BY CHRIS LAWRENCE
PIPESTEM — Most West Virginia deer hunters will see their opportunity to kill a third buck end with this fall’s hunting season.
The West Virginia Natural Resources Commission voted 6-1 Sunday to lower West Virginia’s annual buck limit from three to two starting with the 2024 hunting season. Commissioner Dave Milne, who asked for a roll call vote on the question, was the lone dissenting vote on the idea of lowering the limit.
“It’s been nine years so it’s definitely a relief and a step in the right direction,” said Jeremy Preston, president of the West Virginia Deer Hunters Association and a longtime advocate of lowering the limit.
Cory Boothe, another longtime advocate of the change, agreed and called it a win for the sportsmen of West Virginia.
“It feels like a major step in the right direction and hopefully we can kill more doe in the future and offer better hunting opportunities to the people of West Virginia,” said Boothe.
However, not everybody was thrilled about the idea. Retired DNR Deer Project Leader Dr. Jim Crum addressed the commission during the public portion of the meeting. Speaking as a private citizen, he referred to those who were adamant about the change as followers of “antler religion.”
“The people who worship deciduous bones that grow from a deer’s head. They think the bigger the score, the better the deer. I don’t understand the antler religion, neither does the non-hunting public. They tend to support hunting for meat and to benefit the overall ecosystem, but they take a dim view of trophy hunting,” said Crum.
Crum said the term “antler religion” was actually suggested by a friend who formerly headed deer management in neighboring Virginia.
However, Crum suggested the lowering of the buck limit from three to two wouldn’t have the desired effect many have been led to believe.
“We will definitely get a reduction in the number of deer stamps sold. We do know also historically we had a reduction in hunter participation,” Crum said. “The backfilling of the revenue, which we can use to match federal aid money at 75% and the fact we’re going to lose outdoor recreation time. I have yet to hear what they expect to happen to the standing crop of animals in the field.”
The DNR lowered the buck limit in 1995, which Crum noted resulted in a loss of license sales. But he added, the desired effect of killing fewer bucks is already being achieved without the change in regulation.
“The big difference in 1995 we were worried about killing too many year-and-a-half-year-old bucks. Now that’s shifted. Hunters have become wise to this and regulated themselves. The latest information we have is that year-and-a-half-year-old bucks only represent about 20% of the overall kill,” Crum said.
Boothe denied it’s about bigger antlers or the “antler religion.”
“This isn’t about a big buck behind every tree. This is about a more balanced ratio, more doe kills, and more focus on the experience and not just the antler. This has nothing to do with 150-plus size deer,” said Boothe.
Commissioner Greg Burnette made the motion to lower the limit after the results of the March Sportsman’s Sectional Meetings revealed 71% of those who attended the sectional meetings favored lowering the limit.
“This is probably the seventh public comment on this in the last 10 years. In addition, the DNR did a survey of the hunters. The majority wanted to reduce the buck limit. A second survey was commissioned by Southwick Associates — the biggest national outdoors survey company in the nation. It again came back showing the majority of hunters wanted to reduce the limit. That included three groups of hunters: West Virginia resident licensed hunters, non-resident licensed hunters and West Virginia residents who hunt on landowner privilege and don’t require a license. In all three groups, a majority of 15% to 18% were in favor of reducing the buck limit,” said Burnette in making his motion.
Commissioner Jeff Bowers noted a couple of key concerns. One, the impact of lowering the limit might have on management of deer in the counties where Chronic Wasting Disease has been detected. The concern was also brought up by Crum during his remarks. Bowers also worried about the impact on holders of a senior lifetime license who were forced to purchase the license, which guaranteed them three bucks.
Bowers authored an amendment to Burnette’s motion to exempt the limit in the CWD containment zone and to exempt Senior Lifetime License holders. The amendment was unanimously approved.
The new regulation will not take effect until 2024 since licenses for the 2023 season have already gone on sale in which the third buck tag is already being sold.
Other commission business:
- Commissioners unanimously approved the 2023 bear season regulations and the 2023 antlerless deer hunting regulations for both public and private land with no change from how they were presented during the February meeting and to the Sportsman’s Sectional Meetings.
- The 2023 State Park controlled deer hunts were approved for Beech Fork, Canaan Valley, Cacapon and Twin Falls State Parks.
- Commissioner Jerod Harman asked for some suggestions aimed at clearing up confusion about youth hunting between youth seasons and regular hunting seasons. Commissioners have received complaints about the minimum age limit for the youth season of age 8, but no minimum limit for the regular hunting season.
“Over last several meetings we’ve heard a lot on the youth seasons. Next meeting can we get a presentation to have all parties together that need to be involved to make something happen to make them more consistent toward minimum age requirements for youth — and minimum requirements for regular season for kids,” he said.
The next Natural Resources Commission meeting will be Aug. 6 at the Days Inn at Flatwoods and will be held in conjunction with the West Virginia Deer Hunters Association Whitetail Summit.
