The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources released numbers on the most recent black bear harvest. Hunters in the 2024 black bear archery, crossbow and firearm seasons harvested a combined total of 2,479 bears, down by about four hundred from 2023. During archery and crossbow season, the most bears were harvested in Fayette and Preston counties, then Webster, Boone, Nicholas and Wyoming. During firearm season, Nicholas County had the most, then Boone, and Kanawha.