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Virginia Hunting Seasons 2024 Latest Dates & Regulations

Virginia outdoor 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.

Virginia Hunting Schedules

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
Virginia Hunting Seasons

Bear

SeasonDatesAreas
Archery Bear SeasonOctober 5 to November 15Statewide
Youth and Apprentice Bear Hunting WeekendOctober 12 and 13Statewide
Muzzleloader Bear SeasonNovember 9 to 15Statewide
Early Firearms Bear SeasonSeptember 30 to October 2Specific counties including Bland, Buchanan, Craig, and others
Firearms Bear SeasonOctober 1 to January 4Cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach
Firearms Bear SeasonNovember 25 to January 4Various counties including Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, and others
Firearms Bear SeasonDecember 2 to January 4Counties including Amelia, Appomattox, Brunswick, and others

Deer

Archery
Early ArcheryOctober 5 – November 15
Late ArcheryDecember 1 – January 4, December 15 – January 4
Archery Either-SexFull season during early and late archery
Urban ArcherySeptember 7 – October 4, January 5, 2025 – March 30, 2025 (antlerless only)
NOVA Late ArcheryMarch 31, 2025 – April 27, 2025 (antlerless only)
Muzzleloader
Early MuzzleloaderNovember 2 – November 15 (either-sex east of Blue Ridge)
Late MuzzleloaderDecember 14 – January 4 (either-sex east of Blue Ridge)
Firearms
General FirearmsNovember 16 – November 30 (various options)
Extended FirearmsNovember 16 – January 4 (various options)
Early and Late Antlerless OnlySeptember 7 – October 4, January 5, 2025 – March 30, 2025
Combined Cities and TownsNovember 16 – January 4 (either-sex)

Elk

Elk Management Zone  
Elk HuntOctober 12 – October 18, 2024
PermitsSix permits
Outside Elk Management Zone  
ArcheryOctober 5 – November 15
 December 1 – January 4
 December 15 – January 4
Urban ArcherySeptember 7 – October 4
 January 5, 2025 – March 30, 2025 (antlerless only)
NOVA Late ArcheryMarch 31, 2025 – April 27, 2025 (antlerless only)
MuzzleloaderNovember 2 – November 15
 December 14 – January 4
FirearmsNovember 16 – November 30
 November 16 – January 4
Early and Late Antlerless OnlySeptember 7 – October 4
 January 5, 2025 – March 30, 2025
Combined Cities and TownsNovember 16 – January 4

Turkey

Archery TurkeyOctober 5 – November 15
Youth and Apprentice Fall Turkey WeekendOctober 12 – October 13
Fall Firearms TurkeyOctober 19 – November 1
 November 28 (in select counties)
 October 19 – November 1
 November 27 – November 28
 December 2 – December 28
 January 11 – January 25 (in select counties)
 October 19 – November 1
 November 27 – November 28
 December 2 – December 14 (in select counties)
 October 19 – November 1
 November 27 – November 28
 December 2 – December 14
 January 11 – January 25 (in select counties)
Youth and Apprentice Spring Turkey WeekendApril 5 – April 6
Spring TurkeyApril 12 – April 27 (sunrise to 12 noon)
 April 28 – May 17 (sunrise to sunset)

VA Furbearer

BobcatArchery SeasonOctober 5 – October 31
 Firearms SeasonNovember 1 – February 28
CoyoteContinuous openExcept on National Forest and Department lands from September 1 – March 10 and during the spring turkey season
FisherContinuous closed 
Red FoxFirearms SeasonNovember 1 – February 28 (closed in select counties)
Gray FoxJanuary 1 – February 28 (closed in select counties)
OpossumOctober 15 – March 10
RaccoonOctober 15 – March 10
RaccoonChase-OnlyContinuous open season statewide, except on Department-controlled lands west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and on National Forest lands
  August 1 – September 28 on Department-controlled lands west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and on National Forest lands where bear hound training is permitted
Striped SkunkContinuous openExcept on National Forest and Department lands from September 1 – March 10 and during the spring turkey season
Spotted SkunkContinuous closed 

