How to Get Your West Virginia Hunting License
West Virginia requires all hunters, resident or non-resident, born on or after January 1, 1975, to complete an approved hunter education course before buying a base hunting license. The course itself isn't required to purchase a license if you were born before that date.
A resident Class A hunting and trapping license costs $19, while a non-resident annual license costs $119. Licenses are sold through the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) at WVhunt, by mail, or through an authorized license agent, and West Virginia licenses run on the calendar year, expiring every December 31 regardless of purchase date.
This guide walks you through how to get your West Virginia hunting license and Hunter Education Card, step by step.
What Is a Hunting License in West Virginia?
A West Virginia hunting license is the base document WVDNR requires before you can pursue small game in the state. Deer, turkey, and bear each require a separate stamp on top of the base license, and additional stamps apply for specific weapons or seasons, such as antlerless deer or muzzleloader.
Your Hunter Education Card is a different document entirely. It proves you completed a WVDNR-approved safety course, and once you earn it, it never expires. Your license, on the other hand, is only good through December 31 of the year you bought it.
Who Needs a Hunting License in West Virginia?
West Virginia requires a hunting license for all residents and non-residents who hunt in the state, regardless of age, with the specific license type shaped by residency and age rather than a general exemption.
Hunter education works on a separate track from the license itself. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1975, must show proof of an approved hunter education course before buying a base license, unless they use West Virginia's supervised alternative instead:
- Any first-time hunter using the Apprentice License: You can hunt under the direct supervision of a licensed adult without completing hunter education, as long as you've never purchased a standard base license in a previous year.
- Born on or after January 1, 1975, standard path: Hunters must complete hunter education, then purchase a standard Class A resident ($19) or Class E non-resident ($119) license.
- Born before January 1, 1975: You're exempt from hunter education, but you still need a valid license to hunt.
- 65 and older (resident): Automatically needs the Lifetime Senior License (Class XS) instead of an annual license, valid for life with no additional fee for most stamps.
Whichever category applies to you, keep proof of your license and, if required, your certification on hand while hunting.
How to Get Your West Virginia Hunting License (Step-by-Step)
Getting licensed in West Virginia comes down to a few main steps, though the order shifts slightly depending on whether hunter education applies to you. Here's the full process from start to finish.
- Complete an approved hunter education course if you were born on or after January 1, 1975, and aren't using the Apprentice License.
- Purchase your license through the WVDNR website, by mail, or through an authorized license agent.
- Select your license type: resident Class A ($19), non-resident Class E ($119), or the Sportsman Class X combo ($35) if you also want fishing and trapping privileges.
- Add a Big Game Stamp ($10) if you're hunting deer, bear, or turkey, plus any weapon-specific stamps you need.
- Carry your digital or printed license, plus your Hunter Education Card, any time you hunt.
Once you've completed these steps, you're fully licensed and ready for the field. The sections below cover the hunter education course and license purchase in more detail.
Step 1: Complete an Approved Hunter Education Course
West Virginia is one of the few states where the online course still requires an in-person finish, so plan for both parts before the season starts.
- Online course plus Hands-On and Written Test: Complete the Hunter-Ed West Virginia course ($34.95) at your own pace, then register separately for the required in-person Hands-On and Written Test, which runs 4 to 6 hours.
- In-person classroom course: A free, two-day course, roughly 10 to 12 hours total, covering firearm safety, hunting ethics, first aid, and conservation.
Either path requires you to be at least 10 years old to take the final exam and receive your permanent card, and once earned, your certification never expires.
Step 2: Purchase Your License
Once you have your Hunter Education Card, if it applies to you, you can buy your license through the WVDNR website, by mail, or through an authorized license agent.
You'll need a government-issued photo ID or Social Security number, proof of hunter education if required, and payment.
Step 3: Add Stamps and Go Hunting
Your base West Virginia hunting license only covers small game. Deer, bear, and turkey each require a Big Game Stamp on top of your base license, and specific weapons or seasons, like antlerless deer or muzzleloader, need their own stamps as well.
Once your license and any needed stamps are in hand, you're ready to hunt.
West Virginia Hunting License Requirements by Age
Here's a high-level overview of the requirements for hunting licenses in West Virginia by age.
West Virginia Hunting License Requirements (by Age) | ||
| Age | Requirement | Supervision/Hunter Education |
| First-time hunter, any age | Apprentice License | Must hunt under a licensed adult's direct supervision. Can't have purchased a base license in a previous year. |
| Born on or after Jan. 1, 1975 | Resident ($19) or Non-Resident ($119) | Hunter education required before buying a base license |
| Born before January 1, 1975 | Resident ($19) or Non-Resident ($119) | Hunter education not required |
| 65 and older (resident) | Lifetime Senior License (Class XS) | Automatic for residents turning 65 on or after Jan. 1, 2012 (no extra fee for most stamps) |
Privileges and stamps:
- Deer, bear, and turkey hunters need a Resident Big Game Stamp ($10) in addition to the base license.
