If you’re a passionate hunter and want to learn about Virginia Hunting Seasons, then you’ve come to the right place. Find out about license regulations and the exact dates of each season.
Hunting is something many people enjoy doing, but the trick is of finding a perfect place.
You need to take into account the variety and amount of species as well as the location itself. You need to know about the state you’re hunting in, in this case, the state of Virginia offers many big game species such as bear, elk, deer, turkey.
There are also small game species such as rabbit, squirrel, crow, grouse and many others.
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Virginia Hunting Seasons and All Available Games
#1. Virginia Deer & Elk Seasons
Games | Seasons | Bag Limit |
|---|---|---|
Early Archery | October 6 – November 16 | *Bag limit: Daily: 2 Season: 6 |
Youth Hunt | September 29 – 30 | |
Urban Archery | September 1 – October 5 January 6 – March 31 | |
Late Archery | *December 2 – January 5 | |
Early Muzzleloader | November 3 – 16 | |
General Season | *November 17 – January 5 | |
Late Muzzleloader | December 15 – January 5 |
*NOTE: Season date and bag limits may vary by zone. Some regions are restricted for elk hunts.
#2. Virginia Bear Seasons
Games | Seasons | Bag Limit |
|---|---|---|
Archery | October 6 – November 16 | Bag limit: One per calendar year |
Muzzleloader | November 10 – 16 | |
Youth Hunt | October 13 – 14 | |
General Season | October 1 – January 5 | |
Early Firearms | October 1 - 3 |
#3. Virginia Turkey Seasons
Games | Seasons | Bag Limit |
|---|---|---|
Youth Hunt | October 20 – 21 | One turkey, either sex |
Archery | October 6 – November 9 | One per day, either sex |
Spring General | April 13 – May 18 | One per day, bearded turkeys only |
Fall General | *October 27 – January 26 | One per day, either sex |
*NOTE: Season dates may vary by zone.
Virginia Small Game Seasons
Games | Seasons | Bag Limit |
|---|---|---|
Groundhog | Open seasons | / |
Crow | August 18 – March 15 | / |
Grouse | October 27 – February 9 | Three per day |
Quail and Pheasant | November 10 – January 31 | Quail – 6 per day Pheasant – no bag limit |
Squirrel | September 1 – February 28 June 1 – 15 | Six per day |
Rabbit | November 3 – February 28 |
License Requirements
Do you wonder about the license regulations and requirements?
The law says that one must obtain a hunting license before even thinking about hunting.
You are required to carry that license all the time during the hunt, and you’re obliged to immediately present it to an official officer when he or she requests such a thing.
You can also acquire an electric form of the license and present it using your phone to the officer.
Those who had lived in the state of Virginia for at least six months can purchase the resident hunting license. Any member of the military or students can also obtain one.
For various types of games, different licenses are required, and you must have those on you when you’re hunting for those particular species. There’s also an option of purchasing a lifetime hunting license for those only 18+ citizens whose residency is verified through Virginia DMV.
For both non-residents and residents there are also lifetime licenses which can be purchased using the application process.
Night Hunting in Virginia
Night hunts are allowed in the state of Virginia but only for several species.
Among those are raccoons, foxes, bobcat, opossums, feral hogs, nutria, coyote, and groundhog. All of these species can be hunted during the day as well.
As long as the light used for aiding you in night hunts isn’t cast from or attached to a vehicle, it is allowed. Both laser sights and night vision scopes are allowed.
Where to Hunt in Virginia?
In this state, there are around 42 Wildlife Management Areas which is roughly 203.000 acres of land where you can enjoy hunting for various animals.
Not just that you’ll be able to hunt in these, but they offer an immense variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. The WMA’s are maintained for one goal, and that’s to preserve wildlife, regulate it and nourish nature.
In some Management Areas, you will find a greater number in deer, while in others you’ll find more small game species.
Here are a few places you should check out: