West Virginia Code
Article 2. Wildlife Resources
§20-2-3. State Ownership of Wildlife


The ownership of and title to all wildlife in the State of West Virginia is hereby declared to be in the state, as trustee for the people. A person shall not take or hunt wildlife in any manner, or at any time, unless the person taking or hunting the wildlife consents that the title to the wildlife is and remains in the State of West Virginia for the purpose of regulating the taking, hunting, using, and disposing of the wildlife. The taking or hunting of wildlife at any time or in any manner by any person is considered consent: Provided, That, all fish, frogs, and other aquatic life in privately-owned ponds are, and remain, the private property of the owner or owners of the privately-owned ponds, and that the fish, frogs, and other aquatic life in the privately-owned ponds may be caught, taken or killed by the owner or owners at any time.

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Structure West Virginia Code

West Virginia Code

Chapter 20. Natural Resources

Article 2. Wildlife Resources

§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

§20-2-5a. Forfeiture by Person Causing Injury or Death of Game or Protected Species of Animal; Additional Replacement Costs for Antlered Deer; Forfeiture Procedures and Costs

§20-2-5b. Exceeding Creel Limit on Trout; Other Violations of Code or Rules and Regulations for Trout Fishing; Penalties

§20-2-5c. Protection of Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles; Unlawful Acts; Criminal Penalties; Forfeitures; License Revocation

§20-2-5d. Use of Chemicals, Biological Compounds or Devices on Free Roaming Wildlife Populations for Fertility Control

§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

§20-2-15. Permit to Kill Deer or Other Wildlife Causing Damage to Cultivated Crops, Trees, Commercial Nurseries, Homeowners' Shrubbery and Vegetable Gardens; Weapon Restrictions

§20-2-16. Dogs Chasing Deer

§20-2-17. Hunting Fur-Bearing Animals; Possession of Fur; Disturbing Traps of Another

§20-2-18. Number and Types of Traps

§20-2-19. Marking of Traps

§20-2-20. Trapping Beaver

§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

§20-2-22a. Hunting, Tagging and Reporting Bear; Procedures Applicable to Property Destruction by Bear; Penalties

§20-2-23. Outfitters and Guides -- Generally; Definitions

§20-2-23a. Whitewater Commission; Powers and Duties of Commission and Division of Natural Resources; Allocations; Civil and Criminal Penalties for Violations

§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

§20-2-30. Application and Statement of Eligibility for Licenses or Permits; Procuring License or Permit in Violation of Chapter

§20-2-30a. Certificate of Training; Falsifying, Altering, Forging, Counterfeiting or Uttering Training Certificate; Penalties

§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

§20-2-33a. Electronic Application to Apprise Applicant of Hunters Helping the Hungry Program; Check-Off Donations; Special Fund Continued; Authorized Expenditures

§20-2-33b. Electronic Application Donation to Fund the Coyote Management Program

§20-2-33c. Electronic Application Donation to West Virginia University Rifle Team; Special Fund Created; Authorized Disbursements

§20-2-34. Disposition of License Fees and Donations; Reports of Agents; Special Funds and Uses

§20-2-35. Period During Which License Valid

§20-2-36. When License, Related Documents, and Picture Identification to Be Carried; Using License of Another; Transferring License to Another

§20-2-36a. Hunting or Fishing When License Revoked; Penalty

§20-2-37. Display of License, etc., by Persons in Possession of Hunting, Fishing, etc., Paraphernalia

§20-2-38. Refusal or Revocation of License or Permit

§20-2-38a. Suspension of License or Permit for Failure to Pay Fines or Penalties Imposed by Magistrate Court

§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

§20-2-42k. Class Xj Resident Junior and Class Xxj Nonresident Junior 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

§20-2-42q. Class Rb Resident and Class Rrb Nonresident Archery Deer Hunting Stamp for an Additional Deer

§20-2-42r. Class Rm Resident and Class Rrm Nonresident Muzzle-Loader 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

§20-2-44. Free Fishing Days

§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

§20-2-46f. Class Dt Special Hunting and Fishing License for Persons With a Life-Threatening Condition

§20-2-47. License for Private Game Farm for Propagating Animals and Birds for Commercial Purposes

§20-2-48. License for Private Plant or Pond for Propagating Fish, Frogs, Turtles and Other Forms of Aquatic Life 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

§20-2-56. Permit to Hold a Field Trial, Shoot-to-Retrieve Field Trial, Water Race or Wild Hunt; License Exemption

§20-2-56a. Bird Dog Training Permit

§20-2-57. Negligent Shooting, Wounding or Killing of Livestock While Hunting; Criminal Violations; Penalty

§20-2-57a. Negligent Shooting, Wounding or Killing of Another Person While Hunting; Duty to Render Aid; Criminal Violations; Suspension of Hunting and Fishing License; Criminal Penalties; Administrative Penalties

§20-2-57b. Prohibition Against Hunting While Intoxicated; Offense of Hunting While Intoxicated, Creating Offense of Shooting Another Person When Hunting While Intoxicated; Creating Misdemeanor And, Felony Offenses for the Same; Defining Suspension of...

§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