SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s 2019 wild boar firearms season opens Oct. 26, runs through Nov. 2, and is open to West Virginia residents only. To hunt wild boar, hunters must possess one of the following licenses: Class X, XJ, XS, AB-L, A-L, Class A+CS+BG or Class AHJ, AH+CS+BG or be exempt from purchasing a license.

The second split of the wild boar firearms season will take place Feb. 7–9, 2020.

Boar hunting is restricted to Boone, Logan, Raleigh and Wyoming counties. Boar of either sex may be taken, but only one boar may be taken per year. In 2018, hunters took 137 boars during the boar firearm, archery and crossbow seasons.

“Wild boars are dependent on hard mast crops. Red, black and scarlet oak acorn production is up significantly in 2019 and boars will take advantage of this food source,” said Colin Carpenter, DNR wildlife biologist. “Abundant mast will have boars scattered and require hunters to move to find boar feeding areas.”

Each harvested animal must be checked in to the Division of Natural Resources (DNR) by calling 1-844-982-4325 (1-844-WVCHECK), going online at www.wvhunt.com or going to an official DNR license agent.

Concurrent hunting of deer and bear, where legal, is permitted. Hunters are reminded that if they are hunting in a county open to firearms antlerless deer hunting, they must wear 400 square inches of blaze orange over their outer clothing during the antlerless season.

For more information about boar hunting, go to the 2019-20 Hunting and Trapping Regulations. The regulations are available at DNR District Offices or online at wvdnr.gov.