West Virginia Archery Season Opens Amid Expectations of Lower Deer Harvest
As the 2025 archery hunting season begins this weekend across West Virginia, wildlife experts from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) anticipate a decline in whitetail deer harvests this year.
The initial focus for hunters will be the availability of food sources, which heavily influence deer movement patterns and hunting success.
Hard Mast Production Sees Significant Increase
The 2025 Mast Survey highlights a remarkable abundance of hard mast, the primary nutritional resource for whitetail deer during fall and winter months.
Avery Korns, coordinator of the annual mast survey for WVDNR, reported that all hard mast species performed well overall, with production approximately two percent above the long-term statewide average and 16 percent higher than 2024 levels.
- White oak acorn production increased by 46% compared to both 2024 and the yearly average
- Black oak acorns rose 41%
- Scarlet oak went up 29%
- Scrub oak acorns doubled, marking a 100% increase
- Chestnut oak acorns surged 119% over 2024
Korns attributed the uptick in hard mast abundance largely to favorable weather conditions, including ample rainfall through the summer followed by a drier period in August, which promoted recovery from last year’s drought stress.
Soft Mast Yield Declines Significantly
Contrasting the hard mast, soft mast species experienced a downturn across the state. Early season rainfall combined with an August drought stressed many soft mast plants, causing premature fruit drop and reducing available forage.
- Apple production dropped 14%
- Wild black cherry fruit declined by 63%
- Other soft mast categories such as blackberry, crab apple, dogwood, grapes, greenbrier, hawthorn, sassafras, and yellow poplar all showed decreases
Implications for Wildlife and Hunting
The surge in acorn and nut crops, notably beech (up 268% from 2024), black walnut (161% increase), and hickory nuts (76% increase), is expected to bolster populations of other forest fauna such as squirrels.
From a biological standpoint, healthy mast years provide ample nutrition critical for lactation and reproduction, often enabling female squirrels to produce two litters annually, a significant factor influencing small mammal population dynamics.
Despite the abundance of food, WVDNR officials forecast that deer harvest numbers will likely remain steady or decrease relative to last year. High mast availability generally reduces deer movement, as animals can meet their nutritional needs within smaller home ranges, minimizing encounters with hunters.
Additional pressures come from an ongoing Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) outbreak in the western counties, which may independently reduce deer numbers and hunting success.
Expert Perspective
Dr. Avery Korns emphasized that while mast abundance is a key ecological driver, factors such as disease outbreaks and habitat conditions also play critical roles in shaping yearly harvest outcomes.
“This year’s strong mast crop will keep deer widespread and less mobile,” she explained, “but EHD’s impact in the west will suppress populations, balancing the effects and resulting in an overall decrease in harvest.”
Hunters and wildlife managers alike will be closely monitoring the interplay between food availability and disease in the coming months.
Additional reporting and sources from: As archery season opens, deer hunting success expected to be down – WV MetroNews
