West Virginia Legislature
2025 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill Number
BY Delegate Burkhammer
[Introduced on; referred
to the Committee on]
A BILL to amend and reenact §20-2-5j of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to authorizing the use of drones and dogs while hunting and describe their administration.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
## Article 2. Wildlife Resources.
### Part I. Wildlife Management.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, a person who is legally hunting and reasonably believes he or she has mortally wounded a deer, elk, turkey, wild boar, or bear may use a leashed dogs dog and/or a drone on his or her property or lease to track and locate the mortally wounded deer, elk, turkey, wild boar, or bear. The hunter is also permitted to use a dog handler of a leashed dogs dog and/or a licensed drone pilot to track and locate the mortally wounded deer, elk, turkey, wild boar, or bear. The hunter or the dog handler shall always maintain physical control of the leashed dogs dog. Only one leashed dog per handler may be used and, if the hunter is using a dog handler, the hunter may not handle additional dogs for the handler.
(b) The act of tracking a mortally wounded deer, elk, turkey, wild boar, or bear with a dog, or locating with a drone, is hunting and the hunter, and handler, or licensed drone pilot are subject to all applicable laws and rules. It is unlawful for a hunter, licensed drone pilot, or dog handler to track or locate deer, elk, turkey, wild boar, or bear with leashed dogs or a drone under the provisions of this section unless he or she is in possession of a valid hunting license issued pursuant to this article or is a person excepted from licensing requirements pursuant to this article, and all other lawful authorizations as prescribed in this article. The hunter shall accompany the dog handler and only the hunter may kill a mortally wounded deer, elk, turkey, wild boar, or bear. However, any hunter who is physically unable to accompany the handler in the tracking and locating of the mortally wounded deer, elk, wild turkey, boar, or bear may designate the handler to kill the deer, elk, wild turkey, boar, or bear when located by the handler. The deer, elk, turkey, wild boar, or bear shall count toward the bag limit of the hunter who fired the initial shot.
(c) Any dog handler or any drone operator providing tracking services for profit must be licensed as an outfitter or guide pursuant to §20-2-23 of this code. Any drone operator not operating on property they own or lease must be licensed according to FAA Part 107. The Director shall provide a list of licensed dog handlers and drone operators to the public prior to September 1st of each year.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to authorize the use of drones and dogs while hunting and describe their administration.
This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.