Virginia's Hunting Opportunities

Virginia is a gorgeous state all around. On one side we have gorgeous beaches and a beautiful bay. On the other side, we have rolling mountains. At the southern end, acres and acres of swampland encompass the state border. And in between all of these, we have agricultural fields, dense forests, swift rivers, rocky terrain, marshes, and woodlands. There's really no better state out there than our very own Commonwealth!

Our great state hosts a plethora of game animals for the avid hunter. We have an open season on something all year 'round and just last year, Governor Terry McAuliffe legalized Sunday hunting within the Commonwealth. Compared to other states, Virginia is rather lenient on bag limits, so the average hunter can get his fill of hunting and bring enough food to the table within the year. If you're interested in hunting in Virginia, or you're already a resident looking to broaden your hunting horizons, here's an overview of what Virginia Hunting has to offer!

Big Game The nation's most-hunted game animal is the whitetailed deer. The hunting of this animal alone has generated billions of dollars for both the hunting industry and the conservation of natural resources across the country. Virginia has proven year after year to produce large bucks all across the state, proving a worthy hunting opportunity here. The numbers are maintained by the healthy population of hunters and seems to keep steady, even with the growing interest and increasing involvement of hunting today. Hunters are permitted to run deer dogs in the eastern half of the state as well, boding an attractive hunt to prospective houndsmen!

Virginia elk. Photo courtesy SWVA RMEF.

Virginia has just recently re-introduced the elk into the western part of the state. These elk were brought in from a healthy, thriving Kentucky herd. Elk were once native in Virginia, but haven't been seen in our mountains since the last one was killed by a hunter in the 1970s. There is currently no open season in the counties where the elk are being reintroduced, but it is estimated that within the next couple of decades, the population will be huntable, sustainable, and healthy. 

Virginia has an ever-increasing population of the second-favorite game animal, the Eastern Wild Turkey. These large, beautiful, and smart birds can be found in every corner of the state. They boast a difficult hunt for most with their keen eyesight and natural wariness. Turkey can be hunted both in the fall and spring, however the spring season is limited to bearded turkeys only.

The Black Bear population in our state is on the rise. Bears have been spotted in just about every county across the commonwealth. These magnificent animals can be hunted by either still hunting or during a bear hound season. Almost 2,500 bears were harvested in VA during the 2014-2015 hunting season. If you plan to hunt black bears in Virginia during the 2015-2016 season and beyond, however, you must purchase a separate bear tag that was put into action by VA legislature.

Furbearers and Small Game Virginia provides perfect habitat for some of the country's most sought-after furbearers. Some may be hunted by trapping and snaring, others by traditional gun-hunting. Either way, if the pelt and sweet meat are of any interest to you, the woods of Virginia is your ticket to an exciting season!

Red foxes and gray foxes prove to be a formidable and exciting target for hunters. These cunning canines are very shy and extremely smart. They are a favorite chase target for large groups of equestrians on horseback with hounds, but are also a prime game animal for extreme nighttime hunts armed with a predator call and high-powered light. While red foxes are swift on the ground, gray foxes are able to evade danger by climbing trees with great ease and agility. 



For the dinner table, Eastern Cottontails are a historical favorite, dating back many centuries as a household staple. Their pelts are soft and warm and their meat is great in stews, pot pies, or even fried. They are certainly a favorite among houndsmen, as they are a quick, agile moving target that requires great skill and marksmanship to harvest.

Our state hosts both the Eastern Gray Squirrel as well as the Fox Squirrel. These animals are very common and are seen anywhere in large areas of woods. Eastern grays are the most dominant squirrels in the state, but the fox squirrel can be found in the western parts of the Old Dominion

in the Blue Ridge area. Like the rabbit, these small rodents are also a centuries-old favorite in the kitchen, providing delicious additions to stews, pies, and the fryer. 

Copyright Dennis Davenport.

