West Virginia
The 37th Annual W.Va. Hunting and Fishing Show this weekend in Charleston – WV MetroNews
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — This weekend marks the annual gathering for the state’s largest hunting and fishing event. The West Virginia Hunting and Fishing Show is now into its 37th year and will be this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.
“If you want to get out and you’ve got cabin fever, just come on down to the show,” laughed Glen Jarrell, spokesman for the West Virginia Trophy Hunters Association.
The event was started by a group or sportsmen nearly four decades ago who wanted to bring a quality show to West Virginia like those they had visited in other states. They wanted a show to feature outfitters from around the world offering hunting and fishing adventures. The show is the only event the West Virginia Trophy Hunters puts on each year and every member agrees to put their volunteer efforts into the long weekend.
“We really try to present a great quality show. Come on down, there’s something for everyone,” said Jarrell.
Those on hand will have the opportunity to book hunting trips from the western U.S., Canada, and even African safaris. Various vendors offer taxidermy, apparel, hunting and fishing gear, and fishing outfitters from here in West Virginia as well as other parts of the United States will book fishing trips right on the show floor all weekend.
“We have a great display of boats out in the lobby. The Division of Natural Resources will be there if you want to talk with any of the law enforcement or wildlife guys, they’ll all be there,” he added.
Along with the opportunities to buy various items, the show is also a celebration of the outdoors. The West Virginia DNR will have certified scorers from Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young on hand and will be scoring antlers all weekend. Many of those mounted deer will be featured in the West Virginia Whitetail Hall of Fame. The display includes some of the biggest bucks ever killed in the Mountain State. Those who feature their buck in the display could qualify for a prizes in a drawing.
This year’s event will feature presentations from the Three Rivers Avian Center. Those on hand can get an up close look at eagles, hawks, owls and other large birds of prey. The Trophy Hunters also work to accommodate children as much as possible. Throughout the show there will be a Youth Outdoor Challenge featuring an opportunity for children to participate in activities to learn more about the outdoors.
West Virginia Outdoors will originate live from the show floor in a pre-recorded segment Friday to be aired Saturday morning statewide. There will also be a special live three-hour edition of 
West Virginia Outdoors from 9 a.m. to noon on the West Virginia DNR stage which can be heard on MetroNews flagship station 580 WCHS in Charleston. The stage will also be the venue for an array of seminars and interesting presentations all weekend for those on hand. It’s a popular centerpiece where show goers can relax and have a seat.
The stage will also be the site of the always popular charity auction on Saturday at 5 p.m. The auction always features an array of firearms along with various trips and other items donated by show vendors. Proceeds from both the charity auction, the silent auction, the show’s gate receipts, and vendor fees are all donated to causes benefiting conservation or youth outdoor education.
Admission is $12 for those over the age of 12. Those age 12 and under are admitted free. The hours are noon to 9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
— Story by David Walsh, Photo gallery by Will Wotring
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Divisions I and II are going as expected after Thursday night’s opening round in the 78th West Virginia High School State Wrestling Tournament at Mountain Health Network Arena. University, seeking a third straight large school title, and Parkersburg found themselves in the top two in the standings on a night dominated by pins as No. 1 seeds would beat up on No. 4 seeds.
University started the event minus two competitors. One did not make weight and the other, who won a state title a year ago, is not competing as he’s recovering from a football injury.
One competitor delivering big for the Hawks is Maximus Fortier, a junior who transferred in from Fairmont Senior. While there, he won the state title as a freshman at 144 with a final record of 41-1. He competes at 165 now and is 36-2 after winning with a first-round pin Thursday night.
“Come down, support the team and try to win,” Fortier said of his battle plan. “Wrestle the way we know how.”
Fortier and the Hawks won the Ron Mauck OVAC title, the WSAZ Invitational and West Virginia Duals during the season. He competed in two major tournaments as well. He went 2-2 in the Ironman and won his weight class in the Powerade Tournament which attracts the top teams in the nation.
“Wasn’t ready,” he said about the Ironman. “Did my thing at Powerade. It was big.”
Fortier said support at his new school grows every day.
“They treat me like family,” he said.
Strategy for the State Tournament is simple.
“Wrestle the way we know how to wrestle,” Fortier said.
