As the fall hunting season approaches, the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) encourages new hunters born on or after January 1, 1975, to complete a certified hunter education class before purchasing a hunting license.

“The WVDNR’s hunter education class is an essential part of ensuring that all new hunters in West Virginia are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to hunt safely, ethically and responsibly,” said WVDNR Director Brett McMillion.

The two-day, 12-hour class, offered free of charge at various locations statewide, includes instruction on gun safety, wildlife management, ethics, survival, first aid, game identification and other key topics. After completing the class, hunters must finish a hands-on firearm practical and pass a final exam supervised by a Natural Resources Police officer or volunteer hunter education instructor to become fully certified.

“Even if a hunter isn’t required to take the hunter education class to purchase a hunting license in West Virginia, we encourage everyone to get their hunter education certification because it will allow them to hunt in other states that may have different hunter education requirements,” said Natural Resources Police Colonel Bobby Cales.

For more information about West Virginia’s hunter education program, visit WVdnr.gov/hunter-education. To find and register for a free class, visit register-ed.com/programs/westvirginia.

West Virginia’s Fall Hunting Seasons

West Virginia offers several small and big game hunting seasons throughout the fall. The first hunting opportunity comes on August 31 with the first split of the black bear firearms season. Additional black bear firearms seasons open between September and December. Squirrel season starts on September 14, followed by the archery season for white-tailed deer, black bear, and wild boar on September 28. Wild turkey seasons open in October. The early firearms season for antlerless deer begins on October 24, with extra dates in November and December. Buck firearms season runs from November 25 to December 8.

For more details on West Virginia’s hunting seasons, download a copy of the Hunting Regulations Summary at WVdnr.gov/hunting-regulations. To purchase a West Virginia hunting license, visit WVhunt.com.