VA Furbearer Trapping

FurbearerTrapping
BeaverDecember 1 – February 28
BobcatNovember 15 – February 29
CoyoteContinuous open
FisherContinuous closed
Red FoxNovember 15 – February 28
Gray FoxNovember 15 – February 28
MinkDecember 1 – February 28
MuskratDecember 1 – February 28
NutriaContinuous open
OpossumNovember 15 – February 28
OtterDecember 1 – February 28
RabbitOctober 15 – January 31 (box traps only)
RaccoonNovember 15 – February 28
Striped SkunkContinuous open
Spotted SkunkContinuous closed
WeaselDecember 1 – February 28

Small Games in Virginia

Small GameDates
CrowAugust 17 – March 21 (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat)
 September 2 – March 10 (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat)
GroundhogContinuous open season on private lands
 September 1 – March 10
 During spring turkey season on National Forest and Department lands
 During spring squirrel season on Department lands
GrouseOctober 26 – February 8 west of I-95
 Continuous closed east of I-95
Quail & PheasantNovember 9 – January 31
RabbitNovember 2 – February 28
Squirrel (Gray, Red)September 7 – February 28
Fox SquirrelSeptember 7 – January 31
Spring SquirrelJune 7 – 21, 2025 (Closed on National Forest lands)

VA Migratory

Virginia Dove

First Segment: September 2 – October 2015 per day, 45 in possession. Mourning doves and white-winged doves, singly or in combination
Second Segment: November 23 – December 1 
Third Segment: December 20 – January 20 

Rails and Gallinules

September 13 – November 3Clapper/King Rails: 15 counted together daily (only 1 king rail), possession limit 45 (only 3 king rails)
November 14 – December 1Sora/Virginia Rails: 25 counted together daily, 75 in possession
 Gallinules: 15 per day counted together, 45 in possession

Woodcock

November 11 – November 303 per day, 9 in possession
December 27 – January 20 

Snipe

September 30 – December 18 per day, 24 in possession
December 19 – January 31 

VA Waterfowl

SpeciesSeason DatesBag Limit
September TealEast of I-95: September 16 – 306 per day, 18 in possession (blue-winged and green-winged teal only)
 West of I-95: September 21 – 30 
MergansersOctober 11 – 145 birds daily, 15 in possession
 November 20 – December 1 
 December 19 – January 31 
DucksOctober 11 – 146 ducks of any species with restrictions
 November 20 – December 1Possession limit: 3 times the daily bag limit
 December 19 – January 31 
CootsOctober 11 – 1415 per day, 45 in possession
 November 20 – December 1 
 December 19 – January 31 
Canada GooseAtlantic Population Zone:2 per day (6 in possession)
 December 19 – January 1 
 January 16 – 31 
 Resident Population Zone:5 per day (15 in possession)
 November 20 – December 1 
 December 19 – February 23 
September Canada GooseSeptember 1 – 2510 per day, 30 in possession
   
Light GooseOctober 17 – January 3125 per day, no possession limit
Atlantic BrantDecember 23 – 311 per day, 3 in possession
 January 11 – 31 
Tundra SwanNovember 15 – January 311 per permittee per season

WMA Waterfowl Hunting
WMASeason Dates
James RiverOpening day, Wednesdays, and Saturdays of the duck and goose seasons
MattaponiOctober 11–14
Game Farm MarshOctober 11, 12, 14; November 20–December 1; December 19–January 31
Ware CreekTuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays of the duck and goose seasons
Doe CreekSaturdays during the last two segments of the general waterfowl season
Robert W. DuncanOctober 11–14, Thursdays, and Sundays of the duck and goose seasons
Mattaponi BluffsOctober 11–14; January 6–February 8, 2025, Wednesdays and Saturdays after quota hunt period
Youth & Veterans DaysOctober 26, 2024; February 8, 2025

Youth & Veterans Waterfowl Hunt
Youth & Veterans Waterfowl Hunting Days26-Oct-24Statewide
 28-Feb-25Statewide

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-ResidentFor Resident
(Sportsmans)Not Applicable100 USD
(Resident 1 Year Hunting License)111 USD23 USD
(Bear)151 USD21 USD
(Archery)31 USD18 USD
(Muzzleloading)31 USD18 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.

VA Hunting Important & Quick Links

FAQ

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.

Dates & Regulations Source: dwr.virginia.gov

John Lewis
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