West Virginia Hunting Laws

Hunting is a popular sport in West Virginia, and as such, each year hunters gear up for the season. As with other states, West Virginia has specific law that must be adhered to while hunting. Violating these laws can lead to serious criminal charges. With regard to deer hunting, enforcement actions for unlawful activity can lead to a misdemeanor criminal charge (when violations are Class A infractions).
The laws regarding deer hunting in West Virginia have been established and are available to the public on the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) website, and in the free publication titled "West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations 2015-2016." The following restrictions must be followed by all deer hunters, and they are listed in the order of their penalty designation (ranging from least serious to most serious):
These laws regarding deer hunting extend to the use of firearms and ammunition, including legal calibers. In West Virginia, legal grades of calibers should be used, and they must be either straight-wall cartridges or handgun cartridges . Straight wall cartridges include .357 caliber magnum, .44 caliber magnum, .45 caliber magnum, .475 caliber, .480 caliber, and 20 gauge and larger shotgun slugs; however, only one shot may be taken at a time. Handgun cartridges that are legal include .357 caliber magnum, .44 caliber magnum, .45 caliber, .410 and larger shotgun slugs, pistols containing revolver barrels not exceeding 16 inches in length, or pistols containing revolver barrels not exceeding 12 inches in length and a shoulder stock.
West Virginia also has specific rules and regulations with respect to deer hunting equipment. For instance, persons may not hunt deer:
Except as provided herein, no person may hunt game mammals using any caliber, grade or type of ammunition with a bullet less than which shall produce a muzzle energy of 540 foot pounds with a sixteen inch barrel or a bore less than twenty (.690) gauge. Any legal cartridge or shotgun shell, as defined herein, may be used when hunting deer with a muzzle loader.

Legal Calibers Allowed for Deer Hunting

Approved Calibers for Deer Hunting in West Virginia:
To be legal, hunters must be armed with .24 caliber or larger centerfire weapon. The single projectile from a .24 caliber cartridge must be not less than six hundred (600) foot pounds of energy measured at the muzzle. There are several legal calibers from which to choose. While other hunting rifles may be used, they will lack legal authority. However, in the last several years some states, to include West Virginia, have recognized the .22 caliber rimfire as a legal deer caliber. Some of the more popular .24 legal calibers are listed here with their average muzzle velocity and muzzle energy: .243 Winchester – Muzzle Velocity – 2700′ FPS Muzzle Energy – 3700′ lbs .250 Savage – Muzzle Velocity – 2650’FPS Muzzle Energy – 2600’lbs .257 Weatherby Magnum- Muzzle Velocity- 3150’FPS Muzzle Energy- 3400’lbs .260 Remington (Centerfire) – Muzzle Velocity- 3000’FPS Muzzle Energy- 2700’lbs .257 Roberts – Muzzle Velocity – 2720 FPS Muzzle Energy – 2800′ lbs .264 Winchester – Muzzle Velocity – 2850’FPS Muzzle Energy – 3100’lbs .270 Winchester – Muzzle Velocity – 3200’FPS Muzzle Energy – 3106’lbs .280 Remington – Muzzle Velocity – 3175’FPS Muzzle Energy – 3850’lbs 7MM Mauser – Muzzle Velocity – 2750’FPS Muzzle Energy – 2900’lbs 7MM Remington Magnum – Muzzle Velocity – 3100’FPS Muzzle Energy – 3850’lbs .30 Remington Muzzle Velocity- 2800’FPS Muzzle Energy- 2650’lbs .308 Winchester – Muzzle Velocity 2800’FPS Muzzle Energy – 2790’lbs .30-30 Winchester – Muzzle Velocity – 2300’FPS Muzzle Energy – 1900’lbs .32 Winchester Special – Muzzle Velocity – 2225’FPS Muzzle Energy – 1850’lbs .30-06 Springfield – Muzzle Velocity – 2800’FPS Muzzle Energy – 2800’lbs .33 Winchester – Muzzle Velocity- 2650’FPS Muzzle Energy – 2350’lbs .35 Remington – Muzzle Velocity- 2175′ FPS Muzzle Energy- 1750’lbs 8MM Mauser – Muzzle Velocity – 2700’FPS Muzzle Energy – 2900’lbs 9.3X64 – Muzzle Velocity – 2600’FPS Muzzle Energy – 3600′ lbs

How and Why Calibers Matter

Ensuring the appropriate caliber is used is fundamental in preventing unnecessary injury to deer and to ensure a quick kill. A deer is a large animal, weighing up to 300 pounds or more. Caliber dictates the size of a round and the muzzle velocity and energy. A .40 caliber handgun bullet, for example, is going to give the deer its last meal, i.e., venison, whereas a .40 caliber rifle bullet may make a mess out of the deer comparable to a V-8 supercharge. The Division of Natural Resources has imposed these caliber regulations to ensure a humane kill. Failure to comply is punishable by law.

