Joe Manchin III, Governor

Frank Jezioro, Director

News Release : December 21, 2005

Hoy Murphy , Public Information Officer (304) 558-3380 hoymurphy@wvdnr.gov

Contact: Paul Johansen, Wildlife Resources Section (304) 558-2771 wildlife@wvdnr.gov

Late Antlerless Deer Season Provides Hunting

Opportunities in Specified Counties

  Hunters who have not taken their annual legal bag limit of antlerless deer may wish to participate in the upcoming late antlerless season according to Paul Johansen , Assistant Chief in charge of Game Management for the Wildlife Resources Section of the Division of Natural Resources. Private land in 25 counties is open to antlerless hunting four additional days, December 28-31, 2005 . Those counties include: Berkeley , Brooke, Doddridge, Hampshire, Hancock, Hardy, Harrison , Jackson , Jefferson , Lewis, Marion , Marshall , Mason, Mineral, Monongalia, Morgan , Ohio , Pleasants, Putnam, Ritchie, Taylor , Tyler , Wetzel, Wirt and Wood, along with Hughes River , McClintic and Lewis Wetzel Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs).

  To participate in the late antlerless season, hunters must possess a valid Class N or NN license (antlerless deer hunting license) for one of these counties, an unfilled Class RG or RRG (additional deer stamp) license or be a resident landowner hunting on his/her own land in those counties.

  Hunters are reminded they may purchase Class N or NN licenses through December 31, 2005 . Also, hunters who have previously taken an antlerless deer on a Class N or NN license may use an unfilled Class RG or RRG license to harvest an additional antlerless deer during this late season. Except for landowners hunting on their own land, a Class N or NN or a Class R or RR license is required for each deer taken. The total annual antlerless deer season bag limit is four deer (except that the annual bag limit for antlerless deer on Lewis Wetzel WMA during the antlerless deer season is one deer). These bag limits include all antlerless deer taken in previous segments of the antlerless deer season.

  For complete information, hunters should consult the 2005-2006 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary available at any DNR office, license agent or by visiting the DNR Web site at www.wvdnr.gov .

**DNR**