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 come

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