With the start of a new decade this year, I decided to take a look back at the most notable changes that took place to hunting seasons in West Virginia during the last decade. Growing up in the late 1900’s I always wondered what life was going to be like in the year 2000. It’s still hard to believe that it’s not only the year 2000, but 2020 now. Time sure does fly by and I’m realizing that I’m getting old.
The first change that took place was the opening of Sunday hunting statewide. It was allowed one year prior to that but then went back to vote. In 2001, hunters had the privilege to hunt on Sunday due to a bill passed that overturned West Virginia’s blue law against Sunday hunting. During the 2001 hunting season, hunters were allowed to hunt on Sundays on private land only for any game species in season except for the Sunday before a big game opener.
In 2002, due to a provision of the bill passed, county commissions were allowed to put the option to vote on a county-by-county basis. There were 14 counties that opted not to put Sunday hunting on the ballot which allowed it as result. In the 2014 election, there were 7 out of 9 counties that voted yes to allow Sunday hunting.
During 2014, 21 counties were open to Sunday hunting on private land only. In 2017 the State Legislature voted to open Sunday hunting statewide. The regulations that year stated that “Sunday hunting will be legal in all 55 counties on private land only, with written permission, beginning July 6, 2017” and it has remained the same since then. The next changes took place during 2015 hunting seasons. The new electronic check-in system was implemented and spring gobbler hunters had the first chance to try it out. It’s been in place since then and I really like the convenience of it. I also like how you can look back at everything you’ve checked in as it keeps a previous history.
Another change to the 2015 regulations was the use of crossbows allowed during the traditional archery deer and bear season. During the May 3, 2015 Division of Natural Resources Commission meeting, the seven-man panel voted to allow the use of crossbows during the traditional September-December archery season.
At first, the use of crossbows was on the ballot but it was only for a September 26- October 31 season. The commission voted in favor of the recommendation but decided to allow the use of crossbows for the entire September 26- December 31 archery season. September 26, 2015 marked the beginning of the crossbow wave that has continued since then.
In that same May 3 meeting, the panel also voted in favor of moving the spring gobbler season up a week. In 2016, spring gobbler season opened on the third Monday in April instead of the fourth Monday. It has remained that way to this date and the 2020 spring gobbler season opens on April 20 and ends on May 16. Squirrel season also saw an earlier opening date during the 2016 hunting season. The season traditionally opened the first Saturday in October but it was moved up a month early to September. During the 2016 season, squirrel hunters were able to hit the woods on September 10 and it’s remained that way since then.
Last year marked the first-time deer hunters could hunt in January with the Mountaineer Heritage season. The primitive weapon season continued this year and took place from January 9-12, 2020. Hunters and fisherman should be reminded that it is a new year and time to purchase a 2020 license.
There were a lot of notable changes to the hunting seasons during the last decade. Who knows what this next decade will bring? I saw on the news where 2 hunters were cited for using a drone to locate deer on the Coopers Rock Wildlife Management area this past deer season. Like I said, who knows what the future will bring in this quickly everchanging world we live in today.