House Bill 4504 would add a new section to West Virginia’s wildlife code directing the Director of the Division of Natural Resources to propose legislative rules governing the hunting of antlered deer. The bill sets out specific rule requirements for deer harvest limits: a licensee could take one antlered deer by any method allowed under existing rules, but the second antlered deer taken by that licensee would have to meet a minimum antler-point standard of three scorable points on one side, and no additional antlered deer could be harvested after the first two.
In practical terms, the bill does not itself create a detailed hunting season structure or licensing system; instead, it requires the agency to draft rules for legislative approval under the state’s rulemaking process. The measure would affect the Division of Natural Resources and hunters who pursue antlered deer, especially those participating in deer seasons where antler-point restrictions and bag limits are relevant.
Impact
The bill would amend West Virginia Code by adding §20-2-39 to the wildlife resources article, creating a statutory directive for the Division of Natural Resources to propose rules on antlered deer hunting. It would establish a statewide framework for how many antlered deer a licensee may harvest and impose an antler-point restriction on the second deer, thereby shaping future hunting regulations through the administrative rulemaking process rather than through detailed statutory language.
Sentiment
Based on the available record, there is no committee transcript or recorded vote showing debate, support, or opposition, so the overall sentiment cannot be measured directly. The bill’s text suggests a management-oriented approach to deer harvest regulation, which is typically framed as wildlife conservation and game management policy rather than a controversial structural change.
Contention
No specific points of contention are documented in the available materials. Potential areas of disagreement, if raised in committee, would likely involve whether the antler-point restriction and two-deer limit are appropriate for wildlife management, how the rule would affect hunters in different regions, and whether the Legislature should direct such detailed hunting rules by statute or leave more discretion to the Division of Natural Resources.
Creating a three-day Muzzleloader season for deer hunting to be scheduled the Thursday, Friday and Saturday before the traditional rifle season in November.