§20-2-27. Necessity for license.
     Except as otherwise provided by law, no resident who has reached his or her fifteenth birthday and who has not reached his or her sixty-fifth birthday before January 1, 2012, and no nonresident shall at any time take, hunt, pursue, trap for, kill or chase any wild animals, wild birds, or fish for, take, kill or catch any fish, amphibians or aquatic life of any kind whatsoever in this state without first having secured a license or permit and then only during the respective open seasons, except that a nonresident who has not reached his or her fifteenth birthday may fish for, take, kill or catch any fish, amphibians or aquatic life of any kind whatsoever in this state without first having secured a license or permit. A person under the age of fifteen years shall not hunt or chase any wild animals or wild birds upon lands of another unless accompanied by a licensed adult.

     A resident or nonresident member of any club, organization or association or persons owning or leasing a game preserve or fish preserve, plant or pond in this state shall not hunt or fish therein without first securing a license or permit as required by law: Provided, That resident landowners or their resident children, or bona fide resident tenants of land, may, without a permit or license, hunt and fish on their own land during open seasons in accordance with laws and rules applying to such hunting and fishing unless the lands have been designated as a wildlife refuge or preserve.

     Licenses and permits shall be of the kinds and classes set forth in this article and shall be conditioned upon the payment of the fees established for the licenses and permits. Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session