Natural Resources

HB 4176 allows youth hunters (ages 12-17) and individuals holding a Class Q special hunting permit to harvest one antlered deer during West Virginia's designated "Special Youth Deer Season." This change directly affects young hunters and disabled hunters with Class Q permits, expanding their hunting opportunities during this specific season. Any deer taken under this provision counts toward the regular firearms deer hunting season bag limit. The bill explicitly excludes Class XS license holders from these privileges.

HB 4355 creates a new $10 "upland game bird" stamp that hunters can purchase alongside their standard license. It directly affects hunters targeting specific species: ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail, ring-necked pheasant, woodcock, and snipe. Proceeds from the stamp will fund the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources to buy and release these birds into designated Wildlife Management Areas. The bill defines the bird species and requires the Division to administer the program.

SB 777 creates the "Outdoor West Virginians with Disabilities Act" to improve access to state public lands for people with disabilities. It requires West Virginia’s Division of Natural Resources and Division of Forestry to update land management plans, ensuring at least 2.5 miles of accessible roads per square mile on state forest and natural resource lands. The bill mandates that road closures must not reduce accessible road mileage below this threshold without specific justification, and requires public input before closing roads. It also prioritizes including roads that support diverse recreation like hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing while maintaining accessibility standards.

SB 746 would establish two new wildlife viewing stamps: a resident stamp for West Virginia residents and a nonresident stamp for out-of-state visitors. These stamps, purchased in addition to a standard hunting or fishing license, allow holders to view wildlife on state-owned lands and roads (including fire roads and gated roads) in a regular vehicle, excluding UTVs and ATVs. The fee for each stamp would be set by the Department of Natural Resources and require legislative approval, with revenue funding wildlife programs. The program would not apply to Coopers Rock or Kanawha State Forests.

SB 722 requires West Virginia's Division of Natural Resources (DNR) officers to obtain a warrant or the landowner's permission before entering private property, except in emergencies. This directly affects landowners, who can deny entry without a warrant, and DNR officers, who must follow this procedure during routine operations. The bill clarifies that DNR officers cannot enter private land without a warrant or consent, with an exception only for immediate threats to public safety, such as accidents or emergencies. This amendment updates existing law to explicitly protect property rights during DNR activities.