CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — State wildlife biologists want to move the opening day of West Virginia's deer, bear and wild boar archery seasons to the last Saturday in September.

Deer and bear archery seasons currently open on the Saturday closest to Oct. 1. The boar season begins on the Saturday closest to Oct. 15.

Division of Natural Resources assistant wildlife chief Paul Johansen tells the Charleston Gazette that the proposed change would simplify the seasons' openings for hunters.

Johansen says the change also would free up October for the DNR to schedule other hunting seasons' openings with sufficient separation between opening and closing dates.

The West Virginia Natural Resources Commission must approve the changes. Commissioners will consider the proposals at their spring meeting on May 4.

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Information from: The Charleston Gazette, www.wvgazette.com