Blog / Hunting Season in Virginia

By Connor Thomas
Tuesday, February 21, 2023

 
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Virginia is an exceptional destination for hunting enthusiasts because of the abundant wildlife and access to easy-to-reach parks and natural virgin forests that offer a thrilling and unique hunting experience. The state provides flexible seasons and open-market tags, making it one of the top hunting locations. Virginia's charming landscapes make the hunting experience unique and characteristic of the state.

Hunting in Virginia can range from catching crows, rabbits, quails, groundhogs, squirrels, and especially the great deer. Large-sized mammals such as Elk, bears, and Turkey are also available for hunting. The best time for hunting each animal depends on the specific season, and the size of the animal that the hunter wants to hunt.

The bear season in Virginia is abundant during the months from November until the first week of January, using muzzle loaders and firearms. The bear season's dates depend on the hunting location, and only those that are legal for trapping are allowed to be hunted during this time. The bear season begins in October, which is primarily intended for youth hunting and archery hunting weapons.

The Virginia deer hunting season lasts from the second week of September until the end of April. The archery period for deer hunting is quite extensive and includes different levels. The deer hunting season starts with a youth hunt for two days, followed by Early Archery in October until November. Late Archery and Urban Archery are allowed throughout the season. The Muzzleloader period starts in early November and lasts until the first week of January, while the general season for deer hunting is from November until the first week of January. The Elk Season has the same dates as the Deer hunting season.

The turkey hunting season in Virginia differs from that of deer and bear hunting. The general season for Fall is from the middle of October until the last days of January, while the spring general season only lasts a month from the first week of April until the second week of May. Turkey hunting season lasts from the first days of Fall until the first days of Spring, and it can only be done through archery, making it an exciting activity for the youth and hunting enthusiasts.

Small game hunting in Virginia is open all year round for groundhogs. Crows are hunted from the third week of August until the middle of March, while quails and pheasants are abundant from the middle of November until the end of January. Hunting for rabbit and squirrels can be done during the fall until the middle of winter, while the season for Grouse runs from the last days of October until the middle of February.

Hunting is a popular family hobby in Virginia, and all Sundays are designated for hunting during every season. Virginia has an abundance of wildlife year-round, making any month or season a perfect time to go hunting.