West Virginia Lottery Hunts

Each year, the WVDNR issues a limited number of permits for controlled deer hunts at select state parks and limited Class N/NN antlerless deer hunting on some public hunting lands and counties around the state. If you’re looking to make the most out of your fall hunting adventures, lottery hunts are a great opportunity.

To apply for a lottery hunt permit, hunters must use their existing Electronic Licensing and Game Checking System (ELS) account or create one. Once logged in, applicants must select “Enter a Lottery Drawing” and choose one of the available options.

State Park Lottery Hunts

For the 2024 season, applications to participate in state park lottery hunts will be accepted between July 15 and August 31 and must be submitted online at WVhunt.com. Each application is $15 and can be submitted for one or two people. You may apply for multiple hunts, but you may only enter each hunt once.

Permits will be drawn randomly on Sept. 3 and successful applicants will be notified between Sept. 6–23. If chosen, hunters must confirm their intent to participate in the hunt. If chosen for more than one concurrent hunt, hunters will be given the opportunity to choose the one they want. Successful applicants will be contacted with more detailed information closer to the date of their controlled hunt.

Each hunter must possess a valid West Virginia hunting license within one week of being contacted or be legally exempt from purchasing a license. West Virginia hunting regulations apply to all controlled hunts. Deer harvested during a controlled hunt do not count against a hunter’s annual deer season bag limit.

Details for each hunt are provided below.

Class N/NN Lottery Hunts

For the 2024 season, applications for Class N/NN lottery hunts will be accepted between July 15 and September 6 and must be submitted online at WVhunt.com. Applications must be submitted online at WVhunt.com. Hunters may apply as an individual or as a group. Hunters who apply for a group must know the DNR ID number for each hunter. Hunters also may call their local WVDNR district office for help with the application process.

Starting on Sept. 15, all applicants will be able to see whether they received a permit by logging into their ELS account. Applicants who are selected will also be notified by mail by the first week of October.

What is a lottery hunt?

A lottery hunt is a regulated hunting opportunity where a limited number of permits are issued through a random drawing. Each of these hunts are designed to manage wildlife populations and some even offer hunters a chance to enjoy additional hunting opportunities on normally restricted public lands without affecting their regular season bag limits.

If selected, hunters are granted access to hunt in specific areas that are otherwise off-limits or the opportunity to take a deer where hunting is otherwise restricted. These additional opportunities offer a unique and rewarding experience and a chance to fill their freezers with meat or donate a deer or two to our Hunters Helping the Hungry Program.

License Requirement

West Virginia hunting regulations apply to all controlled hunts. All hunters 15 and older must have a valid West Virginia hunting license, unless legally exempt from purchasing a license.