WVDNR predicts lower deer harvest in 2025 amid EHD outbreak

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Deer hunters in West Virginia will have to be on their A-game this hunting season, according to the latest report from the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR).

Ahead of West Virginia’s archery and crossbow seasons opening this weekend, the WVDNR released its annual 2025 Hunting Outlook and Mast Survey, which compiles data on deer populations and their food supplies to determine what hunters should do while searching for game.

This year’s survey predicts that archery and firearms harvests will be lower this hunting season. The survey cites the abundance of acorn mast in the Mountain State, which means that deer won’t have to move as far from their cover to find food and will be harder to find as a result.

Another reason for the low estimate comes with this year’s outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in the deer populations of some counties. The WVDNR said that low harvests are expected in areas with localized outbreaks due to heavy deer mortality plaguing the area, as well as some hunters hesitating to participate as a response to the outbreak.

The WVDNR emphasized, as it has done before, that EHD isn’t a new thing and naturally occurs in the U.S. It added that the disease tends to be emphasized by particularly dry summer and early fall months, which West Virginia saw both in 2024 and 2025. This is due to deer congregating around the scarce watering holes in the area, which are prime breeding grounds for the mites that spread the disease.

To combat the above issues, bow hunters are encouraged to focus on areas with available white oak and chestnut oak mast, though the WVDNR acknowledged that with such an abundance of acorn mast, baiting may be less effective.

For firearms hunters, there is good news and bad news. The good news is that the 2024 buck firearms harvest was slightly below the five-year average, meaning that plenty of bucks should still be around. The bad news is that the aforementioned heavy acorn mast is likely to deter bucks from coming out of cover. However, if the weather is mild and enough mast is eaten by the time firearms season opens, hunters may catch a break.

“Hunters may have to put in more time to get a look at a buck this season, but successfully harvesting a deer in a year where hard work was required is always rewarding,” the WVDNR said.

You can read the full survey, which includes predictions for bears, raccoons, turkeys and squirrels here.

West Virginia’s archery and crossbow season opens on Sept. 27.