Hunting & Fishing in West Virginia
West Virginia is the most mountainous state east of the Mississippi, and its hunting reflects that rugged, forested character. Hunting guides in West Virginia work the steep hardwood ridges and hollows for whitetail deer, a strong black bear population, wild turkey, and ruffed grouse. With vast national forest land and an extensive wildlife management area system, the Mountain State offers some of the best public-land hunting in the East.
Fishing in West Virginia centers on cold mountain streams and the rivers. Outfitters and guides work the New and Greenbrier rivers for hard-fighting smallmouth bass, the trout-stocked mountain streams for rainbow, brown, and native brook trout, and the rivers for muskie. The state's whitewater rivers double as scenic fisheries. For hunters and anglers who love steep country and wild water, West Virginia delivers an authentic Appalachian experience.
Top Hunting & Fishing Regions
Monongahela National Forest
Nearly a million acres of high Appalachian forest offering public deer, bear, turkey, and grouse hunting plus native brook trout streams.
New River
An ancient, powerful river cutting through a deep gorge, renowned for hard-fighting smallmouth bass with float-trip guides working its pools.
Greenbrier Valley
The river and surrounding ridges offer strong smallmouth fishing and quality whitetail and turkey hunting in scenic farm-and-forest country.
Eastern Panhandle
The ridges and valleys of the northeast hold good deer hunting and trout streams within reach of the mid-Atlantic.
Tips for Hunting in West Virginia
- ✓Hunt the Monongahela National Forest for public-land deer and bear, using the steep terrain to find pockets others skip.
- ✓Float the New River for smallmouth bass in summer, when the bass are aggressive in the warm water.
- ✓Fish the high mountain streams for native brook trout, West Virginia's state fish, in cool headwater country.
- ✓Check West Virginia Division of Natural Resources rules, as bear and deer seasons vary by county.
Did you know? The New River, despite its name, is one of the oldest rivers in the world, and it flows northward through West Virginia, which is unusual for an American river.
Season Dates
West Virginia Deer Archery Opens
WV archery deer season opens.
Events & Expos
West Virginia Hunter Education Course
Required if born after 1/1/1975. Multiple online providers including free NRA course. Requires field day plus written exam.
West Virginia Boater Safety Course
Required if born after 12/31/1986. Online and in-person options through WVDNR.
Species in West Virginia
Top-Rated in West Virginia
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NPHC North Preston Hunt Club
Bruceton Mills, West Virginia
Clyde's River Guides & Outfitters
Ridgeley, West Virginia
Hinton Outfitters
Hinton, West Virginia
PC Outdoors
Crab Orchard, West Virginia
Seneca Rocks Mountain Guides
Seneca Rocks, West Virginia
Crossfire Archery Course
Frankford, West Virginia
All Hunting & Fishing Listings in West Virginia
108 guides, outfitters, charters, and outdoor businesses across West Virginia.
Guide & Outfitter listings in West Virginia (47)
- Almost Heaven Hunting Club — Clendenin
- Alpine Lake Vacations & Sales ALVAS — Terra Alta
- Appalachian Outpost — Lyburn
- Barnett Cabins — Hillsboro
- Black Bear Resort — Davis
- Black Gold Riverfront Cabins — Roderfield
- Buffalo Gap Retreat — Capon Bridge
- Clay WV Hunting Club, Deer Bear Turkey — Bickmore
- Creek-Side — Chapmanville
- Crossfire Archery Course — Frankford
- Dream Mountain Game Ranch LLC — Albright
- Dual Shot Outdoors — Lerona
- Eddyline Anglers — Oak Hill
- Elk Springs Resort & Fly Shop — Monterville
