Hunting Regulations in Virginia

Sportsman's License: $100 resident (includes hunting, bear, deer/turkey, archery, muzzleloading, freshwater fishing, and trout). Bear license required separately ($23 resident). Deer/turkey add-on permit required. Archery permit ($23) and muzzleloader permit ($23) required for respective seasons. State duck stamp ($4) plus Federal Duck Stamp ($27) required for waterfowl. HIP required for migratory birds. Elk tags by draw only. WMA quota hunts by application.

Source: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (dwr.virginia.gov). Last updated: 2026-03-05. Regulations may have changed — always verify with the official agency.

Virginia offers hunting experiences as diverse as its geography – from the tidal marshes and barrier islands of the Chesapeake Bay to the forested ridges of Shenandoah National Park and the rugged Allegheny Highlands along the West Virginia border. White-tailed deer are abundant statewide, and the Old Dominion hosts one of the largest black bear populations in the eastern United States, centered in the Blue Ridge Mountains and extending into the Allegheny Highlands.

Virginia's turkey hunting is exceptional, with populations occupying virtually every county in the state. Spring gobbler season in the mountain counties is particularly rewarding, where longbeards work steep terrain and gobble from ridge-top roosts at first light. The state's recently established elk herd in southwestern Virginia – centered in Buchanan, Dickenson, and Russell counties – has grown significantly and now supports limited quota hunting through the DWR draw system.

The Chesapeake Bay region's waterfowl hunting heritage runs deep. The state's tidal rivers, marshes, and coastal bays are legendary for canvasback, redhead, and Canada goose hunting. Virginia's dove hunting in the Piedmont agricultural region provides some of the best September wing shooting in the mid-Atlantic states.

Best Times to Hunt in Virginia

🎯 Expert Hunting Tips for Virginia

• Deer hunters targeting mature bucks should focus on the National Forest lands in Bath and Highland counties in the Allegheny Highlands, where limited hunting pressure and excellent habitat produce some of Virginia's best whitetails.
• Turkey hunters in spring find exceptional early-season action in the New River Valley WMA system in Giles County, where ridgeline gobblers answer calls across steep drainages in the Jefferson National Forest.
• Bear hunters with dogs should focus the G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area in Fauquier County during the firearms season, where habitat diversity and relatively good bear density create productive hound hunts.
• Waterfowl hunters should book blinds on the Pamunkey River in King William County for peak canvasback and bufflehead flights during December, working the tidal tributaries that funnel birds into the Chesapeake Bay system.