West Virginia Hunting Laws
West Virginia sets no minimum caliber for centerfire deer rifles, but rimfire rifles must fire at least .25-caliber ammunition — smaller rimfire like .22 LR is illegal for big game. Handguns need a 4-inch barrel and either a .357 Magnum straight-wall or .24-caliber bottleneck cartridge; muzzleloaders and airguns have their own minimums.
Every rule below cites the official regulation. Last verified August 30, 2026.
At a glance
Check a cartridge in West Virginia
Pick a state, species, and weapon — add a cartridge for a full check.
Sourced rules
Every row cites the controlling regulation and the date we verified it.
Air Gun
7 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Air rifles for deer/bear/boar must be at least .45 caliber and fire a bullet of at least 200 grains; otherwise they are subject to the same rules as firearms.
"an air rifle of less than .45 caliber and with a bullet of less than 200 grains. Any person hunting with an air rifle is subject to all other rifle and firearm hunting regulations" |
Deer General Regulations — Firearms/Bows/Crossbows and Equipment, p. 11 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Air rifles for deer/bear/boar must be at least .45 caliber and fire a bullet of at least 200 grains; otherwise they are subject to the same rules as firearms.
"an air rifle of less than .45 caliber and with a bullet of less than 200 grains. Any person hunting with an air rifle is subject to all other rifle and firearm hunting regulations" |
Deer General Regulations — Firearms/Bows/Crossbows and Equipment, p. 11 | Aug 2026 |
| Feral Hog |
Air rifles for deer/bear/boar must be at least .45 caliber and fire a bullet of at least 200 grains; otherwise they are subject to the same rules as firearms.
"an air rifle of less than .45 caliber and with a bullet of less than 200 grains. Any person hunting with an air rifle is subject to all other rifle and firearm hunting regulations" |
Deer General Regulations — Firearms/Bows/Crossbows and Equipment, p. 11 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer | Air rifle projectiles for big game must weigh at least 200 grains. | Deer General Regulations — Firearms/Bows/Crossbows and Equipment, p. 11 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear | Air rifle projectiles for big game must weigh at least 200 grains. | Deer General Regulations — Firearms/Bows/Crossbows and Equipment, p. 11 | Aug 2026 |
| Feral Hog | Air rifle projectiles for big game must weigh at least 200 grains. | Deer General Regulations — Firearms/Bows/Crossbows and Equipment, p. 11 | Aug 2026 |
| Small Game |
Air rifles for small game (and turkey) must be at least .22 caliber.
"hunt small game with an air rifle of less than .22 caliber" |
General Regulations — Prohibitions, p. 1 | Aug 2026 |
All weapons
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Turkey |
Unlike most states, West Virginia allows rifles and handguns for turkey hunting, in addition to shotguns, muzzleloaders, air rifles (.22 cal+), bows, and crossbows. No shotgun shot-size limit for turkey is stated in the current regulations summary.
"Wild turkey may be hunted with rifles, air rifles .22 caliber or larger, handguns, muzzleloaders, shotguns, bows or crossbows with arrows or bolts equipped with a point having at least two sharp-cutting edges measurin..." |
Turkey General Regulations — Firearms, air rifles, muzzleloaders, crossbows and bows legal for hunting wild turkey, p. 40 | Aug 2026 |
| All species |
At least 400 square inches of blaze orange outer garment is required for anyone hunting in a county with an open deer firearms or muzzleloader season (also required for wild boar hunters in those same counties/seasons). Does not apply to waterfowl hunters or landowners farming their own land.
"Persons hunting in counties or portions thereof where a deer firearms season or muzzleloader season is presently open shall wear a blaze orange outer garment of at least 400 square inches." |
Deer General Regulations — Blaze Orange Requirement, p. 10 | Aug 2026 |
| All species | The current WVDNR regulations summary does not explicitly address suppressor legality for hunting one way or the other; pending confirmation against W. Va. Code § 20-2 or a WVDNR-specific statement. | Not addressed in the 2026–2027 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary | Aug 2026 needs review |
Handgun
6 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Handguns for deer/bear/boar need at least a .357 Magnum straight-wall cartridge, or a bottle-necked cartridge of at least .24 caliber.
