Lottery drawing for City-owned property will be Tuesday, September 3. Winners will be notified by Friday, September 6. If a notified winner fails to collect the permit by end of business on Friday, September 13, the permit will be revoked and another name will be drawn. Failure to collect a permit without valid cause will result in inability to apply for future hunts. 

In accordance with City of Martinsburg Codified Ordinance Section 505.052 (4), the City Council of the City of Martinsburg has designated the seven (7) acres, more or less, adjacent to Oatesdale Park, further identified as Tax Map M 5, Parcel 70, as an Urban Deer Management Hunting Tract. Per City Code, hunters will be selected through lottery. Interested parties should apply for a permit to hunt in City limits in accordance with 505-053. Urban hunting is to be done via bow or crossbow only, and hunters must meet all State and Local qualifications. See below for all necessary information and applicable forms.

Applicants for the hunt on City property should submit applications for licenses to the City of Martinsburg City Recorder no later than 4 PM on Friday, August 30, 2024. Permits are $25, due upon issuance.

The 2024-2025 Urban Deer hunt commences September 7, 2024 and continues through December 31, 2024. The season resumes January 13, 2024 and continues through January 31, 2025.

Applications for Tract Registration and Hunter Permits are now being accepted.

There is no deadline for registering a tract, or applying for a license to hunt on private property.

Ordinance 2017-13: Urban Deer Management

Some quick facts about the ordinance:

• Hunting will be for deer only.
• Hunting will be by bow and arrow or crossbow only. All shots must be taken from a tree stand at least ten (10) feet from the ground and facing the interior of the property. Stands should be located in such a way to direct all arrow and bolts into the interior of the property.
• All hunters shall be permitted by the City of Martinsburg Police Department and may hunt only on lands designated as urban hunting tracts, by the City of Martinsburg Police Department.
• NO hunting shall take place within 150 feet of any structure or 500 feet from the property boundary of a parcel containing a school building, during periods when students are in attendance or participating in school activities.
• Up to three property owners are able to combine properties to meet the five (5) acre contiguous acre requirement; however, one person must be designated as the signatory and City contact and once a property has been designated, it will remain so for the entire season.
• Deer carcasses must be removed in their entirety, no offal or internal organs may be left on site.
• Hunters may harvest seven deer (2 of which may be antlered) in an urban deer hunting season. While these deer must be reported as an urban deer harvest, they do not count toward the allowable limit set by WVDNR.

2024 Urban Hunt Rules and Regulations as Promulgated by the Chief of Police

Special Conditions for City-owned property

See below diagram for City-owned hunting property and access point off Meadowbrook Drive

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