West Virginia legislation · 2026 Regular Session
West Virginia HB4176: To allow youth and handicapped hunters to harvest a buck deer or doe during youth/handicapped special hunts
Status: Signed into law, April 1, 2026
What the bill says
An act to amend §20-2-42x of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, removing Class XS licensees from participation in youth deer season privileges; relating to clarifying what licensees are authorized to hunt deer during any Special Youth Deer Season. CHAPTER 20. NATURAL RESOURCES. Article 2. Wildlife Resources. §20-2-42x. Class XS resident senior hunting, fishing and trapping license. (a) A Class XS license is a resident senior hunting, fishing and trapping license and entitles the licensee to hunt and trap for all legal species of wild animals and wild birds, to fish for all legal spec.
From the enrolled text, March 13, 2026:
AN ACT to amend §20-2-42x of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, removing Class XS licensees from participation in youth deer season privileges; relating to clarifying what licensees are authorized to hunt deer during any Special Youth Deer Season. CHAPTER 20. NATURAL RESOURCES. Article 2. Wildlife Resources. §20-2-42x. Class XS resident senior hunting, fishing and trapping license. (a) A Class XS license is a resident senior hunting, fishing and trapping license and entitles the licensee to hunt and trap for all legal species of wild animals and wild birds, to fish for all legal species of fish and to take frogs in all counties of the state, except as prohibited by the rules of the Director or Natural Resources Commission and when additional licenses, stamps or permits are required. No additional fees shall be required of Class XS licensees for a Class CS stamp or a Class O stamp. (b) A Class XS license is required for residents or aliens lawfully residing in the United States who have been domiciled residents of West Virginia for a period of 30 consecutive days or more immediately prior to the date of their application for a license and who reach 65 years of age on or after January 1, 2012. (c) A Class XS license may be voluntarily purchased by residents …