# West Virginia HB 2043: Relating to use of dog and/or drones for tracking or locating mortally wounded deer, elk, turkey, wild boar or bear West Virginia HB 2043, Relating to use of dog and/or drones for tracking or locating mortally wounded deer, elk, turkey, wild boar or bear, is a 2025 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Adam Burkhammer (Republican); status signed, last action 2025-07-30 (Chapter 115, Acts, Regular Session, 2025) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB2043-2025rs - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: West Virginia HB 2043 - State: West Virginia - Session: 2025 Regular Session - Title: Relating to use of dog and/or drones for tracking or locating mortally wounded deer, elk, turkey, wild boar or bear - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2025-02-12 - Last action: 2025-07-30, Chapter 115, Acts, Regular Session, 2025 - Sponsor: Adam Burkhammer (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: §20-2-5J - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 3 (159 yes, 69 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 2 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Hunters gain tracking options with strict rules: mixed, low. Beginning June 30, 2025, West Virginia hunters can use a leashed dog, a drone, or both to find wounded game. They must be legally hunting and reasonably believe they mortally wounded a deer, elk, turkey, wild boar, or bear. Hunters may use a dog handler or licensed drone operator. Tracking counts a… - Paid game trackers face licensing rules: mixed, low. Beginning June 30, 2025, dog handlers and drone operators providing game-tracking services for profit must hold a state outfitter or guide license. Drone operators working on property they do not own or lease must also hold an FAA Part 107 license. Before September 1 each year, the Director must pu… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Adam Burkhammer (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Chuck Horst (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025-04-01 | Senate | Passed Senate (Roll No. 274) | pass | 33 | 1 | | | 2025-03-25 | House | Passed House (Roll No. 181) | pass | 88 | 10 | | | 2025-03-24 | House | Amendment rejected (Roll No. 177) | fail | 38 | 58 | | ## Actions (49) - 2025-07-30: Chapter 115, Acts, Regular Session, 2025 (House) - 2025-04-08: Approved by Governor 4/8/2025 (House) - 2025-04-08: Approved by Governor 4/8/2025 - House Journal (House) - 2025-04-08: Approved by Governor 4/8/2025 - Senate Journal (Senate) - 2025-04-03: To Governor 4/3/2025 (House) - 2025-04-03: To Governor 4/3/2025 - House Journal (House) - 2025-04-03: To Governor 4/3/2025 - Senate Journal (Senate) - 2025-04-02: House received Senate message (House) - 2025-04-01: On 3rd reading (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Read 3rd time (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Passed Senate (Roll No. 274) (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Communicated to House (Senate) - 2025-04-01: Completed legislative action (Senate) - 2025-03-31: On 2nd reading (Senate) - 2025-03-31: Read 2nd time (Senate) - 2025-03-29: Introduced in Senate (Senate) - 2025-03-29: Committee reference dispensed (Senate) - 2025-03-29: Immediate consideration (Senate) - 2025-03-29: Read 1st time (Senate) - 2025-03-25: On 3rd reading, Special Calendar (House) - 2025-03-25: Read 3rd time (House) - 2025-03-25: Passed House (Roll No. 181) (House) - 2025-03-25: Communicated to Senate (House) - 2025-03-24: On 2nd reading, Special Calendar (House) - 2025-03-24: Read 2nd time (House) - 2025-03-24: Amendment reported by the Clerk (House) - 2025-03-24: Amendment rejected (Roll No. 177) (House) - 2025-03-21: On 2nd reading, Special Calendar (House) - 2025-03-21: Postponed on 2nd reading, Special Calendar, until 3/24/2025 (House) - 2025-03-20: By substitute, do pass (House) - 2025-03-20: By substitute for substitute, do pass (House) - 2025-03-14: On 3rd reading, Special Calendar (House) - 2025-03-14: Committed to Rules on 3rd reading (House) - 2025-03-14: To House Rules (House) - 2025-03-13: On 3rd reading, Special Calendar (House) - 2025-03-13: Postponed on 3rd reading, Special Calendar, until 3/14/2025 (House) - 2025-03-12: On 2nd reading, Special Calendar (House) - 2025-03-12: Read 2nd time (House) - 2025-03-11: On 1st reading, Special Calendar (House) - 2025-03-11: Read 1st time (House) - 2025-03-10: With amendment, do pass (House) - 2025-03-05: Markup Discussion (House) - 2025-02-21: Markup Discussion (House) - 2025-02-21: To Government Organization (House) - 2025-02-13: To House Agriculture, Commerce and Tourism (House) - 2025-02-12: Filed for introduction (House) - 2025-02-12: To Government Organization (House) - 2025-02-12: Introduced in House (House) - 2025-02-12: To House Government Organization (House) ## Bill text - Committee Substitute: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2043 sub2.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2043 sub2.pdf) - Engrossed: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2043 sub2 eng.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2043 sub2 eng.pdf) - Enrolled: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2043 sub2 enr.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2043 sub2 enr.pdf) - Introduced Version: [HTML](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2043 intr.htm), [PDF](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2043 intr.pdf) ## Related bills - HB 2451: To facilitate the creation of home-based businesses (signed) - SB 464: Creating license plate for recipients of Medal of Valor (signed) - SB 196: Lauren's Law (signed) - SB 138: Enhancing penalties for fleeing officer (signed) - SB 270: Declaring sale and manufacture of firearms essential business during declared emergency (signed) - SB 617: Discouraging gang activity (signed) ## Sources - [Committee Substitute (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2043 sub2.htm) - [Committee Substitute (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2043 sub2.pdf) - [Engrossed (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2043 sub2 eng.htm) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2043 sub2 eng.pdf) - [Enrolled (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2043 sub2 enr.htm) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2043 sub2 enr.pdf) - [Introduced Version (HTML)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2043 intr.htm) - [Introduced Version (PDF)](https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2025_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb2043 intr.pdf) ## Related - [HB 2451: To facilitate the creation of home-based businesses](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB2451-2025rs) - [SB 464: Creating license plate for recipients of Medal of Valor](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-SB464-2025rs) - [SB 196: Lauren's Law](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-SB196-2025rs) - [SB 138: Enhancing penalties for fleeing officer](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-SB138-2025rs) - [SB 270: Declaring sale and manufacture of firearms essential business during declared e…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-SB270-2025rs) - [SB 617: Discouraging gang activity](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-SB617-2025rs) - [West Virginia bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/west-virginia/bills) - [West Virginia state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/west-virginia) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/WV-HB2043-2025rs (as of 2026-10-19).