Virginia hunting and fishing laws
The Virginia rules that catch people out, in plain English: hunter education, minimum age, blaze orange, Sunday hunting, shooting hours, baiting, night hunting, tagging and private land. Each one links to the state's own text.
Season dates for 2026-27. Page updated October 12, 2026.
These pages sum up the rules to help you find them. They are not legal advice. The state's own regulations govern, so check them before you go.
Hunter education in Virginia
Hunter education is required if you are 12 to 15 years of age, or if you have not previously purchased a regular hunting license. You may also purchase an apprentice hunting license without completing hunter education.
Minimum hunting age in Virginia
No minimum age is stated. Hunters under 12 must be immediately supervised by a licensed adult. The hunter education requirement applies at ages 12 through 15.
Blaze orange in Virginia
Applies to: Deer
At least 100 square inches of solid blaze colored material must be worn at shoulder level within body reach and visible from 360 degrees, or a solid blaze hat or upper-body garment visible all around, during firearms deer seasons and the youth and apprentice deer hunting weekend. Virginia uses blaze color, which includes blaze pink.
Applies to: Deer
Hunters hunting with archery tackle during an open firearms deer season in areas where the discharge of firearms is prohibited by state law or local ordinance are exempt from the blaze color requirement.
Sunday hunting in Virginia
Sunday hunting is permitted on private land with landowner permission. On public land, public-land management agencies were given authority to permit Sunday hunting on their properties, so availability is agency by agency and not uniform; DWR directs hunters to contact each managing agency for its policy. Hunters must be at least 200 yards from a house of worship or its accessory structures.
Applies to: Big game
Hunting deer or bear with dogs using a gun or firearm is prohibited on Sundays. Leashed tracking dogs may be used to recover wounded animals, and a firearm may be carried for that purpose. Dogs may be used to pursue wildlife species other than deer and bear on Sunday.
Shooting hours in Virginia
One half-hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Spring turkey hunting runs from one half-hour before sunrise until 12 noon, except during the final 20 days, when it runs from one half-hour before sunrise until sunset.
Baiting in Virginia
Applies to: Deer
It is unlawful to place feed or salt capable of attracting deer during the designated fall and early winter closed period statewide, and year-round in Buchanan, Dickenson and Wise counties and in CWD-affected areas. Check the current regulations for the exact dates of the statewide closed period.
Night hunting in Virginia
Applies to: Furbearers
Bobcat, fox, raccoon and opossum may be hunted day or night. Lights may be used as long as the light is not attached to or cast from a vehicle. Night vision scopes and laser sights may be used.
Tagging and reporting a harvest in Virginia
Applies to: Big game
All hunters, unless license exempt, killing a bear, deer, elk, or turkey are required to validate an appropriate tag prior to moving the animal in any way. Reporting is due upon vehicle transport of the carcass or at the conclusion of legal hunting hours, whichever occurs first and without unnecessary delay, by calling (866) 468-4263, using the GoOutdoors Virginia site, or using eNotch in the app.
Hunting on private land in Virginia
It is unlawful to hunt on private property without the permission of the landowner. Trespass on posted property carries fines up to $2,500 and up to 12 months in jail; unposted property carries fines up to $500. Posting with aluminum or purple paint is statutory: a vertical line at least 2 inches in width and at least 8 inches in length, no less than 3 feet and not more than 6 feet from the ground.
Can you show your Virginia license on your phone?
Digital license yes. Tags can be eNotched in app.
Licensees must “carry such license with them (electronic copy, printed paper, or annual hard card).” Deer, turkey, bonus deer and bear tags can be validated electronically with the free GoOutdoorsVirginia app (eNotch) or by notching the paper tag, “prior to moving the animal in any way.” Harvests must be reported on vehicle transport or at the end of legal hunting hours, whichever comes first.
Phone with GoOutdoorsVirginia app (or paper tags)
Virginia hunting season dates, 2026-27
The main seasons, from the state's published dates. Zones and units can differ; each season links to the state's own page for it.
| Season | Dates | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer — early archery | Oct 3 – Nov 13, 2026 | Statewide | |
| Deer — general firearms | Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027 | East of the Blue Ridge | West of the Blue Ridge: Nov 14 opener, closing dates vary by county |
| Deer — early muzzleloader | Oct 31 – Nov 13, 2026 | East and west of the Blue Ridge | |
| Black bear — archery | Oct 3 – Nov 13, 2026 | Statewide | |
| Turkey — spring | Apr 10 – May 15, 2027 | Statewide | Two segments: Apr 10-25 and Apr 26 - May 15, 2027 |
| Turkey — fall | Oct 17 – Oct 30, 2026 | Open counties (varies) | Later segments Nov 25-26, Nov 30 - Dec 12/26, Jan 9-23 by county |
| Quail | Nov 7, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | Statewide | |
| Dove — first segment | Sep 5 – Oct 24, 2026 | Statewide | |
| Ducks — regular | Dec 19, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | East Zone | Also Oct 9-12 and Nov 18-29 |
What you can hunt in Virginia
Big game
- White-tailed deer General season
- Black bear General season Bear license; not a lottery
- Elk Draw or limited entry Elk Management Zone is lottery only; incidental take on deer days elsewhere
- Feral hog General season Nuisance species, continuous open season
Upland and small game
- Wild turkey General season
- Ruffed grouse General season West of I-95 only
- Quail and pheasant General season
- Rabbit and squirrel General season
- Raccoon and opossum General season
- Groundhog General season Private land
- Crow General season Certain days only
Waterfowl and migratory
- Ducks and geese General season
- Brant General season
- Tundra swan Draw or limited entry Up to 475 permits by special drawing
- Dove, woodcock, snipe, rail General season
- American coot General season 15 a day, 45 in possession
Furbearer and predator
- Bobcat General season
- Red and gray fox General season
- Coyote General season Continuous except on national forest and department land
What you can fish for in Virginia
Freshwater license, seasonal Trout License, separate saltwater license
Fishing licenses sold: 1-day, 5-day, Annual
Trout and char
- Rainbow, brown and brook trout Needs a stamp Trout License October to mid-June on stocked waters
Salmon and anadromous
- Hickory shad General season Certain rivers
- American shad No season Statewide possession moratorium
- River herring No season Possession illegal
Warmwater
- Largemouth and smallmouth bass General season
- Walleye General season
- Sauger General season
- Muskellunge General season One fish, 40 inch minimum
- Northern pike General season
- Chain pickerel General season
- Channel, white, flathead and blue catfish General season
- Crappie General season
- Sunfish General season
- Yellow and white perch General season
- Rock and Roanoke bass General season
- Landlocked striped bass General season
Saltwater and marine
- Striped bass General season Saltwater license or free identification programme
- Bluefish, flounder, black sea bass, tautog and scup General season
- Red drum, black drum, cobia and sheepshead General season
- Blue crab Tag or permit Recreational crab pot license
Other
- American eel General season
- Northern snakehead General season Must be killed immediately and reported
- Sturgeon No season Protected
Official Virginia links
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
Carry your Virginia license on your phone
Sportsmen Ledger holds your hunting and fishing licenses and tags, these rules and your harvest log, and it works with no signal. Free to start.
Compare with other states
- Hunter education requirements by state
- Minimum hunting age by state
- Blaze orange requirements by state
- Sunday hunting laws by state
- Legal shooting hours by state
- Baiting laws by state
- Night hunting laws by state
- Tagging and harvest reporting by state
- Hunting on private land, state by state
- Can you show your hunting or fishing license on your phone? Every state