Other tree-dwelling favorites include the opossum and the raccoon. Raccoons are a favorite amongst nighttime houndsmen, and are able to be hunted every day if the week except for Sunday. As a matter of fact, they are the only animal in Virginia that cannot be hunted on Sunday. The opossum tends to be more of a target for the opportunistic hunter, meaning they aren't exactly a targeted animal, but if they are seen while hunting for another species, that is when they are most likely to be harvested. The opossum's most significant trait is their soft pelt.

The bobcat is a favorite trophy of hunters all across the state. They have a beautiful spotted pelt and are a secretive animal that is a treat to see. They are most commonly hunted at night and will sometimes come in to calls that are intended to draw foxes or coyotes. However, the bobcat can be seen during the day, most often while hunting other species such as deer. The most effective way to harvest bobcats, though, is to set foothold traps in areas where bobcats are known to roam or have been seen.

Last but not least, the Northern River Otter calls Virginia streams and rivers home. They have a gorgeous, shiny pelt that can sometimes fetch top-dollar at the fur market. The most common method of harvest is trapping. They are a

beautiful addition to the Virginia landscape.

Upland Birds & Waterfowl As mentioned before, Virginia has a beautiful coastline, an abundance of rivers, and a plethora of woodlands, fields, meadows, and mountains. All of this makes for prime hunting ground for both water-bound birds and upland forest-bound birds. Our upland game includes dove, snipe, rail, crow, grouse, pheasants (mostly on game preserves and farms) and quail. These birds can be a fun hunt for kids, new hunters, and those with working dogs.

The list of waterfowl in Virginia is quite extensive but includes species such as

mallards, Canada geese, teals, scoters, mergansers, coots, snow geese, Tundra swans, brants, pintails, ring-necks, wood ducks and gallinules. Ducks can prove to be a challenge to hunt but can provide hours of fun with mouth calls. Waterfowl seasons can overlap a lot of other seasons, so the decision must be made which species is more important for you to chase! Remember, state and federal migratory waterfowl stamps are required to hunt these species, but they are certainly worth the expense and time spent in a blind with your closest buddies or even your best retriever!


Nuisance Species Our state has an established list of nuisance species. They are defined as species that are invasive, or not native, to Virginia or promote extensive damage to our natural ecosystems in the wild. Therefore, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries allows unlimited bag limits and year-round open season on these specific animals. Included on this list is the coyote, the newest favorite of hunters across the state. It is believed that a large portion of Virginia's coyote population is indeed infiltrated with wolf DNA and are lesser known as "coywolves." These large canines are a target of nighttime hunters looking for a thrill with electronic calls, mouth calls, and high-powered lights. They can often be persuaded into song by such calls, and a large horde of coyotes exploding into yelps, barks, and howls is certainly a sound to behold.

Also included on the nuisance list is the groundhog. Traditionally, this small rodent-like mammal is a great target for kids and those who enjoy long-distance hunting over fields. The meat can be used in stews and they also provide as a successful bait for hunting coyotes. The groundhog can cause significant damage to field crops such as corn and soybeans. Their large holes for their dens can also prove detrimental to expensive farm equipment. Thus, farmers are usually very easily persuaded to allow groundhog hunting in their fields.




The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is trying to prevent the spread of feral hogs in Virginia. There is reportedly a small group of hogs near Culpeper and also a group near the North Carolina-Virginia border. These animals breed quickly, grow quickly, and destroy quickly. They are diggers, and can completely turn over a freshly-planted corn field overnight, costing farmers thousands of dollars in damages. Therefore, the Department has classified the hog as a nuisance, and they are of top priority to eradicate if seen.


There you have it! A long list of favorite target animals in our great state. There are many more animals that are legal game in Virginia, but the list is very extensive and I feel that this covers all of the "big stuff!" All in all, Virginia is a great place to hunt with a very large variety of game species and I personally feel that the game laws are fair, safe, and are in place to help not only the hunters for generations to come, but to also promote the conservation of our native species and to ensure that they are around for those next-generation hunters. So what are you waiting for? Get your gear, get those kids, and get out there and HUNT!

Love this blog? Be sure to visit the Virginia Hunting Forum, Virginia's leading hunting and fishing community on the net! Join in on great discussions there and share your favorite animals to pursue!