West Virginia Hunting Laws and Regulations

Who is required to complete hunter education in West Virginia?

According to West Virginia law, all hunters who were born on or after January 1, 1975, must complete hunter education certification in order to acquire a hunting license in West Virginia.

Is completion of the West Virginia state agency-approved course required in order to buy a license?

Yes, in many cases. In order to buy a license, West Virginia requires that hunters who were born on or after January 1, 1975, must first complete a course approved by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and IHEA-USA.

Elsewhere

Hunting education is currently required in several U.S. states and Canadian provinces.

Reciprocity

All U.S. states, provinces, and other countries that have mandatory hunter education requirements will accept the West Virginia Hunter Education Card. Likewise, West Virginia will accept Hunter Education certifications that are issued by other jurisdictions that meet official IHEA-USA requirements. (This is known as “reciprocity.”)

What Makes a Course Approved?

To be approved by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, a course must teach hunters to become:

• Safe (by following all hunting safety rules)
• Responsible (about hunting, wildlife, conservation, and hunting laws)
• Knowledgeable (by knowing and demonstrating acceptable behavior and attitudes while hunting)
• Involved (in joining and participating in hunting and conservation organizations)

Meets IHEA-USA Standards

This West Virginia Hunter Ed online hunting education course was developed in accordance with the standards set forth by IHEA-USA and meets the requirements of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources hunter safety mandate.

About the Standards

In 1999 the International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) adopted a set of performance guidelines for basic hunter education courses. These standards have been used internationally by hunter education administrators to evaluate minimum core content in hunter education courses. Industry partners, including the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and Hunter Ed, have used the revised standards to develop new student manuals and alternative delivery methods for hunter education.

Our Commitment to Hunter Education

Hunter Ed is committed to making sure West Virginia hunter education students learn the skills and information needed to have a safe, successful, and fun hunt. We strive to ensure this West Virginia online hunter safety course helps you become a more knowledgeable and ethical hunter. Educated hunters play an important role in making West Virginia a leader in conservation and wildlife management.

We accomplish that goal by working with West Virginia Division of Natural Resources and IHEA-USA to produce a course that’s accurate, interesting, and easy to understand.

As a new hunter, you can be proud of your contributions to wildlife conservation and your role as a steward of our natural resources.