or Class RRB archery stamps must be purchased prior to the opening of statewide 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 the 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.

There are 10 counties or portions thereof (see pages 13, 18 and 20) that require archery deer hunters to take an antlerless deer during the archery deer season prior to harvesting a second antlered deer during the archery deer season.

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 counties open to firearms deer hunting. 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 10) 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 11).

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Special Seasons and Restrictions

Urban Deer Archery Season

A special archery deer hunting season is available between September 8 − December 31, 2012, to incorporated cities, towns, villages and incorporated homeowner associations. 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, seven deer may be taken which may include no more than two antlered bucks and the first deer must be antlerless. Two antlerless deer may be taken per day. Deer taken in the Urban Deer Archery Season shall not apply to the hunters regular archery season bag limit. For information regarding this special archery deer season, contact your local municipal government, homeowner association or the
appropriate DNR office.

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 (see page 12).

McClintic and Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area Controlled Waterfowl Hunting Areas

Hunting in the controlled waterfowl hunting area of McClintic and Green Bottom WMAs is restricted to waterfowl hunting during the early segment of the waterfowl season. Refer to the 2012-13 WVDNR Migratory Bird Hunting Regulation available in September for season dates.

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 least¾ 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.

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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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