Tuesday, May 19, 2015

West Virginia Crossbow Fact Sheet Released

With the approval of the crossbow for West Virginia's archery seasons, the state Department of Natural Resources has released a crossbow fact sheet to answer many of the questions posed by hunters regarding the changes.

The first section of the fact sheet deals with crossbow hunting that falls during the state's big-game archery seasons:
- The crossbow season will run concurrent with the various archery seasons. Game species may be taken with a crossbow during their respective open archery seasons.

- Hunters must be properly licensed to hunt with a crossbow during the respective archery seasons. Depending upon the game species being hunted with a crossbow, a hunter will be required to possess the required base license, species-specific stamps and additional species-specific stamps.

- Game species harvested with a crossbow shall apply to the archery bag limit restrictions for that species. For example, a properly licensed hunter may harvest no more than three deer with a crossbow or bow during the concurrent crossbow and archery deer season.

- Resident hunters may harvest one deer on a base license (X, XJ, A plus CS plus BG, Lifetime, etc.) and up to two more deer if they have purchased two RB stamps.

- Nonresident hunters may harvest one deer after they have purchased the appropriate license combination (E plus CS/LE plus UU, XXJ, etc.) and up to two more deer if they have purchased two RRB stamps.

- Crossbows may not be used in Logan, Mingo, McDowell or Wyoming counties during the archery season; however, Class Y/YY "handicap" license holders may still use crossbows in these counties during the archery seasons.

- Crossbows may be used during special deer hunts such as urban hunts, homeowner association hunts and state park hunts. Entities conducting these special deer hunts are allowed to establish more restrictive rules, therefore they may limit the use of crossbows.

The second segment of the fact sheet deals with crossbow hunting during West Virginia's firearm seasons for deer, bears, turkeys and wild boar:

- Hunters must be properly licensed to hunt with a crossbow during the respective big game firearms seasons. Depending upon the game species being hunted with a crossbow, a hunter will be required to possess the required licenses and stamps (e.g., base license, species-specific stamps and additional species-specific stamps).

- Game species harvested with a crossbow shall apply to the firearms bag limit restrictions for that species (e.g., a properly licensed hunter may harvest no more than two deer with a crossbow or firearm during the buck firearms deer season.).

- Resident hunters using a crossbow during the deer firearms season must possess a base license and may purchase one RG stamp to take an additional deer.

- Nonresident hunters using a crossbow during the deer firearms season must possess the appropriate license combination and may purchase one RRG stamp to take an additional deer.

- Resident hunters using a crossbow during the deer muzzleloader season must possess a base license and may purchase one RM stamp to take an additional deer.

- Nonresident hunters using a crossbow during the deer muzzleloader season must possess the appropriate license combination and may purchase one RRM stamp to take an additional deer.

- Resident hunters using a crossbow during the bear firearms season must possess a base license plus a bear damage stamp (DS) or an XS license.

- Nonresident hunters using a crossbow during the bear firearms season must possess the appropriate license combination plus a bear damage stamp (DS).

- Resident hunters and nonresident hunters using a crossbow during the wild turkey season must possess a base license.

- Resident hunters using a crossbow during the wild boar firearms season must possess a base license.

In both the firearm and special crossbow seasons, all existing specifications for crossbow draw weight, safety, bolt length, broadhead size, etc., still apply. Also, all big-game crossbow kills must be checked using the electronic game-checking system.