"hunt bear, deer or wild boar with a revolver or pistol with a barrel less than 4 inches in length and using a straight-walled case of less than .357 magnum cartridge or a bottle-necked case of less than .24 caliber" |
Deer General Regulations, p. 11; General Regulations — Handgun Laws and Regulations, p. 4 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Handguns for deer/bear/boar need at least a .357 Magnum straight-wall cartridge, or a bottle-necked cartridge of at least .24 caliber.
"hunt bear, deer or wild boar with a revolver or pistol with a barrel less than 4 inches in length and using a straight-walled case of less than .357 magnum cartridge or a bottle-necked case of less than .24 caliber" |
Deer General Regulations, p. 11; General Regulations — Handgun Laws and Regulations, p. 4 | Aug 2026 |
| Feral Hog |
Handguns for deer/bear/boar need at least a .357 Magnum straight-wall cartridge, or a bottle-necked cartridge of at least .24 caliber.
"hunt bear, deer or wild boar with a revolver or pistol with a barrel less than 4 inches in length and using a straight-walled case of less than .357 magnum cartridge or a bottle-necked case of less than .24 caliber" |
Deer General Regulations, p. 11; General Regulations — Handgun Laws and Regulations, p. 4 | Aug 2026 |
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Handguns used for deer, bear, or wild boar must have a barrel of at least 4 inches.
"hunt bear, deer or wild boar with a revolver or pistol with a barrel less than 4 inches in length" |
General Regulations — Handgun Laws and Regulations, p. 4 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Handguns used for deer, bear, or wild boar must have a barrel of at least 4 inches.
"hunt bear, deer or wild boar with a revolver or pistol with a barrel less than 4 inches in length" |
General Regulations — Handgun Laws and Regulations, p. 4 | Aug 2026 |
| Feral Hog |
Handguns used for deer, bear, or wild boar must have a barrel of at least 4 inches.
"hunt bear, deer or wild boar with a revolver or pistol with a barrel less than 4 inches in length" |
General Regulations — Handgun Laws and Regulations, p. 4 | Aug 2026 |
Muzzleloader
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Muzzleloading rifles and pistols used for deer, bear, or wild boar must be at least .38 caliber.
"a muzzleloader of less than .38 caliber during the muzzleloader deer season ... hunt bear, deer or wild boar with a muzzleloading pistol of less than .38 caliber" |
Deer General Regulations, p. 11; General Regulations — Handgun Laws and Regulations, p. 4 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Muzzleloading rifles and pistols used for deer, bear, or wild boar must be at least .38 caliber.
"a muzzleloader of less than .38 caliber during the muzzleloader deer season ... hunt bear, deer or wild boar with a muzzleloading pistol of less than .38 caliber" |
Deer General Regulations, p. 11; General Regulations — Handgun Laws and Regulations, p. 4 | Aug 2026 |
| Feral Hog |
Muzzleloading rifles and pistols used for deer, bear, or wild boar must be at least .38 caliber.
"a muzzleloader of less than .38 caliber during the muzzleloader deer season ... hunt bear, deer or wild boar with a muzzleloading pistol of less than .38 caliber" |
Deer General Regulations, p. 11; General Regulations — Handgun Laws and Regulations, p. 4 | Aug 2026 |
Rifle
3 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
There is no minimum caliber for centerfire deer/bear/boar rifles. The only caliber floor applies to rimfire ammunition, which must be at least .25 caliber — common rimfire rounds like .22 LR and .17 HMR are too small and are illegal for big game.
"It is illegal to hunt deer with: a shotgun using ammunition loaded with more than one solid ball, or a rifle using rimfire ammunition of less than .25 caliber." |
Deer General Regulations — Firearms/Bows/Crossbows and Equipment, p. 11 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
There is no minimum caliber for centerfire deer/bear/boar rifles. The only caliber floor applies to rimfire ammunition, which must be at least .25 caliber — common rimfire rounds like .22 LR and .17 HMR are too small and are illegal for big game.
