Just because the calendars we use daily as reminders of work and life responsibilities now have a heading of 2025 doesn’t mean hunting opportunities are over.
In fact, January is one of my favorite hunting times of the year. For small-game hunters, it is prime time for an early-morning or late-afternoon hunt for squirrels, grouse and rabbits, and for waterfowl hunters, ducks and geese.
If you are a fan of squirrel hunting, especially with a well-trained dog, the next couple of months can be some of the most fun days of the long season. In fact, squirrel hunting with my dog Blue is highlighted in bold on my to-do list with the utmost importance, indicated with several circle marks around the words “Hunting with Blue.”
I understand that there is no way of knowing for sure if dogs know what month it is, but the way Blue has been acting lately, I am confident he knows it is time to hunt.
For those hunters who aren’t quite ready to throw in the towel on big-game hunting, don’t fret. Our West Virginia Division of Natural Resources created a season several years ago that can be classified as the season’s last chance or the first opportunity in the new year.
The season is known as the Mountaineer Heritage Season.
A four-day Mountaineer Heritage Season for deer, bear and turkey is set to open on Jan. 9.
Hunters are reminded that they need to purchase a 2025 license to participate in this season, which runs through Jan. 12. This unique season gives us hunters the opportunity to embrace traditional hunting techniques, hone our skills and end (or start) the year on a high note with a thrilling hunting experience.
Hunters may only use primitive-style weapons, including longbows and recurve bows, muzzleloading black powder firearms with a flint-lock or percussion cap action. Reminder: You must purchase a 2025 license to participate in this season.
Here are a few notes about the season from a recent WVDNR announcement:
During the Mountaineer Heritage Season, hunters may harvest one deer, bear and turkey. A hunter may take no more than two antlered deer during the regular deer seasons and the following Heritage Season combined.
Only one antlered deer may be taken during the archery and Mountaineer Heritage seasons combined in Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties. A bear or turkey harvested during this season does not count toward a hunter’s annual bear season bag limit or their spring or fall turkey season bag limits.
During the Mountaineer Heritage Season, hunters must wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange unless they are hunting in West Virginia’s four bow-hunting-only counties (Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming).
Unless otherwise exempt, all hunters 15 years and older must carry a valid West Virginia hunting license and a valid form of identification while hunting. Licenses can be purchased online at WVhunt.com.
For more information about the Mountaineer Heritage Season regulations and rules to participate and other hunting opportunities in West Virginia, hunters should consult the 2024–25 West Virginia Hunting and Trapping Regulations Summary, which can be downloaded at WVdnr.gov/hunting-regulations.
Chris Ellis is a veteran of the outdoors industry. His book “Hunting, Fishing and Family from The Hills of West Virginia” is available at www.wvbookco.com. Contact him at chris@elliscom.net.
