Joe Manchin III, Governor
Frank Jezioro, Director

News Release : October 16, 2007

Hoy Murphy, Public Information Officer (304) 558-3381 hoymurphy@wvdnr.gov
Contact: Curtis Taylor , Wildlife Resources Section Chief (304) 558-2771wildlife@wvdnr.gov

Trappers and Hunters Must Tag Furbearers

Trappers harvesting beaver and fisher are reminded they must present the whole animal or pelt to a game checking station or DNR representative within 30 days after the close of the respective season. A tag provided by the checking station shall be attached to the whole animal or pelt until it has been sold, tanned, or mounted.

A recent law change now requires bobcat hunters and trappers to field tag each bobcat before moving the animal from the location where it was killed. The field tag must remain on the carcass until it is retagged with an official game checking tag at an official game checking station. Hunters and trappers are to present the unskinned bobcat when checking the animal.

Information provided by hunters or trappers on the checking tag is used to monitor harvest and assist in future management of the different species in West Virginia. Decisions regarding season length, opening and closing dates, and bag limits are reliant upon accurate data obtained from these tags. Recent improvements in international fur markets have resulted in increased harvests of furbearers making it most important to closely monitor harvests at this time.