West Virginia

Sub-species: Eastern

Tags: Over the counter

Application Period: n/a

Electronic or Print at Home Fulfillment: YES

Hunter Education Required: Yes if born after Jan 1, 1975

Bag Limit: 2 bearded birds but only 1 per day

2026 Spring Season Dates: April 20 – May 24

Special Youth Hunt: April 18-19

Special Disabled Hunt: No

Decoys Allowed: Yes

Tagging Instructions:  Each person killing a turkey must either attach a completed field tag to the turkey or remain with the turkey and have upon their person a completed field tag before removing the carcass from where it was killed. A person who does not possess a field tag must make one. This tag must bear the hunter’s name, address, hunting license number (if required) and the date, time and county of kill. Immediately upon arriving at a residence, camp, hunting lodge, vehicle or vessel, the field tag shall be attached to the turkey and must remain on the carcass until it is electronically registered and a DNR-issued 13-digit game check number, the hunter’s name and address are attached.  The carcass of each turkey shall be electronically registered and legally tagged before it is either skinned or transported beyond the boundaries of the county adjacent to that in which the kill was made and within 72 hours from when it was killed or 24 hours from the close of the respective season, whichever comes first. The DNR-issued game tag number and the hunter’s name and address shall remain on the bird until it is dressed for consumption.  No person may transport or possess wildlife killed by another hunter, unless the wildlife or parts thereof are accompanied by a paper tag filled out legibly bearing the signature, address, date of kill, hunting license number (if required) and the DNR-issued game tag number (if required) of the hunter who killed the wildlife. The tag shall also specify the species and quantity of wildlife. 

Noteworthy Restrictions:  Legal hunting hours end at 1:00 pm.  It is illegal to have a loaded gun in a vehicle.  It is illegal to have an uncased firearm in the woods after 1:00 pm.

West Virginia Division of Natural Resources

304-558-6200

Purchase License Online

Licenses Needed to Hunt Turkeys