Mountaineer Heritage Hunt Opens Jan. 8-11 with Local Restrictions

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources opened the Mountaineer Heritage Season on Jan. 8; the special four-day period for deer, bear and turkey runs through Jan. 11, 2026. Hunters who participate must carry a valid 2026 West Virginia hunting license and identification and comply with state blaze-orange requirements and age rules for hunters 15 and older.

The season is limited to primitive-style weapons, including percussion side lock and flintlock rifles or pistols and traditional bows. Local restrictions narrow that further: in Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties only long and recurve bows are legal for the Heritage Season. Modern muzzleloaders equipped with scopes are not allowed in any county during this season. Bag limits permit one deer, one bear and one turkey, but hunters are capped at a maximum of two antlered deer total when combining harvests from regular deer seasons and the Mountaineer Heritage Season; additional county-level restrictions apply in the four counties noted above.

State wildlife managers emphasize that the WVDNR Hunting Regulations Summary is the authoritative source for full rule language and exceptions. WVDNR Director Brett McMillion has encouraged participation in the tradition while urging hunters to consult the regulations for details. The combination of statewide rules and county-specific restrictions means hunters must be precise about which equipment is legal where they hunt, and how harvests count against season and annual limits.

For McDowell County, the practical effects are immediate. Archery-only provisions during the Heritage Season alter equipment and trip planning for hunters who might otherwise use modern muzzleloaders. The cumulative limit on antlered deer requires hunters to track prior harvests from the regular seasons to avoid exceeding legal totals. Blaze-orange rules and age-verification requirements reinforce public safety and enforcement priorities during the ongoing season.

These regulatory choices reflect the WVDNR’s role in balancing tradition, public safety and wildlife management. For residents, that balance translates into concrete compliance responsibilities and potential enforcement action for violations. Hunters should verify their license status, carry required identification, confirm permitted equipment for McDowell County and adhere to bag limits before taking to the field. The Mountaineer Heritage Season remains open through Jan. 11; failure to follow the detailed regulations can result in penalties and undercut the conservation goals the season is designed to support.