- Enchanted Cabin — Davis
- First Light Outfitters, LLC. — Ronceverte
- Golden Anchor Cabins — Canaan Heights
- Gopher Ridge Farms — Princeton
- Greenbrier River Campground, Cabins and River Trips — Alderson
- Hillbilly Rentals Resort & Campground — Wilkinson
- King Fisher Guide Service Harpers Ferry WV — Harpers Ferry
- Knapps Creek Trout Lodge — Marlinton
- Meadow Cabin — Davis
- Miller Cabins — Gilbert
- Mountain Meadow Hunting Preserve — Greenville
- Mountain Mist Cabin — Dryfork
- Mountain State Overland — Lewisburg
- Mountainaire Luxury Cabin — Capon Bridge
- Muddy Trails ATV Campground and Resort — Iaeger
- Natives Fly Fishing And Outfitter — Fairmont
- New River Cabins — Fayetteville
- New River Gorge Outfitters — Hinton
- New River Mountain Guides — Fayetteville
- New River Trophy Outfitters — Meadow Creek
- NPHC North Preston Hunt Club — Bruceton Mills
- Opossum Creek Retreat — Lansing
Retailer listings in West Virginia (17)
- Berkeley Springs Trading Post — Berkeley Springs
- Bosley's Outfitters — Fort Ashby
- Brushy Bottom Camouflage — Martinsburg
- Childers Guns — Fairmont
- Clyde's River Guides & Outfitters — Ridgeley
- Foley Defense — Shady Spring
- Four Seasons Outfitters — Richwood
- Green Monstah Firearms, LLC — Martinsburg
- Greenbrier Valley Outdoors — Lewisburg
- Hinton Outfitters — Hinton
- Lick Creek Hunting Supplies LLC — Meadow Bridge
- McFly Outdoors — Horner
- McFly Outdoors — Bridgeport
- PC Outdoors — Crab Orchard
- The Gun Shop — Ridgeley
- Valley Outdoors — Hurricane
- WaterDawg Outdoors — Hinton
Boats & Vehicles listings in West Virginia (14)
- Bear Cave — Mullens
- Blackwater Outdoor Adventures — Parsons
- Cacapon River Outfitters — Great Cacapon
- Crazy Mountain Cycles — Bluefield
- Elk River Get-A-Way — Clendenin
- Elk River Paddle and Yak — Gassaway
- Hilltop Escape Atv Campground & Cabins — Rock
- Midland Trail Outdoor Adventures — Hico
- Morgantown Adventure Outfitters — Morgantown
- Morgantown Area Rentals — Morgantown
- New River ATV — Minden
- River & Trail Outfitters - Harpers Ferry Location — Harpers Ferry
- Sarge's Dive Shop — Summersville
- Trailhead ATV Rentals - Ashland Company Store — Rock
Gun Dog Trainer listings in West Virginia (10)
- All N Kennels & Farm — Wardensville
- barkbarn — Morgantown
- Blue Mountain Kennel, LLC — Shenandoah Junction
- Encore Pointers — Poca
- Gladiator Allegiance LLC — Harpers Ferry
- Ktm Kennels — Fairmont
- Pampered 4 Paws — Morgantown
- Paw Paws Canine College — Slanesville
- Rolling Hills Ranch and Kennels — Gassaway
- Wags and Whiskers — Bridgeport
Taxidermy listings in West Virginia (6)
- Capon Springs and Farms — High View
- Country Roads Taxidermy — Sandyville
- Hemlock Haven Cabins — Hico
- Mikes Outdoors Taxidermy — Baxter
- Mountaineer Wildlife Artistry — Jane Lew
- Spring Hill Rod and Gun — Charleston
Accommodation listings in West Virginia (4)
- Almost Heaven Cabin Rentals — Chapmanville
- Harman's Luxury Log Cabins — Cabins
- Hillbilly Haven Log Cabin Rentals — Roanoke
- Star Song Cabin Rentals — Meadow Bridge
Education listings in West Virginia (4)
- Hammond Ordnance Group — St Albans
- Loudoun Tactical — Hedgesville
- Practical Firearms Training — Alderson
- Summit Point Training Facility — Summit Point
Shooting Range listings in West Virginia (3)
- GUNTRY West Virginia — Triadelphia
- Peacemaker National Training Center — Gerrardstown
- Shadow Hawk Defense — Hedgesville
Fishing Charter listings in West Virginia (2)
- MFO Outfitters — Horner
- Smallies on The New — Mt Hope
Game Processor listings in West Virginia (1)
- Teets Meat Processing — Elkins
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