Our season, due to the whining of those who hunt in the kanawha valley, got moved earlier by 1 week, statewide. It has been nothing short of a disaster for those of us who hunt in the higher elevations. For example: today on the lease I am in it was 34 and pouring snow on my head at 7am and about 3400' elevation. When I left it was cloudy and 36. By the time I got home, 50 min and 1400' less in elevation, it was 48 and sunny.
Many of us have written the WVDNR about giving us back our original last week, or splitting the state and having two opening weeks and two closing weeks. I personally and friends I know wrote them and let them know how much $ we now spend in VA because our first, and many times second week is useless, due to the weather. I have been in that lease for 5 years and I honestly do not know if I have ever shot a bird in the first two weeks.
They are supposed to vote on it at some meeting on May 5th. Surely it will pass, as our state has been very progressive in the last few years with access and weaponry....we can now hunt sundays even on public land and are allowed to use crossbows.
You be careful out in the eastern panhandle. That area is one of our higher Covid concetrations
