Virginia Hunting Seasons 2025-2026 – Hunting Zones, Permits & Firearm Rules
Virginia’s diverse landscapes offer exceptional hunting opportunities throughout the year. Whether you’re pursuing whitetail deer in the Blue Ridge Mountains, calling spring turkeys in the Piedmont, or chasing waterfowl along the Chesapeake Bay, the Commonwealth provides memorable experiences for every type of hunter. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about Virginia’s hunting seasons, including key dates, licensing requirements, bag limits, and wildlife management zones.
Virginia Hunting Season Overview
Virginia offers varied hunting opportunities with specific seasons for big game (deer, bear, turkey), small game (squirrel, rabbit, quail), furbearers (fox, coyote, raccoon), and a range of migratory birds and waterfowl. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) carefully manages these seasons to ensure sustainable wildlife populations while providing quality experiences for hunters.
Quick Season Summary Table
| Species | Season Dates | Method | Bag Limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed Deer | Oct 4 – Jan 3 (varies by zone) | Archery/Firearms/Muzzleloader | 2-6 per day (varies by region) |
| Wild Turkey | Oct 4 – May 16 (varies) | All legal methods | 3 per license year |
| Black Bear | Oct 4 – Jan 3 (varies by county) | All legal methods | 1 per license year |
| Waterfowl | Oct 10 – Jan 31 (varies by species) | Shotgun/Archery | Varies by species |
| Small Game | Sep 6 – Feb 28 (varies) | All legal methods | Varies by species |
🦌 Big Game: Archery & Rifle Seasons
White-tailed Deer
Virginia’s whitetail population offers excellent opportunities across diverse habitat zones.
Archery Season: • Early Season: October 4 – November 14, 2025 (statewide) • Late Season: November 30 – January 3, 2026 (varies by county) • Urban Archery: September 6 – October 3, 2025 & January 4 – March 29, 2026
Muzzleloader Season: • Early Season: November 1-14, 2025 • Late Season: December 13 – January 3, 2026
Firearms Season: • General Season: November 15, 2025 – January 3, 2026 (dates vary by county) • Youth Weekend: September 27-28, 2025
Bag Limits & Tags: 🎟️
- East of Blue Ridge: 2 per day, 6 per license year
- West of Blue Ridge: 2 per day, 5 per license year
- Special “Earn a Buck” requirements in designated counties
Black Bear
Season Dates by Zone: • Western Counties (Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, etc.): September 29 – January 3, 2026 • Central Counties: October 4 – January 3, 2026 • Eastern Shore: Closed season
Youth Weekend: October 11-12, 2025
Important Notes: 🐻
- One bear per license year (minimum 100 lbs live weight)
- Cubs and sows with cubs are protected
- Mandatory harvest reporting required
Elk
Special Lottery Hunt: October 11-17, 2025
- Limited to 5 tags through lottery system
- Buchanan, Dickenson, and Wise counties only
- Application deadline was March 31, 2025
🦃 Turkey Season: Spring, Fall & Youth
Spring Turkey Season
Regular Season: • April 11-26, 2026 (½ hour before sunrise to noon) • April 27 – May 16, 2026 (½ hour before sunrise to sunset)
Youth Weekend: April 4-5, 2026
Bag Limit: Bearded birds only, varies based on fall harvest
Fall Turkey Season
Archery: October 4 – November 14, 2025 Firearms: October 18 – January 24, 2026 (varies by county) Youth Weekend: October 11-12, 2025
Bag Limit: 1 per day, either sex during fall seasons
🦫 Furbearers
Bobcat
Archery Season: October 4-31, 2025 Firearms Season: November 1 – February 28, 2026 Bag Limit: 2 per hunting party per day Special Requirement: Electronic reporting within 24 hours
Coyote
Season: Year-round on private lands Public Lands: September 1 – March 10, 2026
Fox (Red & Gray)
Red Fox: November 1 – February 28, 2026 Gray Fox: January 1 – February 28, 2026 Chase Season: Year-round (no harvest during chase)
Raccoon & Opossum
Raccoon: October 15 – March 10, 2026 Opossum: October 15 – March 10, 2026 Bag Limits: 2 per hunter (east) / 2 per party (west)
🐦 Upland Birds
Grouse
Season: October 25 – February 14, 2026 (west of I-95 only) Bag Limit: 3 per day
Quail & Pheasant
Season: November 8 – January 31, 2026 Bag Limits:
- Quail: 6 per day
- Pheasant: No limit
Note: Quail closed on public lands west of Blue Ridge
🐿️ Upland Animals
Squirrel (Gray, Red, Fox)
Fall Season: September 6 – February 28, 2026 Spring Season: June 6-20, 2026 Bag Limit: 6 per day (all species combined)
Rabbit
Season: November 1 – February 28, 2026 Bag Limit: 6 per day Special Note: RHDV2 monitoring protocols in effect
Groundhog
Season: Year-round on private lands Public Lands: September 1 – March 10, 2026
🐦 Other Small Game
| Species | Season Dates | Bag Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crow | Aug 16 – Mar 20 | No limit | Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat only |
| Dove | Sep 1 – Jan 19 | 15/day, 45 possess | Three segments |
| Woodcock | Nov 11-30, Dec 26 – Jan 19 | 3/day, 9 possess | HIP registration required |
| Snipe | Sep 29 – Jan 31 | 8/day, 24 possess | Non-toxic shot required |
🦆 Migratory Birds
Youth & Veterans Days
Special Days: October 25, 2025 & February 7, 2026
