Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 36, September 6, 2024
Section 58-45-5 - Wild Turkey Hunting Seasons5.1. Fall Wild Turkey Season. -- This season opens on the second Saturday in October and runs for nine consecutive days. In select counties [two and four week fall season counties], the season reopens on the second Monday following the close of the first split and runs for the number of days and in the counties designated by the Natural Resources Commission and published annually by the Director.5.2. Spring Wild Turkey Season. -- This season opens on the third Monday in April and runs for 35 consecutive days thereafter and is open statewide for the hunting of bearded turkeys only.5.3. Youth Spring Wild Turkey Season. -- There will be a special youth spring wild turkey season, bearded turkey only, for youth hunters, ages eight to less than 18, to be held on the Saturday and Sunday prior to the third Monday of April. 5.3.1. Weapons permitted for use during this season include shotguns, crossbows, and bows with arrows equipped with a point having at least two sharp-cutting edges measuring in excess of 3/4 inch wide.5.4. Mountaineer Heritage Deer/Bear/Turkey Season. This season runs for four consecutive days commencing on the second Thursday of January and closing on the following Sunday. One turkey of either sex may be taken during this season which does not apply to the annual bag limit as outlined in Section 9.4 of this rule. 5.4.1. This is a special primitive weapons season and only single-shot side-lock percussion and flintlock muzzleloader pistols and rifles with iron sights, muzzle-loading shotguns (for turkey only), and only long and recurve bows are permitted during this season. Crossbows are not permitted during this primitive weapons season.5.4.2. This season is open statewide except that Logan, McDowell, Mingo, and Wyoming counties are limited to long and recurve bows only.5.5. No person may hunt wild turkey between 1:00 p.m. and 30 minutes before sunrise during the spring wild turkey seasons. No person may hunt wild turkey between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise during the fall turkey and Mountaineer Heritage seasons.