Hunting Seasons in Virginia 2025: Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide

Plan your 2025–26 VA hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from whitetail deer to wild turkey to black bear. Virginia’s diverse landscapes—from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay marshes—offer unmatched hunting opportunities throughout the year. As spring light filters through hardwoods, you’ll hear gobbling turkeys stirring before dawn; when autumn leaves carpet the forest floor, whitetail deer move into feeding areas; and in winter’s quiet, waterfowl fill tidal flats and flooded timber. Whether you draw your bow in a mountain hollow or set decoys in coastal marshes, this guide will walk you through Virginia’s 2025–26 seasons, bag limits, licenses, weapon rules, and key game species to help you plan a safe, compliant, and successful hunt. What Is There to Hunt in Virginia? Virginia’s game species include: Big Game: Whitetail deer, black bear, wild turkey, managed elk (limited zones), wild boar in select areas Small Game & Upland Birds: Rabbits, squirrels, grouse, bobwhite quail, woodcock Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks (mallard, teal, wood duck), geese, coots, rails, mourning dove Furbearers & Predators: Coyote, raccoon, fox, beaver, muskrat, mink, bobcat Several furbearers such as coyote, raccoon, and beaver carry no closed season on private lands, providing off‑season sport and helping landowners manage nuisance wildlife. Virginia Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 Whitetail Deer Archery Only: Sept 15 – Nov 15 General Firearms: Nov 20 – Nov 30 (Zone 1); Nov 25 – Dec 5 (Zone 2); Dec 1 – Dec 10 (Zone 3) Primitive Firearms: Dec 5 – Dec 15 (zones vary) Youth Hunt: Oct 11 – 12 Muzzleloader: Jan 5 – Jan 15, 2026 (Zone 1 & 2) Black Bear Archery/General: Sept 1 – Oct 31 (Zone 2 & 3) Modern Firearms: Nov 1 – Dec 15 (Zone 2 & 3) Spring Bear (Black Powder): May 15 – June 15 Wild Turkey (Spring) Season: Apr 15 – May 31 Youth Only: Apr 8 – 14 Fall Gobbler (Zone 1): Sept 1 – Oct 15 (limited draw) Elk (Northwest Zone) General Tag: Nov 1 – Nov 30 (application required) Archery: Sept 1 – Sept 30 (special draw) Wild Boar Management Private Lands: Year‑round (no bag limits where permitted) Public Lands: Specific WMAs and management zones—check local regulations Virginia Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Upland Game & Small Mammals Bobwhite Quail: Oct 1 – Mar 31 Rabbits & Squirrels: Sept 1 – Feb 28 (rabbits); Sept 1 – Mar 31 (squirrels) Grouse & Woodcock: Sept 1 – Jan 31 Mourning Dove & Rails/Snipe Dove: Sept 1 – Nov 9; Dec 1 – Jan 31 (Zone 1) Rails & Snipe: Sept 1 – Jan 31; splits by species Ducks & Geese Season: Nov 15 – Jan 31 (Three‑day Youth Hunt: Oct 25 – 27) Shooting Hours: ½ hour before sunrise to sunset Bag Limits by Species Whitetail Deer: 1 buck p er day (antlered); antlerless tags limited by quota Black Bear: 1 per season; youth tag additional Wild Turkey: 1 gobbler per spring; fall youth draw rules apply Elk: 1 per tag in northwest zone Ducks & Geese: 6 ducks and 5 geese per day; species sub‑limits apply Bobwhite Quail, Rabbits & Squirrels: 15, 10, and 8 per day respectively Coyote & Wild Boar: No bag limits on permitted lands License & Tags Information All hunters must carry a valid Virginia hunting license plus any required harvest tags: Deer & Bear Tags: Over‑the‑counter; antlerless quota tags by permit Turkey Permits: Spring tags available in advance; fall youth draw Elk Tags: Limited‐entry applications require HIP Registration & Federal Duck Stamp: Mandatory for waterfowl hunters Hunter Education Certification: Required for first‑time hunters Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader Virginia allows: Archery: Compound, recurve, crossbow in designated zones Firearms: Center‑fire rifle, shotgun (slugs & buckshot) Muzzleloaders: Primitive firearms during special seasons Dogs & Bait: Permitted for turkey, bear, and raccoon under specified conditions Regulations & Resources Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources regulations cover: Shooting Hours: ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset Zone Maps & Boundaries: Defined annually for deer, turkey, and waterfowl zones Mandatory Harvest Reporting: Required for deer, turkey, bear, and elk Special Management Areas: WMAs, game lands, and CWD zones Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VDWR): https://dwr.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/