Feb 29, 2016 2 min read

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Wildlife officials in West Virginia have proposed regulations to allow hunters to kill more white-tailed deer, black bears and turkeys in the fall.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports Division of Natural Resources biologists made the proposal last week in South Charleston during the quarterly meeting of the state Natural Resources Commission, a panel responsible for setting season lengths and bag limits.

If approved, the proposal would allow hunters to kill more antlerless deer and more female bears to control deer and bear populations.

Division of Natural Resources game management supervisor Gary Foster says the changes were prescribed in the state’s management plans for the two species.

“Our deer and bear operational plans give us guidance on the setting of the seasons,” Foster said.

“Typically when harvests are up, it means we are at or above our harvest objectives and need to allow additional harvest to bring the populations back to prescribed levels.”

The proposal would make deer bag limits more liberal in 21 counties or parts of counties, more restrictive in two and would remain the same in 33. It would also set more liberal regulations to 13 counties for bears.

Another proposal would open the entire state to turkey hunting in the fall. If approved, the regulation would allow at least one week of hunting in every county during the fall.

The commission will decide on the proposals during its May 1 meeting.