Virginia Hunting Seasons will impress you with its exciting and varied hunting opportunities. It’s time to prepare and plan for the thrilling experiences that lie ahead as hunters excitedly anticipate the start of the hunting season. This thorough schedule guide will provide all the information you need for a successful and enjoyable hunting season in Virginia, whether you are an experienced hunter or a novice. Let’s explore the world of Virginia hunting and be ready for a season to remember, from crucial dates and places to particular restrictions and hunting chances.
Deer, elk, bear, and turkey are among the bigger game species that may be found in Virginia, along with minor game like squirrels and quail. Virginia has year-round hunting seasons in the stunning Appalachian Mountains.
For a thrilling hunting season, Virginia offers the ideal mix of breathtaking nature, American history, and southern charm.
Virginia Hunting Seasons
Bear
Archery Bear
7-Oct – 17-Nov
Youth and Apprentice Bear Hunting
14-Oct – 15-Oct
Muzzleloader Bear
11-Nov – 17-Nov
Early Firearms Bear
2-Oct – 4-Oct
Firearms Bear
1-Oct – 6-Jan
27-Nov – 6-Jan
4-Dec – 6-Jan
Firearms Bear (Accomack and Northampton counties)
Closed
Bear Hound Training/Chase
18-Nov – 2-Dec
1-Aug – 30-Sep
Deer
Early Archery
7-Oct – 17-Nov
17-Nov
Late Archery
3-Dec – 6-Jan
6-Jan
1-Dec – 6-Jan
6-Jan
17-Dec – 6-Jan
6-Jan
Urban Archery Deer
2-Sep – 6-Oct
6-Oct
7-Jan – 31-Mar
31-Mar
NOVA Late Archery
1-Apr – 28-Apr
28-Apr
Early Muzzleloader
4-Nov – 17-Nov
17-Nov
Late Muzzleloader (East of the Blue Ridge)
16-Dec – 6-Jan
6-Jan
1-Jan – 6-Jan
6-Jan
Late Muzzleloader (West of the Blue Ridge)
16-Dec – 6-Jan
6-Jan
1-Jan – 6-Jan
6-Jan
Firearms Deer
18-Nov – 2-Dec
2-Dec
18-Nov – 2-Dec
2-Dec
18-Nov – 6-Jan
6-Jan
18-Nov – 2-Dec
2-Dec
18-Nov – 16-Dec
16-Dec
1-Oct – 30-Nov
30-Nov
18-Nov – 2-Dec
2-Dec
18-Nov – 16-Dec
16-Dec
18-Nov – 6-Jan
6-Jan
18-Nov – 2-Dec
2-Dec
Early and Late Antlerless Only Firearms Deer
2-Sep – 6-Oct
6-Oct
7-Jan – 31-Mar
31-Mar
Early and Late Antlerless Only Firearms Deer
2-Sep – 6-Oct
6-Oct
7-Jan – 31-Jan
31-Jan
Elk
Elk hunt within the Elk Management Zone (Buchanan, Dickenson, and Wise counties)
14-Oct – 20-Oct
Early Archery
7-Oct – 17-Nov
Late Archery
3-Dec – 6-Jan
1-Dec – 6-Jan
17-Dec – 6-Jan
Urban Archery
2-Sep – 6-Oct
7-Jan – 31-Mar
NOVA Late Archery
1-Apr – 28-Apr
Early Muzzleloader
4-Nov – 17-Nov
Late Muzzleloader (East of the Blue Ridge)
16-Dec – 6-Jan
1-Jan – 6-Jan
Late Muzzleloader (West of the Blue Ridge)
16-Dec – 6-Jan
1-Jan – 6-Jan
Firearms
18-Nov – 2-Dec
18-Nov – 2-Dec
18-Nov – 6-Jan
18-Nov – 2-Dec
18-Nov – 16-Dec
1-Oct – 30-Nov
18-Nov – 2-Dec
18-Nov – 16-Dec
18-Nov – 6-Jan
18-Nov – 2-Dec
Early and Late Antlerless Only Firearms
2-Sep – 6-Oct
7-Jan – 31-Mar
Early and Late Antlerless Only Firearms
2-Sep – 6-Oct
7-Jan – 31-Jan
Turkey
Fall Firearms Turkey Seasons
October 21 – November 3, November 23
October 21 – November 3, November 22 – 23,
December 4 – December 30, January 13 – 27
October 21 – November 3, November 22 – 23,
December 4 – December 16, January 13 – January 27
Archery Turkey Season (Statewide except in areas with closed firearm season on turkey)
October 7 – November 17
Youth and Apprentice Fall Turkey Hunting Weekend
October 14 – October 15
Youth and Apprentice Spring Turkey Hunting Weekend
April 6 – April 7
Spring Turkey Season
April 13 – April 28
April 29 – May 18
VA Furbearer
