2005 West Virginia Deer, Bear and Boar Archery Season to Open

The 2005 West Virginia big game archery seasons open on Saturday, October 15, 2005 offering some of the best deer and bear hunting opportunities in the eastern United States , according to Curtis I. Taylor, Chief of the Division of Natural Resources' Wildlife Resources Section. Approximately 150,000 bowhunters will take to the woods and fields of West Virginia in pursuit of their favorite big game.

• The state-wide deer archery season opens on Saturday, October 15, and runs through December 31. The deer archery harvest is expected to be similar to the 2004 harvest when 26,227 deer were harvested by bowhunters. Bowhunters are reminded that they have until October 14 to purchase their additional deer archery licenses (Class RB and RRB).

• The bear archery season opens on October 15 and runs through November 19, and is open state-wide with the exception of the Cranberry Closed Area, as shown in the 2005-2006 hunting regulations. During 2004, a total of 368 bears was harvested by bowhunters. The bear population in West Virginia continues to increase and expand in range, and as a result, bowhunters are experiencing increased hunting opportunities for bears outside of the “traditional” mountain counties.

• Wild boar archery season opens October 15 and continues through December 31. Hunters are reminded that the wild boar population remains low, as is reflected in the four wild boar taken by bowhunters in 2004. Hunters are reminded that they may take only one wild boar per year and that the season is only open in Boone, Logan, Raleigh, and Wyoming counties.

For more information on archery hunting opportunities in West Virginia, check 2005-2006 Hunting and Trapping Regulations or visit the website at www.wvdnr.gov