West Virginia Code 20-2-5k – Use of air rifles to hunt
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code to the contrary, any person lawfully entitled to hunt may hunt with an air rifle during small game and big game firearms season: Provided, That air rifles may only be used for deer hunting in counties open to firearm deer hunting.
Terms Used In West Virginia Code 20-2-5k
- Big game: means elk, deer, black bears, wild boars and wild turkeys. See West Virginia Code 20-1-2
- Game: means game animals, game birds and game fish as herein defined. See West Virginia Code 20-1-2
- Hunt: means to pursue, chase, catch or take any wild birds or wild animals. See West Virginia Code 20-1-2
- Person: except as otherwise defined elsewhere in this chapter, means the plural "persons" and shall include individuals, partnerships, corporations or other legal entities. See West Virginia Code 20-1-2
- Small game: includes all game animals, fur-bearing animals and game birds except elk, deer, black bears, wild boars and wild turkeys. See West Virginia Code 20-1-2
(b) An air rifle may not be substituted for a muzzleloader during any muzzleloader season or during the Mountaineer Heritage season.
(c) No person may be afield with an air rifle and bow, or with an air rifle or any arrow at the same time.
(d) No person may hunt with an air bow at any time.
(e) Any person hunting with an air rifle is subject to all other rifle and firearm hunting regulations according to this chapter and rules promulgated thereunder.
(f) Only air rifles meeting the following specifications may be used for hunting big game:
(1) No person may hunt big game with an air rifle of less than .45 caliber and with a bullet of less than 200 grains, except that wild turkey may be hunted with an air rifle of .22 caliber or larger.
(2) No person may hunt small game with an air rifle of less than .22 caliber.
(g) Air rifles may be shot within 500 feet of a dwelling.