Deer - Muzzleloader Season
2012-2013 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. One must be taken on one of the following valid base licenses or license combinations: resident license (Class X, XJ, AB-L, A-L, XS, Classes A+CS+BG); or a free license (Military, Disabled Veteran, former POW, Class DT or Senior Citizen); or nonresident license (Classes E+CS/LE+VV, Classes XXJ+CS/LE or Class DT). Underage residents and resident landowners hunting on their own land (see page 10) may take a muzzleloader deer without a license. An additional muzzleloader deer may only be taken with a Class RM or RRM stamp, a Class DT license or by a resident landowner hunting on his/her own land. 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.

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 or a Class DT license in all counties having the muzzleloader season (see pages 13-15 and 29).

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 double-barreled or swivelbarreled 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.

Only one deer may be taken per day.

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, RRM stamps or Class DT licenses
	Open: to either sex muzzleloader hunting on base license, and antlered deer only on Class RM, RRM stamps or Class DT licenses (*on private land in Pocahontas County)
	Open: to either sex muzzleloader hunting on base license and Class RM, RRM stamps and Class DT licenses (**on private land in Randolph and Tucker counties)
	Closed: to all firearms deer hunting
*See pages 16-17 for muzzleloader regulations on public lands in these counties. See pages 22 and 23 for more detailed descriptions and maps of Fayette, Greenbrier, Lincoln, Mineral, Pendleton, and Wayne counties.

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Use of Class RM and Class RRM Stamps and Class DT Licenses in this Muzzleloader Season

Only one Class RM or RRM stamp may be used in the muzzleloader season.

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

To take an additional muzzleloader deer, all residents, except resident landowners (see page 10) hunting on their own land and hunters who possess a Class DT license are required to purchase a Class RM stamp. All nonresidents, except holders of a Class DT license, are required to purchase a Class RRM stamp if they choose to take an additional muzzleloader deer.

Class RM and Class RRM stamps or a Class DT license may be used to take one additional deer in this muzzleloader season in all counties having the muzzleloader season (see page 29). See pages 16-17 for muzzleloader regulations on WMAs and other public lands.

Deer taken on a base license or license stamp combination or Class RM or RRM stamps may be checked in any order. A hunter may not hunt an additional deer until all previously taken deer have been checked.

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

Class RM, RRM stamps or Class DT licenses may be used to take one either-sex deer in the 43 counties or parts thereof having a Class N or NN antlerless season bag limit of one unlimited or three antlerless (Class N) deer (see muzzleloader map page 29). See pages 16-17 for muzzleloader regulations on WMAs and
other public lands.

Concurrent waterfowl hunting is legal (see separate WVDNR 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 19 – December 1, 2012. 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 11). These two areas will not be open to the traditional buck firearms season. All muzzleloader license requirements apply (see page 28). The annual antlered deer bag limit is one for archery and muzzleloader seasons combined (see page 17).

Older-aged Deer Management Areas

All antlered deer taken 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 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 12).

WEST VIRGINIA CWD Containment Area

See page 12 for special regulations regarding deer carcass transport and baiting and feeding of wildlife within Hampshire and portion of Hardy and Morgan counties.

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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 this muzzleloader season subject to all archery deer hunting regulations.

Concurrent hunting is permitted during this 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. All persons hunting during deer firearms seasons (except those engaged in farming activities on their own land and waterfowl hunters) must wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange as an outer garment.

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

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