CHARLESTON, W.Va. (The Hinton News) — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) announced that applications are now open for the 2026 antlerless deer and state park controlled lottery hunts.
Hunters who want to participate in these limited-permit opportunities must submit their applications online at WVhunt.com.
“These lottery hunts are critical for managing West Virginia’s deer population and protecting natural habitats across the state,” said WVDNR Director Brett McMillion. “By participating in these managed hunts, our hunters can play a role in conservation while gaining exclusive access to some of the most scenic public lands and state parks the Mountain State has to offer.”
Antlerless Deer Lottery Hunts
The WVDNR issues a limited number of Class N stamps for residents and Class NN stamps for nonresidents to hunt in designated counties and public lands where additional harvest is needed. This year’s lottery includes the following 13 limited permit areas:
- Boone County
- Camp Creek State Forest
- Daniels Ridge WMA
- Fayette County (West Portion)
- Greenbrier County (North Portion)
- Greenbrier State Forest
- Kanawha County (North Portion)
- Kanawha County (South Portion)
- National Forest Land in Nicholas County
- National Forest Land in Pocahontas County
- National Forest and State Land in Randolph County
- Raleigh (West Portion)
- Webster County
Applications for these antlerless deer lottery hunts must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 4. Applicants may check their status starting Sept. 15 at WVhunt.com. Successful applicants will be notified by email by the first week of October.
State Park Lottery Hunts
The WVDNR is also accepting applications for controlled deer hunts at Beech Fork, Pipestem Resort, Stonewall Resort and Twin Falls Resort state parks. Applications must be submitted online at WVhunt.com by midnight on Aug. 31.
There is a $15 application fee and applications may include up to two hunters. Drawings will take place on Sept. 3, and successful applicants will be notified between Sept. 8-25. Deer harvested during these controlled hunts do not count toward a hunter’s annual bag limit.
All controlled hunts are subject to West Virginia’s hunting regulations, which can be reviewed at WVdnr.gov/hunting-regulations. For more information about application requirements and specific hunt dates, hunters are encouraged to visit WVdnr.gov/wv-lottery-hunts. To purchase a hunting license and stamps, visit WVhunt.com.
