West Virginia archery hunters are having a successful year in 2015, showing a 53 percent increase in their harvest of white-tailed deer.
As of Oct. 26, bow and crossbow hunters have taken 11,798 deer compared to 7,729 deer taken up to the same date in 2014, a 53 percent increase. The archery season began Sept. 26 and runs through Dec. 31, 2015.
The total for all seasons up to this date, including archery, urban hunts, youth/Class Q/XS and the early antlerless deer gun season (Oct. 22-24), is 17,776 deer. That compares to 15,216 taken at this time in 2014, a 17 percent increase.
Early antlerless gun season, including the one-day youth season, shows the 2015 harvest 5,373 compared to 6,974 by this date last year, a 23 percent decrease.
“The count is available this early thanks to the new electronic licensing and game checking system that went into effect this year,” according to Chris Ryan, supervisor of game management services for the DNR. “Previously, game tags had to be collected from check-in stations across the state at the end of the hunting season and counted by hand. With electronic licensing and game checking, that information is available almost instantly.”
Beginning this year, hunters are required to get a permanent DNR identification number which allows them to check in their game by calling 1-844-982-4325, or on line at wvhunt.com, or at an official license agent/checking station.
“Hunters are showing us that they have easily adopted the new system and like using it to check in their game,” Ryan said. “It’s fast and easy for them, and it makes important information available to DNR on a much timelier basis.
Hunters are reminded to get their ID numbers before they go hunting so they can use the new electronic check system right away. This includes lifetime license holders, resident youth under the age of 15 who don’t need a license, and resident landowners who normally do not have to purchase a license to hunt on their own property.
Information about the electronic game checking system and about how to obtain an official ID number can be found in the 2015-2016 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary available at a DNR office, license agent or by visiting www.wvhunt.com.