Archery Season in West Virginia

A young archer lets the arrow fly in the West Virginia woods.  Photo: Eddie Ferrari

Archery hunters are expected to climb into the trees of the Mountain State in droves this weekend as the 2010 bow hunting season commences.   

The circumstances facing archers will be vastly changed from 2009.   Where last year was a complete mast failure, mast is in abundance in many woodlots of West Virginia this fall.  

"The oak mast especially is very abundant this year and that will influence deer patterns," said DNR Biologist Scott Warner. "They’re not going to be concentrated around the edges of the fields or be out in the middle of fields in the middle of the day."

State officials say it’s likely deer will be foraging deep in the forest where there’s plenty to eat.  Archers who’ve established a stand near a good plot of white oak stand to find deer if there’s sign.   It’s important to consider in a good mast year, deer aren’t going to be travelling far to look for food.  It’s suggested you have several different sites picked out and not be afraid to move to a different location.

"If I haven’t seen anything after two or three days of hunting, then I’m willing to relocate," Warner said.  "Now you need to remember it may be cold in the first part of the season, but that’s not to say they won’t be there later in the season."

The first couple of weeks of the archery season typically center on feeding habits of whitetails in West Virginia.   Around the first of November and through the first couple of weeks of November those patterns will change radically among bucks.  Deer will have more time for mating this year since they don’t have to spend all their time searching for the next meal.   

"We’ve been able to monitor rutting activity during years of high mast production," said Warner. "It seems like the rutting activity is a little more intense.  The animal will be in better physiological condition than last year and if a buck is in better condition going into the rut, you’ll see more rutting activity throughout the day."

The harvest of bucks during the 2009 rifle season was slightly lower, meaning a number of bucks have lived to see age two and a half and in many cases age three and a half years.  Those additional months will make for enhanced antler development on a larger number of bucks in the state.

"We anticipate a surplus of bucks," said Warner. "Early field reports indicate a few more of those older bucks.   We may see a few larger deer this year."

Hunters are also encouraged to pick up a bear tag if hunting in a county where bear are allowed for harvest.  The black bear population continues to grow and there have been bear reports in all 55-West Virginia counties.