• WVDNR Announces New Format, Locations for July 24 Natural Resources Commission Meeting

    Public invited to attend in-person at six locations or watch via livestream CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) today announced that the next quarterly meeting of the Natural Resources Commission will be held Thursday, July…

  • WVDNR Files Legislative Rules For Review, Seeks Public Comments

    Proposed changes include repeal of outdated hunting rule and new wildlife rehabilitation guidelines CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) today announced that it has filed several proposed legislative rule changes with the Secretary of State’s…

  • WVDNR Seeks Input on State Wildlife Action Plan

    Open house meetings scheduled across the state in July CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) today announced that it will hold a series of open house meetings in July to gather public input on the…

  • WVDNR Police Announce July 4 Sober Boating Safety Checks

    NRPOs to promote safe, sober boating with Operation Dry Water checks during July 4 weekend CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) announced today that Natural Resources Police officers will participate in Operation Dry Water, a…

  • WVDNR releases hunting and trapping regulations summary for 2025-2026 seasons

    Changes to white-tailed deer, wild turkey and black bear seasons explained in annual publication CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) announced today that new hunting regulations for the 2025-2026 seasons will go into effect July…

  • WVDNR Partners with MCA Youth on Restoration and Recreation Projects

    WVDNR and Mountaineer Challenge Academy continue partnership with stream restoration and state park field day CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) recently hosted the cadets from the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy (MCA) to Pipestem Resort State Park…

  • WVDNR announces West Virginia Gold Rush giveaway winners

    11 lucky anglers receive prize in Gold Rush giveaway CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) today announced the winners of the 2024 West Virginia Gold Rush giveaway. This year marked the Gold Rush’s eighth year,…

  • WVDNR now accepting applications for waterfowl hunt at McClintic WMA

    Hunters have until Aug. 15 to apply for hunt scheduled for October CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) is now accepting applications for a controlled waterfowl hunt at the McClintic Wildlife Management Area near Point…

  • WVDNR stocks 14 waters with catfish during week of June 2

    Agency also stocked 7 additional waters with surplus trout CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) today announced that the following lakes and streams were stocked with channel catfish during the week of June 2: The…

  • WVDNR stocks 68 waters with trout and catfish during week of May 27

    Final trout stockings for spring season took place on May 31 CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) today announced the return of channel catfish stockings with the following lakes and streams receiving a stocking during…

  • Hunters in West Virginia harvest 10,694 spring turkeys in 2025

    Harvests during two-day youth season increased in 2025 CHARLESTON, W.Va. — According to preliminary data released by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) today, hunters harvested 10,694 bearded turkeys during the spring gobbler season. “Spring turkey season continues…

  • WVDNR stocks 65 waters during week of May 19

    Anglers are reminded to purchase a 2025 fishing license and trout stamp CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) today announced that the following lakes and streams were stocked with trout during the week of May…

  • WVDNR announces Free Fishing Days weekend to take place June 7-8

    30th annual Bowden Fishing Derby and event at Little Beaver State Park scheduled for June 7 CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) today announced that West Virginia’s Free Fishing Days will return June 7-8 and…

  • WVDNR Urges Public to Leave Young Wildlife Alone

    Contact with wildlife can harm the animal and transmit disease and parasites CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) today reminded members of the public to leave young wildlife alone, noting that handling wild animals often…

  • WVDNR Announces Changes to Coyote, Youth and Waterfowl Hunting Regulations

    New rules expand opportunities for youth hunters and clarify supervision requirements CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) today announced that changes to coyote, waterfowl and youth hunting regulations went into effect on May 19. These…

  • West Virginia Anglers Catch Record Largemouth Bass, Blue Catfish

    WVDNR confirms fifth and sixth state record fish of 2025 CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) announced today that a record-breaking largemouth bass and blue catfish were caught in May, marking the fifth and sixth…

  • WVDNR to Host Public Meeting on Forks of Coal Master Plan

    Public invited to review and comment on proposed improvements to natural area and trails CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) announced today that it will host a public meeting on Tuesday, May 20 to review…

  • WVDNR stocks 80 waters during week of May 5

    Anglers are reminded to purchase a 2025 fishing license and trout stamp CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) today announced that the following lakes and streams were stocked with trout during the week of May…

  • Lincoln County Angler Catches State Record Black Crappie

    WVDNR has confirmed 3 state record catches in 2025 CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) announced today that the state’s black crappie weight record has been broken by a Lincoln County angler. The record was…

  • WVDNR Police to Launch Safe Boating Week Patrols

    NRPOs to focus on life jacket laws and sober boating ahead of Memorial Day CHARLESTON, W.Va. — To help promote National Safe Boating Week, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) in partnership with its Law Enforcement Section, is…

  • WVDNR Relocates Main Office to State Capitol Complex

    Move enhances public service and strengthens collaboration with state leaders CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) announced today that it has relocated its main office to the West Virginia State Capitol Complex in Charleston. “This…

  • Delayed Harvest Regulations End May 15

    General regulations begin May 16 and continue through Oct. 31 on five popular fisheries CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) announced today that delayed harvest regulations on five trout streams will end on Thursday, May…

  • South Branch WMA Mourning Dove Controlled Hunt Applications Available

    Annual hunt is scheduled for Sept. 1-2 SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) today announced that applications are now available for a controlled mourning dove hunt at the South Branch Wildlife Management Area on…

  • WVDNR Urges Residents to Remove Bear Attractants and Prevent Conflicts This Spring

    Residents can help prevent human-bear conflicts by cleaning up their property BECKLEY, W.VA. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) is urging residents around the state to secure trash, remove bird feeders and eliminate other potential food sources…

  • WVDNR Announces 2 State Record Fish Caught in April

    Record-breaking redhorse sucker and redear sunfish caught on April 22 SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) today announced that a record-breaking redhorse sucker and redear sunfish were caught in April. Jason Floyd of Washington,…