University capitalized on a strong finish in the heavier weights and leads with 47 points. Parkersburg, which finished second here last year, trails with 39.5. Cabell Midland is third with 37.5 and Huntington fourth with 32.5.
Ripley is in year two in Division II. The Vikings placed sixth a year ago. They came to town as the Region 4 winner and qualified 11 with nine taking first and the other two second. Ripley leads after Thursday with 38 points thanks to wins by pin or major fall. Independence is second with 27 and Keyser third with 25.5. Cameron is the leader in Division III with 16 points.
The tournament continues Friday with sessions at 11:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. On Saturday, the girls have their state with action starting at 8 a.m. The boys begin at 10:30.
Championship finals are Saturday night at 6:30. Wrestlers are now seeded prior to the tournament and the pill breaks deadlocks.
During the season, Ripley won the West Virginia Duals, beat Herbert Hoover twice, Point Pleasant and also got wins over Parkersburg South and Huntington.
Losing to Kansas State wiped away all hope for West Virginia to make the NCAA Tournament. That seems to be the clear consensus in the Mountain State, but is there actually still a chance? Well, I guess so.
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi still has West Virginia listed as a team to consider, the second team outside of the “next four out” grouping.
Lunardi’s current NCAA Tournament bubble
Last Four Byes: Missouri, Texas A&M, Texas, Ohio State
Last Four In: SMU, Santa Clara, New Mexico, Indiana
First Four Out: VCU, Auburn, Virginia Tech, Cincinnati
Next Four Out: San Diego State, USC, California, Seton Hall
Next: Stanford, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona State
How is this even possible?
Short answer? I don’t really know.
My best guess as to why? Two things: the respect for the Big 12 and the opportunities left on the table, and two, an incredibly weak bubble.
Should West Virginia beat UCF on Friday, it will give the Mountaineers a 9-9 record in Big 12 play. That’s not as much of a guarantee to make the dance as having a winning record, but still, it’s an impressive mark, especially when, in this instance, they would have wins over Kansas, BYU, and sweeps over Cincinnati and UCF.
If you ask me, they still have too many bad losses for it to matter. I mean, even if they got red-hot out of nowhere and made it to the Big 12 championship game next week, is that enough? Potentially, but that’s a big IF.
The one thing WVU does have on its side is the number of Quad 1 wins, which they have five of. Virtually every other team in college basketball that has a minimum of five Quad 1 victories is expected to make the tournament. In that previously mentioned scenario, they would add at least one more Quad 1 win in the conference tournament, giving the committee something to think about.
The bubble is just incredibly weak, though. Like, how in the world is Auburn, who is 16-14 currently, the second team out of the field? Cincinnati, which WVU swept and has the same record as, is the fourth team in the “first four out” grouping.
At this point, the only path I see is for the Mountaineers to cut down the nets in Kansas City — good luck with that. We could be having a very different conversation if they didn’t lallygag their way through the first 30 minutes of the games against Utah and Kansas State.
Buckle up, Upshur County. Starting Friday, March 6, law enforcement officers across West Virginia will step up seatbelt enforcement as part of a statewide Click It or Ticket campaign running through March 23.
The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) announced the high-visibility mobilization as a warm-up to the national seatbelt campaign in May. The goal is to ensure every occupant — front seat or back, driver or passenger — is buckled on every trip.
“During this mobilization, law enforcement officers across West Virginia will be out in full force. They will be strictly ticketing drivers who are unbuckled or who are transporting children not properly restrained in car seats,” said Jack McNeely, Director of the GHSP.
The numbers behind the campaign are sobering. In 2023, 40% of passenger vehicle occupants killed in West Virginia crashes were unrestrained. The state’s seatbelt usage rate has also slipped — from 91.9% in 2024 to 91.6% in 2025.
Rural drivers face elevated risk despite a common assumption that country roads are safer. In 2023, 65% of the state’s traffic fatalities occurred in rural areas, compared to 35% in urban centers.
Under West Virginia law, wearing a seatbelt is required. A citation carries a $25 fine, though McNeely says the real point isn’t the penalty.
“Click It or Ticket isn’t about the citations; it’s about saving lives,” he said. “A ticket is a wake-up call. It is far less expensive than the alternative — paying with your life or the lives of your family and friends.”
For more information about the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program, visit highwaysafety.wv.gov or call 304-926-2509.
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