Is deer hunting too predictable in your area? Perhaps you are thinking of planning a trip out West or to one of the Midwest states like Iowa or Kansas. Before you lock in those arrangements, give West Virginia a hard look. As you will read in this post, deer populations are increasing and seasons are becoming more liberal, including allowing the harvest of black bears during the rifle seasons in more counties. Black bear add a special excitement to a fall hunt, even if you are not interested in shooting one. Just seeing one of these magnificent animals is a thrill and it’s fun to enjoy, especially with a rifle or bow in your hand while perched well above the ground.
New Adventure in Big Country
Normally, suggesting a hunting area in any post or publication is the kiss of death and usually results in high hunter numbers. One of the Mountain State’s premier hunting areas is the Monongahela National Forest, a vast rugged tract of public land with numerous access points. The Monongahela is surrounded by campgrounds and rushing streams often stocked with trout. It’s a magnificent place to camp and explore during summer months and then hunt in the fall. If you are willing to do a bit of very enjoyable homework, you can locate places that team with deer and bears. I once hunted this enormous public space on horseback and was amazed at its size and steep mountains. On that spring hunt, I saw as much bear dung in the woods as deer droppings, an indication of the high bruin population.
Tourist Options
West Virginia has a strong tourism industry and many small towns and state parks roll out the camo carpet for hunters. You’ll find many hotels and park accommodations so that you can get a shower and a good nights sleep within driving distance of the hunt. Additionally, many counties offer a WV trifecta in which an archer can take a wild turkey, deer, and bear in the same archery season. This post will give you the information needed to get started. Good Luck:
Proposed changes to the 2017 hunting regulations will mean increased opportunities for West Virginia hunters to kill antlerless deer or bear this fall. The proposals were made during the winter quarterly Natural Resources Commission Meeting last Sunday in South Charleston. For deer hunting, the proposed changes are largely a liberalization of the antlerless hunting in 18 counties.
