Report: Deer harvest increases while bear and turkey harvests decline

Report: Deer harvest increases while bear, turkey harvests decline

RICHMOND — Wildlife biologists with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) have compiled harvest totals for the fall 2025–26 big game hunting seasons.

Report: Deer harvest increases while bear and turkey harvests decline

RICHMOND — Wildlife biologists with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) have compiled harvest totals for the fall 2025–26 big game hunting seasons.

WVDNR breaks down number of deer harvested in 2025 deer season

Oak Hill, WV (WOAY) – The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources says that hunters harvested more than 92,000 deer last season. That is nearly 20,000 fewer compared to the 2024 season. The DNR says the decrease is caused by more seeds and nuts in the deer diet than fruit and berries, which caused game species to spread out more over a habitat. Officials also believe the outbreak of a deadly disease in several counties caused a deer die-off,…