ALUM CREEK, W.VA. — The first segment of a special deer hunting season for youth and senior citizen hunters and hunters with a Class Q/QQ permit will open in West Virginia this weekend.
The first segment of the Youth, Class Q/QQ and Class XS Deer Season is Oct. 16-17. The second segment will run Dec. 26-27. During the special season, hunting is permitted on private and public lands in 51 counties with a firearms deer hunting season.
“This special antlerless season provides an excellent opportunity to pass on hunting traditions to youth hunters,” said Nick Huffman, a wildlife biologist for the WVDNR. “This season also provides a tremendous opportunity for seniors and hunters with a Class Q/QQ permit to enjoy this unique hunting experience at a time when there is a noticeable reduction in hunting pressure.”
Kids 8-17 may participate in this special season. Senior citizens 65 and older, who have a resident Class XS lifetime hunting, trapping and fishing license, may also participate.
Hunting License Requirements
Resident youth hunters 8-14 don’t need a hunting license, stamps or hunter safety education card, but must be accompanied by an unarmed, licensed adult who may not hunt. Resident youth hunters 15-17 must comply with all licensing requirements, but don’t need a Class N Stamp.
Nonresident youth hunters need one of the following license and stamp combinations to participate:
- Class XXJ License + CS/LE Stamp
- Class AAHJ License + CS/LE Stamp
- Class DT License)
All accompanying non-resident adults must have a Class E License with a CS/LE Stamp. Resident and non-resident hunting licenses and stamps can be purchased online at WVhunt.com.
Hunting Regulations and Game Checking
All hunters participating in the Youth, Class Q/QQ and Class XS Deer Season, including adults accompanying a child, must wear at least 400-square inches of blaze orange.
The daily bag limit for this special season is one antlerless deer per day. A total of four antlerless deer may be harvested during this season.
Deer harvested during the special split antlerless season do not count toward a hunter’s annual deer season bag limit. Class N/NN stamps are not required for this special season.
Each deer must be field tagged and electronically registered within 24 hours of the close of each segment of the split season and before pursuit of any additional deer. Deer can be checked online at WVhunt.com, at a license agent or by calling 1-844-WVCHECK. For more information about the season, hunters should refer to the 2021-2022 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations. Regulations are available at DNR district offices, DNR license agents and online at WVdnr.gov.