- Additional stamps apply by weapon and season, including the Firearms Deer Hunting Stamp ($21), the Muzzleloader Deer Hunting Stamp ($16), and the Antlerless Deer Stamp
- Anyone hunting on National Forest land as a non-resident needs a separate Class I stamp ($2).
Season dates and bag limits vary by species and county, so check before you plan a hunt.
Hunter Safety Course: Format and Cost
West Virginia keeps a field day requirement even for its online course, so budget time for both the self-paced portion and the in-person finish. The chart below offers a quick overview of both formats.
West Virginia Hunter Safety Course Formats Comparison | ||||
| Format | Provider | Cost | Time | Exam |
Online plus Hands-On and Written Test | Hunter-Ed | $34.95 | Self-paced online, plus a 4- to 6-hour in-person session | No online final exam. Instead, required Hands-On and Written Test |
In-Person Classroom | WVDNR-certified instructors | Free | About 10 to 12 hours over two days | Written exam included in course |
Once you're certified, that card is good for the rest of your life with nothing to renew. Only your West Virginia hunting license needs replacing, and that happens every year when it expires on December 31.
What to Bring To Buy Your License
Make sure you have the right documentation handy to purchase your West Virginia hunting license. You'll need:
- A government-issued photo ID or your Social Security number
- Proof of your Hunter Education Card, if you're required to hold one
- Payment (card online or in person, or check by mail)
- Proof of West Virginia residency, if applying for resident rates
West Virginia Hunting Laws and Penalties
Hunting without a required stamp or failing to tag game in West Virginia properly carries fines between $20 and $300.
At the same time, more serious licensing and hunting violations are generally misdemeanors punishable by fines of $100 to $500 and up to 100 days in jail. Hunting while intoxicated is its own misdemeanor, with fines of $100 to $500 and 30 to 100 days in jail.
WVDNR uses a point system to track repeat violations, and hunting, trapping, or fishing on land without the landowner's permission is a separate misdemeanor that also makes the violator liable for damages. More serious offenses, like illegally taking elk, carry fines up to $5,000 and jail time up to 100 days, with steeper penalties for repeat offenders.
What About Reciprocity?
West Virginia accepts hunter education certificates from any U.S. state, Canadian province, or country that meets International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) standards. States and provinces with their own mandatory hunter education requirements return the favor and accept a West Virginia Hunter Education Card, so your card travels with you if you hunt elsewhere.
What Out-of-State Visitors Need to Know
Non-resident hunters pay $119 for an annual license plus a $13 Conservation/Law Enforcement Stamp required of all non-resident hunters. Hunters chasing bear only can buy the non-resident Class EE bear license ($162) with its own Bear Damage Stamp ($10).
Non-resident hunters ages 8 through 17 can use the Junior Sportsman license ($16) plus the CS/LE stamp for deer during traditional seasons.
Start Your West Virginia Hunter Safety Course Today, Then Get Your Hunting License
Ready to get certified? The Hunter-Ed West Virginia course is approved by the WVDNR, self-paced, and available on any device, with an in-person Hands-On and Written Test required to complete certification. Complete the course and get your lifetime West Virginia Hunter Education Card.
Approved by West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) | Last verified August 12, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How much does a hunting license cost in West Virginia?
A: A resident Class A hunting and trapping license in West Virginia costs $19, while a non-resident annual license costs $119, both expiring every December 31. Hunters after deer, bear, or turkey also need a Big Game Stamp, which costs $10 for residents.
Q: Do I need hunter education to hunt in West Virginia?
A: Yes. West Virginia requires hunter education for anyone, resident or non-resident, born on or after January 1, 1975, before they can buy a base license. Hunters born before that date are exempt. First-time hunters of any age can use the Apprentice License to hunt under a licensed adult's supervision instead.
Q: Is a field day required for the online hunter safety course in West Virginia?
A: Yes. West Virginia's online hunter safety course requires a separate in-person Hands-On and Written Test after the online portion, unlike some neighboring states. The in-person session runs 4 to 6 hours and covers firearm handling, live-fire practice, and West Virginia-specific regulations.
Q: Can a child hunt in West Virginia without hunter education?
A: A child in West Virginia can hunt without hunter education through the Apprentice License, as long as they've never purchased a standard base license and hunt under a licensed adult's direct supervision. Children must still be at least 10 years old to take the hunter education final exam if they later pursue standard certification.
Q: Does West Virginia's hunter education certificate work in other states?
A: Yes, a West Virginia Hunter Education Card is accepted in any U.S. state, Canadian province, or country with a mandatory hunter education requirement that meets IHEA-USA standards. This reciprocity means West Virginia-certified hunters generally don't need to retake a course before hunting elsewhere.
Q: What's the penalty for hunting without a license in West Virginia?
A: Hunting without a required license or stamp in West Virginia typically carries a fine between $20 and $300 for lower-level infractions, while more serious licensing violations are misdemeanors with fines of $100 to $500 and up to 100 days in jail. WVDNR also tracks violations through a point system that can lead to multi-year license suspensions for repeat offenders.
