Decreased harvest of 33,775 antlered deer reflects impact of abundant mast statewide and EHD in western counties.
The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) announced Tuesday, December 16, that hunters harvested 33,775 antlered deer during the state’s two-week buck firearm season, which ran from Nov. 24 to Dec. 7. The buck harvest in Putnam County was 451, down 19% from 680 in 2024.
The 2025 statewide harvest was 18.5 percent below the 2024 harvest of 41,435 bucks. All WVDNR districts registered a decrease in harvests, with the exception of District 4 (southeastern counties) which experienced a 7.5 percent increase compared to last year.
This year’s decreased harvest was caused by an increase in hard mast production, which often results in decreased harvests due to the difficulty of tracking and targeting game species spread out over a landscape. Several counties also experienced an outbreak of hemorrhagic disease (EHD), which likely impacted hunter success, especially in the western part of the state.
Putnam County is grouped with Boone, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Mingo and Wayne in District 5. While a western county, Putnam was not greatly impacted by EHD. There were 11 EHD deaths reported for Putnam. Neighboring Mason and Jackson counties recorded 102 and 392, respectively. The Mason County buck harvest for 2025 was 30% below the 2024 number.
According to preliminary data collected through the WVDNR’s electronic game check system, hunters in Greenbrier harvested the most bucks (1,730), followed by Preston (1,349), Randolph (1,198), Hardy (1,165), Pendleton (1,135), Pocahontas (1,089), Monroe (1,057), Grant (1,039), Fayette (991) and Hampshire (923).
Hunters who harvested a buck during a 2025 deer hunting season are also reminded to submit their photos for a chance to win prizes in the state’s fifth annual Big Buck Photo Contest. To learn more about contest prizes, rules and how to enter, visit WVdnr.gov/photocontest.
Several deer hunting opportunities remain for 2025. The state’s archery and crossbow season runs through Dec. 31, the traditional Class N/NN antlerless deer season will be open in select areas on public and private land Dec. 28-31, the muzzleloader deer season is Dec. 15-21 and the youth, Class Q and Class XS season for antlerless deer will be open Dec. 26-27 in any county with a firearms deer season.
