?? for West Virginia folks.....

[msinc]

A fellow from West Virginia is telling me there is a law there that says you cannot carry a bow in the woods unless some kind of game is in season.....even on private property....is this for real??? If it is, anyone know what the intent was/is and how would they even enforce it?? He is saying that you cannot hunt woodchuck in the summer with a bow because of this law. Anyone out there that can give us the straight scoop on this??? I really don't see how they can dictate what you do on private property whether it's yours or you are on someone else's with permission. I can maybe buy this if they are talking about public hunting grounds, but still don't understand the intent. Thanks in advance for any info!!!

 

[painter]

Lived here all my life never heard of it.

 

[2506]

Simple way to know for sure it to Google the WV game and fish and look at the regulations. I lived in WV about 35 years ago and don't recall every seeing this law. But game and fish people can come up with some stupid laws. If it is the law I would bet it would have something to do with poaching deer.

 

[wvlongshot]

Not true.

 

[Dub]

Not true, I live here. Shoot bow all the time. We have 3D competitions in the woods all year.

 

[Bill K]

I would say your friend is all wet. And from what some have said, it is not true. But you can google or call W.V. game department and get the straight facts/law from them and be sure.

 

[joshb]

See the thread "Frustrated".

 

[Geronimo Jim]

If 4 pickups arrive at a 4 way stop sign at the same time, who has the right of way? The one
with the biggest tires.

 

[jepp2]

Anyone out there that can give us the straight scoop on this???

I lived in WV from 1973 to 2002. So my information is dated. During the late 70's, a friend and I enjoyed hunting ground hogs with our muzzleloaders. We checked out the regulations, and at that time, you would hunt ground hogs provided you stayed in open fields and meadows. But you couldn't take your firearm (and it probably applied to bows as well) in the woods on any property unless a hunting season was underway.

But I went to the DNR website and read the current regulations. That restriction is no longer listed. So from my experience your friend may be referencing a dated regulation that no longer applies.

 

[msinc]

I lived in WV from 1973 to 2002. So my information is dated. During the late 70's, a friend and I enjoyed hunting ground hogs with our muzzleloaders. We checked out the regulations, and at that time, you would hunt ground hogs provided you stayed in open fields and meadows. But you couldn't take your firearm (and it probably applied to bows as well) in the woods on any property unless a hunting season was underway.

But I went to the DNR website and read the current regulations. That restriction is no longer listed. So from my experience your friend may be referencing a dated regulation that no longer applies.

Thank you sir, and thanks to everyone for all the info!!! He did mention something about having to stay out in fields with rifles. Funny how things can be the same and some other things so different depending on where you are.

 

[Handi204]

The regulations state for Coyote hunting a gun must be cased while going to and from an open field when no other season is in. And a bow cannot be substituted for a muzzle loader. And I would be careful about having broadheads with a bow in the woods during closed season also.