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2023 - 2024 Muzzleloader Hunting Regulations
MUZZLELOADER DEER HUNTING Muzzleloader deer hunting for antlered deer is legal in all counties open to bucks-only season. Deer of either sex may be taken with muzzleloaders in all counties or parts thereof open to the Class N season. In all limited resident antlerless counties or parts thereof and limited resident WMAs a hunter may take only one deer in the muzzleloader season. In the muzzleloader season, only single shot muzzleloaders, including "in-lines", with iron sights of .38 caliber or larger are legal. A muzzleloader with telescopic sights or a firearm that has been converted into a muzzleloader by use of a plug, a double barreled or swivel barreled muzzleloader is illegal for deer hunting during the muzzleloader season. When being transported in or on a vehicle, muzzleloaders will be considered unloaded when uncapped or when the priming charge is removed from the pan. One deer may be taken with a muzzleloader during the muzzleloader season on a Class V, Class A-L, Class AB-L, Class X, Class XJ, Class VV license, or by a resident landowner hunting on their own land, military, disabled veteran, former POW, senior citizen or underage hunter. A second deer may only be taken in specified counties 1) with an unfilled Class RG or RRG license; or 2) by a resident landowner hunting on their own land who has not filled their RG privilege. If a resident hunter purchases a Class A or Class AB license, or holds a Class Q license, the hunter is required to have a ClassV and Class CS license to hunt deer during the muzzleloader season. In addition to a Class E license a nonresident is required to have Class VV, LE and CS licenses to hunt deer during the muzzleloader deer season. Use of Unfilled Class RG and Class RRG Licenses in Muzzleloader Season Unfilled Class RG and Class RRG licenses can be used to take an additional deer in the muzzleloader season in forty (40) counties or parts thereof. This does not apply to Beech Fork, Big Ugly, Bluestone, Burnsville, East Lynn, Elk River, Sleepy Creek, Lewis Wetzel, Pruntytown, Amherst/Plymouth,Stonecoal, Stonewall Jackson, Chief Cornstalk, Pleasants Creek, Hillcrest, Wallback, Handley and McClintic WMAs, and Seneca and Cal Price State Forests and Monongahela NF in Pocahontas County. Deer hunting in the muzzleloader season on the Class RG or Class RRG gun license can begin on the day after legally checking the first muzzleloader deer. In all instances, the first muzzleloader season deer must be taken on an appropriate license or as a landowner (see page 6) and legally checked before the Class RG or Class RRG license is legal. CONCURRENT HUNTING DURING THE MUZZLELOADER DEER Season A bow cannot be substituted for a muzzleloader during the muzzleloader season. Concurrent archery hunting is legal during the muzzleloader season subject to all archery deer hunting regulations, except archery hunters must wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange as an outer garment. Concurrent hunting is permitted during the muzzleloader season. Except for those persons legally hunting bear, it is illegal to be afield with solid ball ammunition or shot larger than No. 4 during the muzzleloader season. It is legal to hunt small game with .22 cali-ber rimfire during the muzzleloader season. Concurrent waterfowl hunting (See Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations) is legal. Wilson Cove Deer Study Area, located in Hardy County on the George Washington National Forest and the Hillcrest WMA, located in Hancock County will have a bucks-only muzzleloader season November 20 through December 2. Only single shot muzzleloaders, including "in-lines", with iron sights of .38 caliber or larger are legal. These two areas will not be open to the traditional rifle bucks-only firearms season. This is a special muzzleloading season and all muzzleloader license requirements and bag limits apply. Back to Regulations Page |
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