CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia’s 2026-27 hunting season dates and bag limits for mourning dove, woodcock, snipe, sora and Virginia rails have been set. These seasons are set within the annual guidelines established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
| Species | Dates | Daily Limit | Possession Limit | ||||
| Mourning Dove (3-way split) | Sept. | 1 | – | Oct. | 11 | 15 | 45 |
| Nov. | 2 | – | Nov. | 15 | |||
| Dec. | 7 | – | Jan. | 10 | |||
| Woodcock (2-way split) | Oct. | 17 | – | Nov. | 21 | 3 | 9 |
| Nov. | 30 | – | Dec. | 8 | |||
Wilson’s Snipe | Sept. | 1 | – | Dec. | 16 | 8 | 24 |
Sora & Virginia Rails | Sept. | 1 | – | Nov. | 9 | 10 | 30 |
The dove season is split into three segments with this first segment running from Sept. 1 to Oct. 11. Shooting hours on Sept 1 are from noon to sunset. For the remainder of the season, the hours are half an hour before sunrise to sunset.
The daily bag limit is 15 birds. Hunters interested in hunting at the Stonewall Jackson Wildlife Management Area are advised that a portion of the area is under special permit on Sept. 1-2. Those interested in a special permit should apply at WVhunt.com. Applications are due on Aug. 1.
The woodcock season is split into two segments. Both the snipe and rail seasons are a single segment. Shooting hours for woodcock, snipe and rails are half an hour before sunrise to sunset.
To hunt migratory game birds, all licensed hunters, including lifetime license holders and senior citizens, must have a valid Migratory Bird Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration card. HIP cards are available online at WVhunt.com and license agents.
West Virginia’s 2026-27 Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations are available online at WVdnr.gov and WVDNR district offices.
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