- Open to youth 15 and under, veterans, and active military
- Standard bag limits apply
September Teal
East of I-95: September 20-28, 2025 West of I-95: September 23-28, 2025 Bag Limit: 6 per day (blue-wing & green-wing only)
Rails & Gallinules
Season: September 6 – October 25 & November 11-30, 2025 Bag Limits:
- Clapper/King Rails: 15 daily (only 1 king rail)
- Sora/Virginia: 25 daily
- Gallinules: 15 daily
🦆 Ducks, Scaup, Mergansers, Geese
Ducks
Seasons: • October 10-13, 2025 • November 19-30, 2025
• December 19 – January 31, 2026
Bag Limit: 6 ducks daily with species restrictions:
- Mallards: 4 (only 2 hens)
- Wood ducks: 3
- Black ducks: 2 (closed Oct 10-13)
- Pintails: 3
- Canvasback: 2
Mergansers
Same seasons as ducks Bag Limit: 5 daily (any combination of species)
Canada Geese
Atlantic Population Zone: Dec 24-31, 2025 & Jan 10-31, 2026 (1 per day) Resident Population Zone: Nov 19-30, 2025 & Dec 19 – Feb 22, 2026 (5 per day)
September Canada Goose
Season: September 1-25, 2025 Bag Limit: 10 per day
🦢 Other Waterfowl
Light Geese (Snow & Ross’s)
Regular Season: October 18 – January 31, 2026 Conservation Order: February 1 – April 5, 2026 Bag Limit: 25 daily (no possession limit during conservation order)
Atlantic Brant
Season: December 24-31, 2025 & January 10-31, 2026 Bag Limit: 1 per day
Tundra Swan
Season: November 15 – January 31, 2026 Special Permit Required: Lottery drawing (deadline September 26, 2025) Bag Limit: 1 per permittee per season
Coots
Same seasons as ducks Bag Limit: 15 per day
🎯 More Games & Special Seasons
Quota Hunts & WMA Specials
Many Wildlife Management Areas offer special quota hunts with application deadlines typically in August. Popular opportunities include:
• Elk Restoration Zone: Special archery deer opportunities • Waterfowl Impoundments: Managed duck hunting • Turkey Management Areas: Spring gobbler hunts
Sunday Hunting
Legal statewide except within 200 yards of places of worship. Some restrictions apply during certain seasons and on specific properties.
Virginia Hunting Licenses & Requirements
Resident License Fees
- Basic Hunting License: $23.00 (1-year)
- Bear License: $21.00
- Deer/Turkey License: $23.00
- Archery License: $18.00
- Muzzleloading License: $18.00
- Sportsman’s License: $100.00 (includes hunting, bear, deer/turkey, archery, muzzleloading, freshwater fishing, and trout)
Nonresident License Fees
- Basic Hunting License: $111.00
- 3-Day Hunt License: $60.00
- Bear License: $151.00
- Deer/Turkey License: $86.00
- Archery License: $31.00
- Muzzleloading License: $31.00
Additional Requirements
- Federal Duck Stamp: Required for waterfowl hunters 16 and older
- Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp: Required for waterfowl hunters 16 and older
- HIP Registration: Required for all migratory game bird hunters
- National Forest Permit: Required for hunting on National Forest lands
- Blaze Color: Required during firearms deer seasons (exceptions apply)
🗺️ Virginia Hunting Zones
Virginia is divided into several hunting zones that affect seasons and regulations:
- East vs. West of the Blue Ridge Mountains: Different bag limits and seasons
- Canada Goose Hunting Zones: Atlantic Population Zone and Resident Population Zone
- Urban Archery Areas: Cities and towns with special extended archery seasons
- Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs): Special regulations apply
For detailed zone maps, visit the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need tags for deer and turkey?
Yes, hunters must have the appropriate deer/turkey license, which provides tags to be validated upon harvest. All harvests must be reported via the electronic harvest reporting system.
Can I hunt on public lands in Virginia?
Virginia offers numerous public hunting opportunities including Wildlife Management Areas, National Forests, State Forests, and other public lands. Some require additional permits such as the National Forest Permit ($4.00) or State Forest Use Permit ($16.00).
Is night hunting allowed in Virginia?
Night hunting is prohibited for deer, bear, and turkey. However, certain furbearers including raccoons, opossums, and foxes can be hunted after dark with restrictions on equipment and methods.
What are the blaze color requirements?
During firearms deer seasons, hunters must wear solid blaze orange or blaze pink visible from 360 degrees. Exceptions include waterfowl hunters, dove hunters, and archery hunters in areas where firearms are prohibited.
Related Pages
- Waterfowl Hunting Locations
- North Carolina Hunting Seasons
- Maryland Hunting Seasons
Virginia Hunting: Tradition Meets Conservation
Virginia’s diverse hunting opportunities provide something for everyone, from beginners to seasoned sportsmen and sportswomen. The Commonwealth’s careful management of wildlife resources ensures sustainable populations for future generations while maintaining our hunting heritage.
Before heading afield, always verify the most current regulations through the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, check zone-specific rules for your hunting area, and ensure you have all required licenses and permits. Good luck in your outdoor adventures this season!
