Until and unless you get your concealed pistol/revolver licence you may not carry, in any fashion, in a vehicle or conveyance. My interpretation of "conveyance" is pretty much anything that moves, be it a motorcycle, horse, cart, lawn mower, boat, etc.
§20-2-5. Unlawful methods of hunting and fishing and other unlawful acts.
Except as authorized by the director, it is unlawful at any time for any person to:
(9) Have in his or her possession a crossbow with a nocked bolt, a loaded firearm or a firearm from the magazine of which all shells and cartridges have not been removed, in or on any vehicle or conveyance, or its attachments,
And then, when you get your concealed licence, you can ONLY carry a handgun in a concealed manner while in or on a motor vehicle.
§20-2-6a. Carrying a concealed handgun.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this code to the contrary, a person licensed to carry a concealed weapon pursuant to the provisions of section four, article seven, chapter sixty-one of this code who is not prohibited at the time from possessing a firearm pursuant to the provisions of section seven, article seven, chapter sixty-one of this code or by any applicable federal law may carry a handgun in a concealed manner for self defense purposes while afield hunting, hiking, camping or in or on a motor vehicle.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not exempt any person from obtaining any hunting or fishing license or stamp required by the division of natural resources.
And before the "But these are in the DNR regs ..." comments start ... The entirety of the WV code is enforceable by ANY law enforcement officer. Did you happen to piss off the local deputy sheriff when you guys were in high school? Steal his girlfriend? Knock his sister up? Yes, 9 times out of 10 a LEO may not care, or not know that you are in violation of the law, but if you run into that one guy who is having a bad day, or is going through a divorce, or is just simply an ******* ... are you willing to take that risk?
Very simply, 20-2-5 prohibits carrying a loaded gun in a vehicle. 20-2-6a ONLY allows you to carry a gun in a vehicle in a concealed manner.
And in the interest of being comprehensive, the definition of "concealed" is:
§61-7-2. Definitions.
As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires:.
(10) "Concealed" means hidden from ordinary observation so as to prevent disclosure or recognition. A deadly weapon is concealed when it is carried on or about the person in such a manner that another person in the ordinary course of events would not be placed on notice that the deadly weapon was being carried. For purposes of concealed handgun licensees, a licensee shall be deemed to be carrying on or about his or her person while in or on a motor vehicle if the firearm is located in a storage area in or on the motor vehicle.
Complete 20-2-5 can be found here:
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/WVCODE/ChapterEntire.cfm?chap=20&art=2§ion=5#02
Complete 20-2-6a can be found here:
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/WVCODE/ChapterEntire.cfm?chap=20&art=2§ion=6A#02
Complete 61-7-2 can be found here:
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/WVCODE/ChapterEntire.cfm?chap=61&art=7§ion=2#07
I'm not a lawyer, and I did not stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night. I might very well be 100% wrong in what I just posted. BUT ... I can read. The words in the code relating to this, are pretty clear to me. I'll even admit that these are indeed found in the DNR regs, and the probability of another LEO knowing it are slim. However, for me, I'm not willing to take that chance. If you are, you do so knowing the potential risk you take.
With that being said, Happy Birthday! Mine is in about 2 weeks also (March 6th). Welcome to adulthood, it just goes down hill from here