Shooting deer to reduce nuisance problems and maintain population balance in West Virginia | White-tailed deer

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Shooting deer to reduce nuisance problems and maintain population balance

Shooting deer with archery equipment or firearms during standard established hunting seasons is the most effective way to maintain deer population balance in areas where it is legal and safe to hunt.

Deer hunting and nuisance control are highly regulated. You cannot shoot deer outside of established seasons and without a proper license or permit.

In urban and suburban environments where hunting is not feasible, consider implementing habitat modification, exclusion, and hazing solutions as first lines of control. If these approaches are unsuccessful, contact your state wildlife agency for guidance.

Assistance in West Virginia

Contact the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources for a list of licensed Animal Damage Control agents in your area who can assist with animal removal, damage, damage prevention, and clean up.  Be aware that they charge for their services.  Your local Division of Natural Resources office can provide guidance regarding nuisance wildlife.  They can also provide you with a permit to remove or destroy certain animals, and advice on how to do so, if it is necessary or desirable for you to trap or shoot animals yourself.  Federally protected species require additional permits as noted if necessary.

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources district offices:    

District 1       Farmington              304 825-6787

District 2       Romney                   304 822-3551                                                                                                                           

District 3       French Creek          304 924-6211

District 4       Beckely                   304 256-6947

District 5       Alum Creek             304 756-1023

District 6       Parkersburg            304 420-4550

Op Center    Elkins                      304 637-0245

Trapped animals must be humanely dispatched.  They may not be relocated without prior approval from West Virginia Division of Natural Resources.

Laws and regulations to be aware of

Regulations for West Virginia

Special Homeowner Association Archery Hunts

Homeowners associations desiring to reduce deer densities on their properties may apply to the Director of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources for a special archery hunt permit.  Requests must be submitted by the last day of February for the coming year.  The hunt is limited to archery equipment only with a bag limit of seven deer.  The special season runs from 21 days prior to the opening of the regular archery season through the end of December. 
While we attempt to provide guidance about state and federal regulations pertaining to specific species and control techniques, we do not provide information about local jurisdictions (city, town, county, etc.) where regulations may be more restrictive, especially as it applies to discharge of firearms, transport of animals or use of trapping equipment. Contact your local city or county government to inquire further. No guarantee is made that information (or lack of information) associated with a species or control technique is completely accurate or current. You should become familiar with federal, state and local laws before beginning any wildlife control activities.

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