Furbearer
Start Dates
End Dates
Bag Limit
Bobcat
Archery Season
7-Oct
31-Oct
Two per hunting party taken between noon one day and noon the following day
Firearms Season
1-Nov
29-Feb
Two per hunting party taken between noon one day and noon the following day
Coyote
1-Sep
10-Mar
Fox
Red Fox
1-Nov
29-Feb
One per hunting party taken between noon of one day and noon the following day
Gray Fox
1-Jan
29-Feb
One per hunting party taken between noon of one day and noon the following day
Fisher
Continuous closed season for hunting or trapping fisher
Opossum
Opossum Season
15-Oct
23-Mar
Statewide
Raccoon
Raccoon
15-Oct
10-Mar
Chase-Only Season
1-Aug
30-Sep
Skunk
Skunk
Continuous Open
Continuous Open
except on National Forest lands and Department lands
Striped Skunk
1-Sep
10-Mar
on National Forest lands and Department lands Top of Form Bottom of Form
VA Furbearer Trapping
VA Furbearer Trapping Season
Start Dates
End Dates
Beaver
1-Dec
Feb-29
Bobcat
15-Nov
Feb-29
Coyote
Continuous
Continuous
Fisher
Continuous
Continuous
Red Fox
15-Nov
Feb-29
Gray Fox
15-Nov
Feb-29
Mink
1-Dec
Feb-29
Muskrat
1-Dec
Feb-29
Nutria
Continuous
Continuous
Opossum
15-Nov
Feb-29
Otter
1-Dec
Feb-29
Rabbit
15-Oct
31-Jan
Raccoon
15-Nov
Feb-29
Skunk
Continuous
Continuous
Weasel
1-Dec
Feb-29
VA Migratory
Virginia Dove
Statewide
First Segment
2-Sep – 22-Oct
15 per day
45
3-Sep – 22-Oct
Second Segment
18-Nov – 26-Nov
Third Segment
22-Dec – 20-Jan
Wildlife Management Areas
First Segment
2-Sep – 21-Oct
15 per day
45
Second Segment
18-Nov – 26-Nov
Third Segment
22-Dec – 20-Jan
Rails and Gallinules
Clapper/King Rails
11-Sep – 5-Nov
13-Nov – 26-Nov
Sora/Virginia
11-Sep – 5-Nov
13-Nov – 26-Nov
Common and Purple Gallinule
11-Sep – 5-Nov
13-Nov – 26-Nov
Woodcock
Woodcock
10-Nov – 27-Nov
26-Dec – 21-Jan
Snipe
Snipe
25-Sep – 26-Nov
19-Dec – 31-Jan
VA Waterfowl
Species
Dates
Bag Limit
Possession Limit
Teal
17-Sep – 30-Sep
6 per day
18
21-Sep – 30-Sep
6 per day
18
Mergansers
6-Oct – 9-Oct
5 birds daily
15
15-Nov – 26-Nov
5 birds daily
15
19-Dec – 31-Jan
5 birds daily
15
Ducks
6-Oct – 9-Oct
6
15-Nov – 26-Nov
6
19-Dec – 31-Jan
6
21-Oct
6
3-Feb
6
Coots
6-Oct – 9-Oct
15 per day
45
15-Nov – 26-Nov
15 per day
45
19-Dec – 31-Jan
15 per day
45
Canada Goose (AP)
22-Nov – 26-Nov
2 geese per day
6
23-Dec – 31-Jan
2 geese per day
6
Resident Population Zone (RP)
15-Nov – 26-Nov
5 geese per day
15
Canada Goose (RP)
19-Dec – 24-Feb
5 geese per day
15
September Canada Goose
1-Sep – 25-Sep
10 per day
30
Light Goose (Regular Season)
17-Oct – 31-Jan
25 per day
No limit
Light Goose Conservation Order
1-Feb – 5-Apr
No Limit
No Limit
Atlantic Brant
23-Dec – 31-Dec
1 per day
3
11-Jan – 31-Jan
1 per day
3
Swan
15-Nov – 31-Jan
1 per permittee per season
Top of Form Bottom of Form
WMA Waterfowl Hunting
Wildlife Management Area
Start Dates
End Dates
Hunting Days
Mattaponi WMA
6-Oct
9-Oct
Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays
Game Farm Marsh WMA
October 6, 7, 9
Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays
15-Nov
26-Nov
Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays
19-Dec
31-Jan
Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays
Robert W. Duncan WMA
6-Oct
Thursdays, Sundays
Mattaponi Bluffs WMA
October 6-9
Quota hunt only (Oct 6, 7, Nov 15, Dec 19)
8-Jan
3-Feb
Wednesdays, Saturdays
Youth & Veterans Waterfowl Hunt
Youth & Veterans Waterfowl Hunting Days
21-Oct-23
Statewide
