Duck Hunting in West Virginia

West Virginia, Duck Hunting Nation State, Waterfowl Hunting, Waterfowl Hunting

West Virginia

D

4,600

Duck Statewide Harvest

5,900

Goose Statewide Harvest

1,400

No. Waterfowl Licenses Sold Annually

3.9

Ducks Per Hunter

6.3

Geese Per Hunter

$19

Cost of Resident Waterfowl Hunting License

$5

Cost of Resident State Stamps and Permits

$25

Federal Duck Stamp

$119; six-day small-game license $27

Cost of Non-Resident Waterfowl Hunting License

$13

Cost of Non-Resident State Stamps and Permits

$25

Federal Duck Stamp

Well, what can you say? A state famous for hills and hollows probably won't rank very high on a list of waterfowl destinations. Still, don't sell West Virginia short.

State hunters shot decent numbers of mallards and wood ducks in 2021-'22. And goose hunters took about 5,900 birds this past season.

Some of the state's best shooting occurs on large river corridors late in the season, when other waters have frozen. The Ohio River near Parkersburg holds good numbers of honkers and ducks late in fall. Hunters can take geese and some bonus puddle ducks by obtaining permission at nearby ag fields. Or they can chase divers on the main water of the big river.

Hunters have some other public waterfowl opportunities, too, including 6,000-acre Summersville Lake in Nicholas County.

— Compiled and written by Brian Lovett

Photo © Shutterstock

Seasons and Bag Limits