Virginia Hunting Seasons

Hunting Seasons

See our comprehensive list of hunting seasons for animals of all types and all areas of Virginia. We’ve made it easier than ever to find the dates you can hunt, length of the season, what type of hunting is allowed and other important details. Plus, check out hunting resources and direct links to Virginia state resources.

Virginia Deer Hunting Seasons 2025-2026

Archery Season (Statewide)

October 4 – November 21, 2025
December 6, 2025 – January 31, 2026

Muzzleloader Season

November 1–7, 2025 (some counties allow general muzzleloader before firearms)
December 6–20, 2025

Youth Deer Day

October 4–5, 2025

Firearms Season (General)

November 22 – December 5, 2025 (most counties)

Firearms Season (Extended – Some Counties)

November 15 – December 31, 2025 (antlerless only extended in some areas)

Virginia Turkey Hunting Seasons 2025-2026

Fall Turkey (Archery)

October 4 – November 21, 2025 (statewide archery)

Fall Turkey (Firearms – Select WMAs)

November 1–7, 2025 (limited areas)

Spring Youth Turkey

April 4–5, 2026

Spring General Turkey

April 11 – May 17, 2026

Virginia Bear Season 2025

Black Bear (Archery)

October 4 – November 21, 2025 (mountain and valley zones)

Black Bear (Firearms)

November 22 – December 5, 2025 (most bear seasons coincide with deer)

Virginia season dates vary by county. Visit the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources for complete county-specific regulations.

Unlock the Great Outdoors

Why limit yourself to public land when there is private land to explore.

Interactive Virginia Hunting Season Discovery

Use the forms below to filter by game, type of hunting, time of year, bag / tag limits and much more. We’ve gone through the state of Virginia Hunting Seasons’s hunting season data and simplified it so you can easily find what you’re looking for. Please note, that information realated Virginia state hunting is subject to change so be sure to check the state resources linked below the table before heading out to hunt.

Season :

Season Begins :

Season Ends :

Hunting Type :

Zone :