3-Feb-24
Statewide
Regulations
One bear is caught yearly. Bears need 100 pounds to survive (or minimum 75 pounds field dressed). Nursing bears are off-limits.
Elk hunting reduces bag limits and deer licenses. Elk are licensed and registered like deer. Successful elk hunters must contact GIF to collect disease samples. In areas where elk populations are rebuilding, the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries has banned elk hunting.
A hunter may take one turkey every day, two in fall, and three annually.
VA Hunting License.
(Licenses)
For Non-Resident
For Resident
(Sportsmans)
Not Applicable
100 USD
(Resident 1 Year Hunting License)
111 USD
23 USD
(Bear)
151 USD
21 USD
(Archery)
31 USD
18 USD
(Muzzleloading)
31 USD
18 USD
To be eligible for a license, you must be:
• Applicants must have lived in the city, county, or state for six months before purchasing a license.
• Legal Virginia voters: Bear, deer, and turkey hunting need a license. Archery hunting requires a license and permission.
What are the dates for the Virginia hunting season?
Archery game runs from September to December, and there are other reasons for shooting deer with firearms. Quail shooting with a shotgun is permitted from October to December, and there are specified seasons for both firearm and muzzleloader bear hunting. During the archery in October and the gun season in November, turkey hunting may be enjoyed.
Is it legal to go hunting on Sundays in the state of Virginia?
Virginia allows Sunday hunting. Hunters may now hunt all week thanks to the lifting of the Sunday hunting ban. However, certain restrictions apply. Sundays prohibit shooting deer or bears with dogs or guns within 200 yards of a place of worship or any accessory structure. These rules allow hunters to incorporate Sundays in their Virginia hunting trips and maximize the season.
Can I hunt on Sundays on private land without a formal permit?
If you get the landowner’s permission, you may hunt on Sundays in Virginia without a permit. You must have a Virginia hunting license and follow hunting laws. Respect the landowner’s property and rules. Hunters may hunt on Virginia private property on Sundays by following these rules and getting permission.
Is it acceptable to use a firearm or other lethal weapon, together with the assistance of a dog, to hunt bears or deer on Sundays?
No, it is not permissible to hunt bears or deer on Sundays in Virginia using a firearm or any other dangerous weapon with a dog. This activity is specifically prohibited by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, except for using a dog to track injured or dead animals. Sunday dog-hunting for deer or bear may result in fines up to $500, as well as possible Class 3 misdemeanor charges that could lead to up to 6 months in jail and/or fines of up to $1,000. Hunters must follow these rules and use ethical hunting techniques.
Can I hunt deer or bear with a dog in Virginia?
It’s generally forbidden to use dogs to hunt deer or bears in Virginia. There could be certain exceptions, such as utilizing dogs to find injured or deceased wildlife.
John Lewis, the passionate founder of HuntingSeasons.org, is committed to promoting responsible hunting and a profound love for the wilderness. With years of expertise, his platform serves as a reliable guide for hunting enthusiasts, advocating ethical practices and nature preservation.
