Deer hunters can take advantage of an October three-day firearm antlerless deer season on private land again this year, according to Paul Johansen, assistant chief in Charge of Game Management for the Division of Natural Resources (DNR). In counties or parts thereof having a firearms antlerless deer season, the season on private land will open Thursday, Oct. 23 and remain open through Saturday, Oct. 25.

“There are several advantages to hunters and to deer management if hunters participate in this season,” Johansen said. “Many hunters may find the weather better for stand hunting since temperatures should be warmer than during late November and December. Hunters who hunt in one of the 31 counties where they are required to harvest an antlerless deer prior to taking a second antlered buck can harvest an antlerless deer now. Then, they won’t have to worry about filling this requirement later in the season if they hunt for a second antlered buck in November and December. From a deer management view, for every antlerless deer harvested in the early October season there will be more food for the remaining deer over the winter months.”

The harvest of antlerless deer is the key to healthier, heavier and more productive deer herds. To manage West Virginia’s deer herd, hunters and landowners must continually assess their expectations of the proper number of deer sightings versus the visible impacts deer have on vegetation, and encourage antlerless deer harvest where needed to benefit not only the deer herd, but all wildlife dependent on our state’s woodland habitat.

“The early opening date for antlerless deer hunting with a firearm is a good opportunity for hunters and landowners to accomplish their antlerless deer harvest objectives and put some meat in the freezer,” Johansen said.

For more details on license requirements and all deer hunting seasons, including the counties open for the October portion of firearm antlerless deer season, please see the 2014-2015 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary available at DNR offices and license agents across the state, or visit www.wvdnr.gov.

Photo courtesy of the West Virginia Department of Commerce

A three-day early antlerless firearm deer season is set for Oct. 23-25 on private land in selected counties.