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2023 - 2024 Bear Hunting Regulations
LICENSE REQUIREMENTS RESIDENT BEAR HUNTING LICENSE PRIVILEGES To hunt black bear in West Virginia, residents must have a valid Class A, AB, X, XJ, Q, Lifetime Class A-L or AB-L License accompanied by a bear damage stamp (Class DS). A Bear Damage Stamp (Class DS) is not required of landowners, senior citizens, underage, military, disabled veterans and former POWs. A Conservation Stamp (Class CS) is required of all licensed hunters holding Class A, AB or Q licenses. ADDITIONAL LICENSES MUST BE PURCHASED:
To hunt black bear in West Virginia, nonresidents must hold a valid Nonresident Bear Hunting License (Class EE) and a Bear Damage Stamp (Class DS). A Conservation Stamp (Class CS) and Law Enforcement Stamp (Class LE) is required of all holders of a Class EE license. It is illegal to:
Each person killing a bear must, within one hour and before moving the carcass from where it was killed, complete and attach a game field tag. This tag must bear the hunter's name, address, hunting license number (if required) and the date, time and county of kill. The field tag must remain on the carcass until it is dressed for consumption. A person killing a bear must, within 24 hours after the kill, transport the bear or its fresh skin to a conservation officer or an official game checking station for retagging. A checking tag must be affixed to the bear before any part of it may be transported more than 75 miles from the point of kill, and shall remain on the skin until it is tanned or mounted. BEAR ARCHERY HUNTING All counties except Berkeley, Brooke, Doddridge, Jefferson, Hancock, Harrison, Marion, Marshall, Monongalia, Ohio, Pleasants, Taylor, Tyler and Wetzel are open to bear archery season. Bear hunting is not permitted in the Cranberry Closed Area. The Cranberry Closed Area is bounded as follows: Starting at Dyer on Forest Service Route 86, the boundary proceeds along Forest Service Route 86 east to Forest Service Route 76 (The Black Mountain Road); the boundary follows Forest Service Route 76 (The Black Mountain Road) south to the intersection with the Highland Scenic Highway (State Route 150); the line then follows State Route 150 to State Route 39. The southern boundary of the Closed Area follows State Route 39 to the Nicholas County line; then proceeds north following the Nicholas County line to Forest Service Route 76, it then follows Forest Service Route 76 north to Forest Service Route 101. The boundary then follows Forest Service Route 101 north to Dyer. The use of dogs while bow hunting for black bear is illegal during the bear archery season. BEAR GUN SEASON A bow may be substituted for a firearm during bear firearms seasons. Bear hunting not permitted in Cranberry Closed Area. DOG TRAINING REGULATIONS The same licenses required for bear hunting are required for the training of dogs on bear. Training for nonresidents may begin October 7, 2000 and continue throughout small game season, ending February 28, 2001. In order to reciprocate with the State of Ohio, Ohio residents may train dogs between August 16 and April 30 in accordance with laws and regulations governing West Virginia residents. In counties or portions of counties having a bear gun season, Ohio residents may train dogs only during the small game hunting season. It is unlawful for a person to permit a dog owned by him or under his control to chase, pursue or follow upon the track of any deer or wild turkey. Dogs may be trained on bears on private land with the landowner's written permission, or on public lands, at any time. Persons training dogs may not have firearms or other implements for the taking of wildlife in their possession during closed seasons on wild animals and birds. ATTENTION BEAR HUNTERS The Division of Natural Resources (DNR) is currently studying factors related to the productivity and mortality of black bears in West Virginia. As part of this research effort, radio collars, ear tags and lip tattoos have been placed on a number of bears. Anyone observing a bear wearing a radio collar or ear tag is asked to report the number of the tag (if obtainable) to the DNR. Hunters that harvest a bear with a radio collar and/or ear tag should return this equipment to the DNR. Successful bear hunters can contribute to this research effort by allowing a tooth, the size of a kitchen match, to be pulled and submitted to the bear project. This will enable wildlife biologists to determine the bear's age. After processing the tooth, the DNR will provide you with the age of the animal. A tagged bear may have been tranquilized. Please contact the District Wildlife Biologist prior to consumption of meat. BEAR REPRODUCTIVE TRACT COLLECTION WV Wildlife biologists are continuing to collect female bear reproductive tracts. Information from these tracts, as well as a premolar tooth from each bear will reveal such data as breeding ages of females, number of cubs produced, age structure of female population and reproductive success. Please help us obtain as much information as possible by following the outlined procedures. You may call any District DNR office or the Elkins Operations Center for assistance. Beckley: 256-6947 Fairmont: 367-2720 French Creek: 924-6211 Parkersburg: 420-4550 Pt. Pleasant: 675-0871 Romney: 822-3551 Elkins Operations Center: 637-0245 PROCEDURES
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