"It is illegal to hunt deer with: a shotgun using ammunition loaded with more than one solid ball, or a rifle using rimfire ammunition of less than .25 caliber." |
Deer General Regulations — Firearms/Bows/Crossbows and Equipment, p. 11 | Aug 2026 |
| Feral Hog |
There is no minimum caliber for centerfire deer/bear/boar rifles. The only caliber floor applies to rimfire ammunition, which must be at least .25 caliber — common rimfire rounds like .22 LR and .17 HMR are too small and are illegal for big game.
"It is illegal to hunt deer with: a shotgun using ammunition loaded with more than one solid ball, or a rifle using rimfire ammunition of less than .25 caliber." |
Deer General Regulations — Firearms/Bows/Crossbows and Equipment, p. 11 | Aug 2026 |
Shotgun
4 rules| Species | Rule | Citation | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed / Mule Deer |
Shotguns for deer/bear/boar may not be loaded with more than one solid ball — a single slug or ball load is required.
"a shotgun using ammunition loaded with more than one solid ball" |
Deer General Regulations — Firearms/Bows/Crossbows and Equipment, p. 11 | Aug 2026 |
| Black Bear |
Shotguns for deer/bear/boar may not be loaded with more than one solid ball — a single slug or ball load is required.
"a shotgun using ammunition loaded with more than one solid ball" |
Deer General Regulations — Firearms/Bows/Crossbows and Equipment, p. 11 | Aug 2026 |
| Feral Hog |
Shotguns for deer/bear/boar may not be loaded with more than one solid ball — a single slug or ball load is required.
"a shotgun using ammunition loaded with more than one solid ball" |
Deer General Regulations — Firearms/Bows/Crossbows and Equipment, p. 11 | Aug 2026 |
| Waterfowl |
Nontoxic shot is required for waterfowl hunting (consistent with the federal nontoxic-shot mandate). See WVDNR's Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations for full detail.
"unless legally hunting waterfowl using nontoxic shot" |
Deer General Regulations — Hunting Hours and Restrictions, p. 10 | Aug 2026 |
Federal rules that apply in every state
These federal requirements apply in West Virginia on top of state law.
Federal law: only USFWS-approved nontoxic shot may be used — or even possessed — while hunting waterfowl, coots, and aggregate-bag species.
50 CFR § 20.21(j)(1)–(3)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds are limited to 3 shells total (magazine + chamber) with a one-piece plug; limited light-goose and September Canada goose season exceptions exist.
50 CFR § 20.21(b)
Federal law: shotguns for migratory birds may be no larger than 10 gauge.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
Federal law prohibits taking migratory birds with a rifle, pistol, or fully automatic firearm.
50 CFR § 20.21(a)
On Waterfowl Production Areas and designated National Wildlife Refuge lands, possessing shot other than approved nontoxic shot is prohibited; individual refuges may impose stricter rules.
50 CFR § 32.2(k)
Sources
West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary, July 2026 – June 2027
West Virginia Division of Natural Resources · retrieved August 30, 2026
Sources & methodology
Rules on this page are verified against state statutes, administrative code, official agency regulation digests, and federal regulations — never forums, retailer blogs, or hunter-ed course summaries. Rules we could not yet pin to a primary source are labeled needs review and never produce a green "legal" answer. Cartridge energy figures used by the checker are typical factory-load values; where a rule sets an energy or bullet-weight floor, verify your specific load's manufacturer rating.
Legal disclaimer — please read
This page is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Hunting regulations change every season, vary by zone, season, land type, and county ordinance, and are interpreted by the state's enforcement officers — not by this page.
- Confirm every rule in the current official West Virginia hunting regulations before your hunt.
- Check season dates, license and tag requirements, zone boundaries, and local ordinances — this page covers equipment rules only.
- When in doubt, contact West Virginia Division of Natural Resources directly.
The controlling document is the regulation, not this page. We disclaim all liability for reliance on it.