(a) Whenever it is found that deer or other wildlife are causing damage to cultivated crops, fruit trees, commercial nurseries, homeowners' trees, shrubbery or vegetable gardens, the owner or lessee of the lands on which damage is done may report the finding to the natural resources police officer or biologist of the county in which the lands are located or to the director. The director shall then investigate the reported damage and if found substantial, shall issue a permit to the owner or lessee to kill one or more deer or other wildlife in the manner prescribed by the director.
(b) In addition to the foregoing, the director shall establish procedures for the issuance of permits or other authorization necessary to control deer or other wildlife causing property damage.
(c) All persons attempting to kill deer or other wildlife pursuant to this section are subject to the same minimum caliber restrictions and other firearm restrictions and the same minimum bow poundage and other bow and arrow restrictions that apply when hunting the same animal species during the regular hunting seasons.
Structure West Virginia Code
§20-2-1. Declaration of Policy
§20-2-1a. Wildlife Resources Division; Organization and Administration
§20-2-2. Violations of Article
§20-2-2a. Interference With Hunters, Trappers and Fishermen
§20-2-3. State Ownership of Wildlife
§20-2-4. Possession of Wildlife
§20-2-5. Unlawful Methods of Hunting and Fishing and Other Unlawful Acts; Sunday Hunting
§20-2-5e. Assessment Fee for Decoy Animals
§20-2-5f. Nonresident Dog Training for Coon Hunting; Training Season
§20-2-5g. Use of a Crossbow to Hunt
§20-2-5h. Elk Management Area; Elk Damage Fund; Criminal Penalties; Rule-Making
§20-2-5i. Waste of Game Animals, Game Birds, or Game Fish; Penalties
§20-2-5j. Leashed Dogs for Tracking Mortally Wounded Deer or Bear
§20-2-5k. Use of Air Rifles to Hunt
§20-2-6. Carrying Gun on Landowner's Land
§20-2-7. Hunting, Trapping or Fishing on Lands of Another; Damages and Restitution
§20-2-8. Posting Unenclosed Lands; Hunting, etc., on Posted Land
§20-2-9. Unlawful Posting of Lands
§20-2-10. Destruction, etc., of Signs Posted Under Chapter
§20-2-11. Sale of Wildlife; Transportation of Same
§20-2-12. Transportation of Wildlife Out of State; Penalties
§20-2-13. Importation of Wildlife; Certification and Inspection of Imported Wildlife
§20-2-14. Propagation of Wildlife for Commercial Purposes
§20-2-17. Hunting Fur-Bearing Animals; Possession of Fur; Disturbing Traps of Another
§20-2-18. Number and Types of Traps
§20-2-21. Reporting Beaver and Otter Pelts Taken and Tagged
§20-2-22. Tagging, Removing, Transporting and Reporting Bear, Deer, Wild Boar and Wild Turkey
§20-2-23. Outfitters and Guides -- Generally; Definitions
§20-2-23b. Whitewater Study and Improvement Fund
§20-2-23c. Voluntary Contributions to Whitewater Advertising and Promotion Fund
§20-2-23d. Bond; Revocation of License; Licensing Carrying Requirement; Criminal Penalties
§20-2-23e. Implementation of Allocation Methodology
§20-2-24. Outfitters and Guides -- Qualifications
§20-2-25. Same -- License Applications; National Forest Requirements
§20-2-26. Same -- License Fee; Bond; Revocation of License; Penalties
§20-2-27. Necessity for License
§20-2-28. When Licenses or Permits Not Required
§20-2-29. Conservation of Species and Request for Public Records
§20-2-31. Size and Form of License and Tag; Contents; Unlawful to Alter Licenses or Permits; Penalty
§20-2-32. Issuance of Licenses; Duplicate Licenses
§20-2-33. Authority of Director to Designate Agents to Issue Licenses; Bonds; Fees
§20-2-33b. Electronic Application Donation to Fund the Coyote Management Program
§20-2-34. Disposition of License Fees and Donations; Reports of Agents; Special Funds and Uses
§20-2-35. Period During Which License Valid
§20-2-36a. Hunting or Fishing When License Revoked; Penalty
§20-2-38. Refusal or Revocation of License or Permit
§20-2-42. Effective Date and Indexing of License and Stamp Fees
§20-2-42a. Class a Resident Hunting and Trapping License
§20-2-42b. Class B Resident Fishing License
§20-2-42c. Class C Courtesy Statewide Hunting and Fishing License
§20-2-42d. Class E Nonresident Hunting and Trapping License
§20-2-42e. Class Ee Nonresident Bear Hunting License
§20-2-42f. Class F Nonresident Fishing License
§20-2-42g. Class H Nonresident Small Game Hunting License
§20-2-42h. Class J Nonresident Small Game Shooting Preserve License
§20-2-42i. Class Ll Nonresident One-Day Fishing License
§20-2-42j. Class X Resident Hunting, Fishing and Trapping License
§20-2-42l. Class A-L Small Arms Hunting Stamp
§20-2-42m. Class I Nonresident National Forest Hunting, Trapping and Fishing Stamp
§20-2-42n. Class N Resident and Class Nn Nonresident Antlerless Deer Hunting Stamp
§20-2-42o. Class O Resident and Class Oo Nonresident Trout Fishing Stamp
§20-2-42p. Class Rg Resident and Class Rrg Nonresident Gun Deer Hunting Stamp for an Additional Deer
§20-2-42s. Class Uu Nonresident Archery Deer Hunting Stamp
§20-2-42t. Class Vv Nonresident Muzzle-Loading Deer Hunting Stamp
§20-2-42u. Class Ww Nonresident Turkey Hunting Stamp
§20-2-42v. Class Bg Resident Big Game Stamp
§20-2-42w. Class Y Special Crossbow Hunting Permit for Certain Disabled Persons
§20-2-42x. Class Xs Resident Senior Hunting, Fishing and Trapping License
§20-2-42y. Class Ah, Ahj, Aah, Aahj Apprentice Hunting and Trapping Licenses; Penalties
§20-2-42z. Class L Resident Five-Day Fishing License
§20-2-44b. Bear Damage Stamp; Proceeds to Be Paid Into Bear Damage Fund; Purposes, etc.
§20-2-46e. Class Q Special Hunting Permit for Disabled Persons
§20-2-47. License for Private Game Farm for Propagating Animals and Birds for Commercial Purposes
§20-2-49. Licenses for Dealers in Furs, Pelts, etc.
§20-2-50. Permit to Hunt, Kill, etc., Wildlife for Scientific or Propagation Purposes
§20-2-50a. Wildlife Damage Control Agents; Licensing
§20-2-51. Permit for Keeping Pets
§20-2-52. Permits for Roadside Menageries
§20-2-53. License for Privately Owned Commercial Fishing Preserve
§20-2-54. License for Privately-Owned Commercial Shooting Preserves
§20-2-55. License to Catch and Sell Minnows or Other Bait Fish
§20-2-56a. Bird Dog Training Permit
§20-2-58. Shooting Across Road or Near Building or Crowd; Penalty
§20-2-59. License to Take Fish and Mussels for Commercial Purposes in Certain Waters
§20-2-60. Required Attire for Deer Hunters; Exemption; Penalty
§20-2-62. Persons Exempt From Obtaining Hunting and Fishing Licenses; Qualification
§20-2-64. Regulating Release of Fish, Water Animal and Other Aquatic Organisms; Stocking Permit