MADISON, Wis. -- West Virginia's Mountaineer mascot can shoot his musket at Saturday's game against Wisconsin after all.

Wisconsin athletic department officials originally denied the mascot permission to fire the weapon at Camp Randall Stadium, saying university policy prohibits weapons on campus.

Wisconsin athletic director Pat Richter asked chancellor John Wiley on Wednesday to make an exception to the policy. Wiley agreed.

''Obviously there was a segment of the population that was unhappy about it,'' Wisconsin athletic department spokesman Justin Doherty said of the initial decision.

''Hopefully we'll put this behind us and have a good football game.''

West Virginia officials say the Mountaineer's musket fires powder, much like a starter's pistol.

The mascot has been asked before not to fire the gun inside basketball arenas and one football stadium, but the musket had never been banned before Wisconsin's decision, officials said.

The Mountaineer mascot first appeared at athletic events in the 1936-1937 school year.