Considerations When Choosing a Caliber

When it comes to deer hunting in West Virginia, it is essential to choose the right caliber for your rifle to ensure a precise shot and a rewarding hunting experience. Hunters must take into account several factors when selecting the optimal caliber that best suits their skills and the terrain.
Some of the most common calibers for deer hunting in West Virginia are .243 Winchester (6mm), .270 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, and .308 Winchester. Each caliber provides a good mix of manageable recoil and flat trajectory, which is perfect for West Virginia’s rolling hills and mountainous regions. However, there are so many different calibers available that it can be difficult – even daunting – to decide what works best for you.
When choosing the right caliber, it is important to consider the terrain of the area that you are going to hunt in. For example, in the flatter areas, you may want a .270 or .308 with 3-9x scope. In regions with dense cover, a "thumper" such as a .30-30 or .45-70 would work better. Flat-firing .06 or .270 are better suited for elevations above 4000 feet. A muzzleloader is allowed , and hunting deer with a shotgun is also allowed in some areas of the state.
Another factor to consider is the distance between you and the deer. If it is a long-range shot, you want a rifle that can provide accurate accuracy at a great distance. The .270 caliber is a popular choice for hunters who get excited at the idea of challenging the distance further into the mountains. Other great options for long-range shooting include a .240 Weatherby Magnum, .257 Weatherby Magnum, .25-06 Remington, or a 7mm Remington Magnum.
Aside from terrain and distance, the hunter’s experience level will also dictate the best caliber for them. If you are new to deer hunting altogether, then you will want to start with a rifle that has less recoil in order to develop your skills comfortably. Bad habits, such as flinching, can be hard to break and cause you to miss that trophy buck. As you become proficient behind the trigger, you can explore other options that pack a little more punch.
When deciding on a caliber for deer hunting in West Virginia, it is vital to consider more than just the terrain or the distance. It is also important to consider where you fit in as a hunter. When you have developed your skills behind the scope, you can start venturing out into other options with more recoil.

Caliber Considerations FAQ

As a new deer season approaches, hunters new and old have many questions. Since there are only two legal calibers for deer in West Virginia, there are inevitably questions about those calibers and whether a specific weapon qualifies under the law. The following are some of the more common questions we encounter.

1. What’s an "acceptable caliber" for deer hunting in West Virginia?

A deer hunter is limited to the use of either (1) a smoothbore shotgun with a rifled slug barrel using a slug, or (2) a muzzle-loading firearm of .40 caliber or larger, with open sights or magnifying telescopic sights – but only if that firearm has been outfitted with mechanical ignition (a type of "full-cock") and is loaded so that it complies with the maximum load regulations.

2. Who can tell me whether my existing firearm is compliant today?

The Hunter Safety Office of the Division of Natural Resources personnel are the final determinants of the legality of your firearm . . . just as they are the final determinators of which shotshells are hunting legal and which are not (with the sole exception of the two-disc slug shells, which no longer can be justified as such). It is safe to call any of our Wildlife Biologists or Enforcement Officers with any questions you might have about your existing firearm, or on your future purchase decisions. They can be found in the online West Virginia Directory for the Division of Natural Resources or the WildB Life Magazine, a publication of the DNR.

3. How do I check to see if the laws have changed?

The DNR’s official webpage, found at www.wvdnr.gov , provides several online sources for current topics of interest, including Hunting Regulations. The DNR sends monthly news pamphlets titled "WildB Life" to interested parties. We recommend that hunters or potential hunters sign up for this newsletter so that they will receive the most current, up-to-minute information regarding all updates to legislation on both the federal and state levels, as well as issues surrounding hunting, fishing, and wildlife management.

West Virginia Deer Hunting Resources

Elsewhere, we provide an overview of the deer seasons in West Virginia, when and where deer hunting and deer rifle hunting is permitted, and what type of bowhunting equipment is prohibited (any device, instrument, or substance employed for the purpose of remotely taking game, such as a drone or parabolic shooter). We also have an overview of where deer are found in West Virginia.
Both the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources Game Management are excellent resources for deer hunting information, operation hours, and other tips. The former has a downloadable deer management program summary (that includes proposed changes) .
The National Deer Alliance website is also quite useful – it includes a fact sheet on "Hunting Across State Lines" (and variances in Deer Disease Management Area regulations) and a directory of Deer Associations and Deer Hunting Organizations. Among them, the West Virginia Beagle Association, the Eastern West Virginia Bowman’s Association, and the West Virginia Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (which has an active chapter in Kanawha County).
On October 21, the West Virginia DNR will host a "Deer Hunting 101 Class" at Blackwater Falls State Park. And, as mentioned in our article on West Virginia Deer Seasons, Point Pleasant WV hosts the annual West Virginia State Taxidermy Championship, where trophies are not only mounted but judged (the event also features a youth deer calling competition and ugliest deer head contest).