Hunting season changes explained in new 2016–2017 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Several important changes in the state’s fall hunting seasons for squirrel, white-tailed deer, black bear and wild turkey are included in the new 2016–2017 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary brochure.
The publication is now available at all West Virginia hunting and fishing license agents, DNR district offices, the Elkins Operation Center and the South Charleston Headquarters. The 2016–2017 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary also is available at www.wvdnr.gov.
Hunters and trappers are encouraged to carefully review these regulations due to the numerous changes in hunting seasons. Major changes for 2016–2017 include:
The statewide squirrel season will open Sept. 10, 2016, and will close a month later than last year on Feb. 28, 2017.
The posting of private lands has expanded to include the use of purple paint as a method of posting private land.
Changes for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) management will be in effect Nov. 21 and 22, 2016, in Hampshire and Hardy counties. All adult deer harvested by hunters Nov. 21–22 within the CWD Containment Area of Hampshire and Hardy counties will be required to be brought to a designated CWD sampling station.
Hunters killing a black bear are now required to submit a first premolar tooth by Jan. 31, 2017.
The black bear Archery and Crossbow Seasons in Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties will not close during the buck firearms season and will be open Sept. 24–Dec. 31, 2016.
Black bear hunting firearms season in 2016 includes four counties open Sept. 3–10; 15 counties or parts thereof open Sept.17–23; four counties open Oct. 1–7; 33 counties (some of which are by permit only) open Nov. 21–Dec. 3 during the Buck Firearms Season; and all 55 counties open Dec. 5–31.
The definition of baiting for the purposes of black bear hunting has been expanded.
Fall wild turkey hunting season has been expanded this year with all 55 counties open Oct. 8–15; seven counties open Oct. 24–29; and 14 counties open Oct. 24– Nov. 12.