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West Virginia hunters harvested 92,553 white-tailed deer during the 2025-2026 seasons, a 17 percent decrease from the 2024 harvest of 111,646 and 14 percent below the five-year average of 107,434, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) announced.
The decreased harvest was driven by two factors: an increase in hard mast production statewide, which causes deer to spread across the landscape and become harder to track and target, and an outbreak of hemorrhagic disease that impacted hunter success, particularly in western counties.
According to preliminary numbers collected through the WVDNR’s electronic game checking system, hunters harvested 33,823 bucks during the traditional buck firearm season, 25,453 antlerless deer during all antlerless firearm hunting opportunities, 29,654 deer during the urban and regular archery/crossbow seasons, 3,102 deer during the muzzleloader season, and 501 deer during the Mountaineer Heritage season.
Antlerless season
Hunters harvested 25,453 deer during the 2025 antlerless deer season, a 23 percent decrease compared to 2024 and 13 percent below the five-year average. Upshur County ranked second in the state for antlerless deer harvests with 907 deer taken. The top county was Preston, with 1,442.
Archery and crossbow
Hunters harvested 29,654 deer during the 2025 archery and crossbow season, an 8 percent decrease from 2024 and 5 percent below the five-year average. The proportion of the archery harvest taken with a crossbow has stabilized and exceeded deer taken with a traditional bow.
Muzzleloader
Hunters harvested 3,102 deer during the 2025 muzzleloader season, 26 percent less than 2024 and 22 percent below the five-year average. Upshur County ranked fifth in the state with 115 deer harvested during the muzzleloader season.
County-by-county 2025-2026 deer harvest numbers are available for download at WVdnr.gov. For more information about hunting in West Virginia and to purchase a 2026 license and stamps, visit WVdnr.gov.
