About Hunting in Virginia
Historically throughout eastern North America , including Virginia Elk and big game were found, However by the late 1800s unsustainable hunting and habitat resulted in much fewer elk.
That is why protecting the wildlife that surrounds this area is so important and people have nightly and daily routines to monitor suspicious activity so this doesn’t repeat itself in history. Making sure that all precautions and measures are taken are highly important so that the herds have a high population and stay well managed throughout. Restore the wild with Virginia and help ongoing habitat restoration projects across the commonwealth!
Virginia Hunting Seasons
Big Game: Bear, Deer, Elk, Bobcat
Small Game: Groundhog, Rabbit, Squirrel
Birds: Turkey, Crow, Waterfowl
Virginia Deer Season 2021-22
| Season | Opening Date | Closing Date | Zone |
| Firearms General Season | 11/13/21 | 11/27/21 | Click here for details. |
| Firearms Full Season | 11/13/21 | 1/1/22 | Click here for details. |
| Early Archery* | 10/2/21 | 11/12/21 | -Statewide |
| Late Archery* | 11/28/21 | 1/1/22 | -In all areas west of the Blue Ridge unless noted below. –Season Exception: Clarke and Floyd counties and on private lands in Frederick County. |
| 11/29/21 | 1/1/22 | -On all National Forest and Department-owned lands west of the Blue Ridge. -On the C. F. Phelps WMA. -On National Forest lands in Amherst, Bedford and Nelson counties. | |
| 12/1/21 | 1/1/22 | -In the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp line), and Virginia Beach. | |
| 12/12/21 | 1/1/22 | -In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Amherst (west of Route 29), Bedford, Floyd, Franklin, Henry, Nelson (west of Route 151), and Patrick. | |
| Early Muzzleloader* | 10/30/21 | 11/12/21 | -There is no early muzzleloader season in the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp line), or Virginia Beach since it occurs during the general firearms season. |
| Late Muzzleloader Season West of the Blue Ridge* | 12/11/21 | 1/1/22 | -In all areas west of the Blue Ridge unless noted in the season exception below. Season Exception: There is no late muzzleloader season in Clarke County and on private lands in Frederick County since it occurs during the general firearms season. |
Please click here for the official Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons.
Virginia Bear Hunting Season 2021
| Season | Opening Date | Closing Date | Zone |
| Archery | 10/2/21 | 11/12/21 | Statewide |
| Muzzleloader | 11/6/21 | 11/12/21 | Statewide in all areas where hunting with a muzzleloading rifle is permitted. |
| Early Firearms | 9/27/21 | 9/29/21 | *See below for details. |
| General Season | 10/1/21 | 1/1/22 | Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach |
| 11/22/21 | 1/1/22 | *See below for details. | |
| 11/29/21 | 1/1/22 | *See below for details. | |
| 11/29/21 | 12/18/21 | *See below for details. | |
| Bear Hound Chase/ Training | 11/13/21 | 11/27/21 | |
| 8/1/21 | 9/25/21 |
Early Firearms Bear Season September 27 – 29:
In the counties (including the towns and cities within) of Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Buchanan, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Dickenson, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, Giles, Greene, Highland, Lee, Loudoun, Madison, Montgomery (northwest of I-81), Nelson, Page, Prince William, Pulaski (northwest of I-81), Rappahannock, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth (northwest of I-81), Stafford, Tazewell, Warren, Washington (northwest of I-81), Wise, Wythe (northwest of I-81).
General Bear Season November 22 – January 1
In the counties of Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Arlington, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Buchanan, Caroline, Chesterfield, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Dickenson, Fairfax, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Frederick, Giles, Goochland, Greene, Hanover, Henrico, Highland, Lee, Loudoun, Louisa, Madison, Montgomery, (northwest of I-81), Nelson, Orange, Page, Powhatan, Prince William, Pulaski (northwest of I-81), Rappahannock, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Russell, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth (northwest of I-81), Spotsylvania, Stafford, Tazewell, Warren, Washington (northwest of I-81), Wise, Wythe (northwest of I-81), and on the Clinch Mountain and Hidden Valley Wildlife Management Areas and Channels State Forest.
General Bear Season November 29 – January 1
In the counties of Carroll, Floyd, Franklin, Grayson, Henry, Montgomery (southeast of I-81), Patrick, Pulaski (southeast of I-81), Smyth (southeast of I-81), Washington (southeast of I-81), Wythe (southeast of I-81).
General Bear Season November 29 – December 18
In the counties of Amelia, Appomattox, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell, Charles City, Charlotte, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Essex, Gloucester, Greensville, Halifax, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, New Kent, Northumberland, Nottoway, Pittsylvania, Prince Edward, Prince George, Richmond, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, Westmoreland, and York.
Virginia Hunting License
In order to qualify for a licence you can be :
- Resident of the city, county or state for 6 months, immediately preceding the date of
purchasing a license. - Legal Voters in Virginia
In addition to hunting bear, deer or turkey a license is required in addition to a hunting license. If you were to get an archery in addition to hunting, you will need a permit plus license.
| License | Resident | Nonresident |
| Sportsmans | $100 | N/A |
| Resident 1 Year Hunting License | $23 | $111 |
| Bear | $21 | $151 |
| Archery | $18 | $31 |
| Muzzleloading | $18 | $31 |
Find a Hunting Guide
Virginia Hunting News
There are so many multiple types of species offered throughout this great state, starting with the bobcat, black bear, coyote to even the smallest cotton mouse, there are so many varieties and we want to stay motivated to protect them all, so there are abundant natural resources to go around for everybody. To stay highly motivated people can help with an array of issues, including a natural disaster or conducting themselves as a leader for those to follow so that everyone takes the proper measures to stay safe.
Link to Official Site
Virginia State Regulation Site
Virginia Hunting Regulations PDF
Virginia Hunting Licenses and Permits