Simple preparation can help you enjoy legal, safe and successful hunts
One of the simplest ways to become a better hunter is to know the regulations and rules before you go into the field. This knowledge not only helps you avoid costly mistakes, but it also ensures you’re hunting ethically and safely. In this blog, you’ll learn why following hunting regulations matters, see the 10 most common mistakes our Natural Resources Police Officers encounter in the field and get practical tips for avoiding them. Whether you’re new to hunting or returning after a break, these simple steps will help you get ready for your hunting adventures and keep your season on the right track.
Why Following Regulations Matters
When it comes to hunting, rules and regulations are a good thing. They preserve the land, conserve our wildlife, benefit hunters and protect the beauty and goodness of West Virginia’s world-class natural resources.
Regulations help preserve the land by preventing overuse and damage to habitats. Staying within legal hunting areas, respecting private property and following seasonal restrictions allows the landscape to recover and remain healthy and habitable for all wildlife — game and nongame species alike.
Rules also conserve wildlife by ensuring game populations are managed sustainably. Bag limits and season dates are based on research and surveys and protect game from over-harvesting, ensuring populations remain strong and sustainable year after year.
Regulations benefit hunters by creating fair, safe opportunities for everyone. Safety requirements, such as wearing blaze orange, protect lives. License and stamp requirements ensure hunters have equal access to game while contributing to conservation funding.
Finally, rules and regulations protect West Virginia’s natural resources by keeping our outdoor heritage and traditions intact. Ethical hunting practices maintain the balance between people and nature, ensuring that the state’s forests, mountains and wildlife remain a source of pride and enjoyment for future generations.
By following hunting regulations and rules, you play a direct role in conserving our state’s natural resources and protecting hunters’ rights to enjoy a world-class hunting experience in West Virginia.
The 10 Most Common Hunting Violations
While following the rules is simple once you know them, our Natural Resources Police Officers encounter the same violations season after season. Most of these issues can be avoided with a little preparation and attention to detail. Knowing what they are is the first step to keeping your hunt legal and enjoyable.
- Hunting without landowner permission (trespassing)
- Hunting or taking game out of season
- Failing to electronically check harvested game
- Possessing wildlife illegally
- Taking more deer than the legal bag limit
- Hunting without the required additional stamps
- Not wearing at least 400 square inches of blaze orange during firearms deer season
- Hunting from a motor vehicle
- Hunting with a firearm in a closed county
- Hunting without a valid license
How to Avoid These Common Hunting Violations
Hunting without landowner permission (trespassing)
Private land access is a privilege, not a right, which is why you must always get permission from the landowner before hunting. Avoid making this mistake by contacting landowners well before the season and keep a copy of their written permission with you in the field.
Hunting or taking game out of season
Season dates are set to protect wildlife. Hunting outside these dates not only harms wildlife, it’s illegal. Avoid making this mistake by reviewing the season dates for your target species and marking them on your calendar before heading out.
Failing to electronically check harvested game
Checking big game is a requirement and helps biologists track harvest numbers and manage wildlife populations. Avoid making this mistake by checking your harvest within the required timeframe using the WVDNR’s electronic game checking system. To learn more about this process, check out our Game Check Guide.
Possessing wildlife illegally
Wildlife taken outside legal means or seasons, or without proper licenses, is considered illegal possession. Avoid making this mistake by only taking possession of legal wildlife you have legally harvested and keep licenses and tags current.
Taking more deer than the legal bag limit
Bag limits prevent overharvesting and ensure deer populations and buck to doe ratios remain at healthy levels. Avoid making this mistake by knowing the bag limit for the county where you are hunting and keep track of your harvest throughout the season.
Hunting without the required additional stamps
Certain deer seasons require you to purchase an additional stamp(s) to take extra deer. For example, you need to buy an RB/RRB stamp to take extra deer during the archery season, an RG/RRG stamp for the buck firearm season and an RM/RRM stamp for the muzzleloader season. Avoid making this mistake by buying your hunting license and any required stamps at the start of the year so you’re prepared for any season.
Not wearing at least 400 square inches of blaze orange during firearms deer season
Blaze orange makes you visible to other hunters and reduces the risk of accidents. Avoid making this mistake by wearing the required amount of blaze orange on your head, chest and back during firearms deer season, even if you’re not hunting deer.
Hunting from a motor vehicle
Shooting from a moving or stationary vehicle is unsafe and unfair to wildlife. Avoid making this mistake by exiting your vehicle and making sure you are fully off the roadway before loading or firing your firearm.
Hunting with a firearm in a closed county
Some counties restrict certain firearms for specific seasons to protect wildlife and public safety. Avoid making this mistake by checking the county-specific regulations in the current hunting digest before your trip.
Hunting without a valid license
You’d be surprised how often our NRPOs encounter someone hunting without a valid license. Avoid making this mistake by purchasing your license before the season. Better yet, purchase a three-year license (Class X3 or XP3) and upgrade it to a license card so you can carry your license with you whenever you hunt.
Know Before You Go
West Virginia’s fall hunting seasons will be here before you know it. Take time to review the current Hunting Regulations Summary so you know the rules for the species and area you plan to hunt. Purchase your license and any required stamps before the season begins, and keep them with you while in the field. By taking these simple steps, you’ll protect yourself from making a mistake and help keep West Virginia’s hunting traditions strong for future generations.