SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s muzzleloader deer hunting season will open Dec. 10 and run through Dec. 16, 2018.

During muzzleloader season, antlered deer are legal in all counties that have a buck firearms season, and deer of either sex are legal in all counties or parts thereof that have an antlerless season. Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties are closed to all firearms deer hunting, including the muzzleloader deer season.

The season bag limit is one deer on a base license and one additional deer with the purchase of a class RM or class RRM stamp. The additional muzzleloader stamps must be purchased before the start of muzzleloader season. RM is the stamp designated for residents and RRM is the stamp designated for nonresidents.

Crossbows can be substituted for a muzzleloader firearm during the muzzleloader deer season; however, bows cannot be substituted for a muzzleloader. Concurrent archery hunting is legal during the muzzleloader season, subject to all archery deer hunting regulations. Concurrent waterfowl hunting is also legal.

No more than three bucks can be harvested in a calendar year (all seasons combined). All hunters afield during this week are required to wear blaze orange.

For more information, hunters should read the 2018-2019 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary or visit the DNR website at www.wvdnr.gov.

To register for your DNR ID number, buy a license or to electronically check game, go to www.wvhunt.gov.