FRENCH CREEK, W.Va. — The three-day special antlerless deer season for youth hunters, persons with a Class Q/QQ permit and senior citizens with a Class XS license will soon be underway.

The first segment of the season is Oct. 20. The second segment is Dec. 26-27. Hunting is permitted on private and public lands in counties that have a firearms deer hunting season.

Youth hunters ages 8-17 may participate in this special antlerless deer season. Hunters ages 8-14 must be accompanied by a licensed adult who may not hunt or possess implements for the taking of wildlife. Hunters ages 15-17 must comply with all licensing requirements. Senior hunters who have a Class XS lifetime hunting/trapping/fishing license may also participate in this special antlerless deer season.

“This special split antlerless season provides an excellent opportunity for parents and other mentoring adults to pass on the safe habits and traditions of hunting to youth hunters,” said Tyler Evans, Division of Natural Resources wildlife biologist. “This season also provides an excellent opportunity for seniors and other eligible hunters to take to the woods at a time when there is not as much hunting pressure.”

All hunters participating in this season, as well as accompanying adults, must wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange.

Nonresident youth hunters must be properly licensed (Class XXJ License and CS/LE Stamp, Class AAHJ License and CS/LE Stamp, or Class DT License), and all accompanying nonresident adults must also be properly licensed (Class E License and CS/LE Stamp).

The daily bag limit for this special antlerless deer season is one antlerless deer per day, for a total of three antlerless deer that may be harvested during this season. These deer will 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 may be checked online at wvhunt.com, by calling 1-844-WVCHECK or by visiting a license agent.

Please refer to the 2018-2019 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary for additional details. Hunters may also direct their questions to any of the six DNR district offices.