Season	Season Begins	Season Ends	Game	Hunting Type	Type Details	Zone	Bag / Tag	Other Info	Season Length
	September 26, 2025	September 28, 2025	Bear	Firearm	None	See regulations for specific counties.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	3
	October 1, 2025	January 7, 2026	Bear	Firearm	None	See regulations for specific counties.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	99
	October 1, 2025	November 18, 2025	Bear	Archery	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	49
	October 8, 2025	October 9, 2025	Bear	General	Youth	Statewide.	N/A	(Sunday hunting on private lands only) Resident and non resident youth hunters 15 years of age and under or holders of a valid apprentice hunting license.	2
	November 12, 2025	November 18, 2025	Bear	Muzzleloader	None	Statewide	N/A	all areas where hunting with a muzzleloading rifle is permitted.	7
	November 28, 2025	January 7, 2026	Bear	Firearm	None	See regulations for specific counties.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	41
	December 5, 2025	December 24, 2025	Bear	Firearm	None	See regulations for specific counties.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	20
	December 5, 2025	January 7, 2026	Bear	Firearm	None	See regulations for specific counties.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	34
	October 1, 2025	October 31, 2025	Bobcat	Archery	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Bag limit 2.	Check state DNR for more details.	31
	November 1, 2025	February 28, 2026	Bobcat	Firearm	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Bag limit 2.	Check state DNR for more details.	120
	January 1, 2025	December 31, 2025	Coyote	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	No closed season	365
	September 3, 2025	September 30, 2025	Deer	Archery	None	See regulations for open areas.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	28
	October 1, 2025	November 30, 2025	Deer	Firearm	None	See regulations for select counties.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	61
	October 1, 2025	November 18, 2025	Deer	Archery	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	49
	November 5, 2025	November 18, 2025	Deer	Muzzleloader	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	14
	November 19, 2025	December 3, 2025	Deer	Firearm	None	See regulations for select counties.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	15
	November 19, 2025	January 7, 2026	Deer	Firearm	None	See regulations for select counties.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	50
	November 19, 2025	December 3, 2025	Deer	Firearm	None	See regulations for select counties.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	15
	December 1, 2025	January 7, 2026	Deer	Archery	None	Late seasons start and end dates vary by location.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	38
	December 17, 2025	January 7, 2026	Deer	Muzzleloader	None	See regulations for certain counties. East of the blue ridge.	N/A	Either sex.	22
	December 17, 2025	January 7, 2026	Deer	Muzzleloader	None	See regulations for certain counties. West of the blue ridge.	N/A	Either sex.	22
	January 8, 2026	March 26, 2026	Deer	Archery	None	See regulations for open areas.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	78
	September 3, 2025	October 23, 2025	Dove	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Bag limit 15 per day.	Check state DNR for more details.	51
	November 19, 2025	November 27, 2025	Dove	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Bag limit 15 per day.	Check state DNR for more details.	9
	December 23, 2025	January 21, 2026	Dove	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Bag limit 15 per day.	Check state DNR for more details.	30
	September 17, 2025	September 30, 2025	Duck	General	None	East of I-95	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	14
	September 21, 2025	September 30, 2025	Duck	General	None	Wests of I-95	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	10
	October 7, 2025	October 10, 2025	Duck	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Bag limit 6 per day.	Black Duck closed	4
	October 22, 2025	October 22, 2025	Duck	General	Youth/Veteran	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	1
	November 16, 2025	November 27, 2025	Duck	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Bag limit 6 per day.	Check state DNR for more details.	12
	December 17, 2025	January 29, 2026	Duck	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Bag limit 6 per day.	Check state DNR for more details.	44
	February 4, 2026	February 4, 2026	Duck	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	1
	October 1, 2025	November 18, 2025	Elk	Archery	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	49
	October 1, 2025	November 30, 2025	Elk	Firearm	None	See regulations for select counties.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	61
	November 5, 2025	November 18, 2025	Elk	Muzzleloader	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	14
	November 19, 2025	December 3, 2025	Elk	Firearm	None	See regulations for select counties.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	15
	November 19, 2025	December 3, 2025	Elk	Firearm	None	See regulations for select counties.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	15
	November 19, 2025	January 7, 2026	Elk	Firearm 2	None	See regulations for select counties.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	50
	December 4, 2025	January 7, 2026	Elk	Archery	None	Late seasons start dates vary by location.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	35
	December 17, 2025	January 7, 2026	Elk	Muzzleloader	None	West of the blue ridge.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	22
	December 17, 2025	January 7, 2026	Elk	Muzzleloader	None	East of the blue ridge.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	22
	November 1, 2025	February 28, 2026	Fox	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	120
	September 1, 2025	September 25, 2025	Goose	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Bag limit 10 per day.	Check state DNR for more details.	25
	October 17, 2025	January 31, 2026	Goose	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Bag limit 25 per day.	Light	107
	November 16, 2025	November 27, 2025	Goose	General	None	Southern James Bay Zone.	Bag limit 3 per day.	Canada & White	12
	November 17, 2025	November 28, 2025	Goose	General	None	Resident Zone.	Bag limit 5 per day.	Canada & White	12
	November 22, 2025	November 27, 2025	Goose	General	None	Atlantic Zone.	Bag limit 2 per day.	Atlantic Brant	6
	December 15, 2025	February 15, 2026	Goose	General	None	Southern James Bay Zone.	Bag limit 5 per day.	Canada & White	63
	December 16, 2025	December 27, 2025	Goose	General	None	Atlantic Zone.	Bag limit 1 per day.	Canada & White	12
	December 17, 2025	January 29, 2026	Goose	General	None	Atlantic Zone.	Bag limit 2 per day.	Atlantic Brant	44
	December 17, 2025	February 22, 2026	Goose	General	None	Resident Zone.	Bag limit 5 per day.	Canada & White	68
	December 19, 2025	January 14, 2026	Goose	General	None	Southern James Bay Zone.	Bag limit 3 per day.	Canada & White	27
	January 14, 2026	January 29, 2026	Goose	General	None	Atlantic Zone.	Bag limit 1 per day.	Canada & White	16
	February 1, 2026	April 5, 2026	Goose	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	No daily or possession limit.	Check state DNR for more details.	64
	October 29, 2025	February 11, 2026	Grouse	General	None	West of I-95.	Bag limit 3 per day.	Check state DNR for more details.	106
	November 12, 2025	January 31, 2026	Pheasant	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	No limit.	Check state DNR for more details.	81
	November 12, 2025	January 31, 2026	Quail	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Bag limit 6 per day.	Check state DNR for more details.	81
	November 5, 2025	February 28, 2026	Rabbit	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	Bag limit 6 per day.	Check state DNR for more details.	116
	October 1, 2025	November 18, 2025	Turkey	Archery	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	One per day, either sex may be taken.	Check state DNR for more details.	49
	October 8, 2025	October 9, 2025	Turkey	General	Youth	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	2
	October 22, 2025	November 4, 2025	Turkey	Firearm	None	See regulations for additional dates in certain counties.	One per day, either sex may be taken.	Check state DNR for more details.	14
	November 23, 2025	November 24, 2025	Turkey	Firearm	None	See regulations for additional dates in certain counties.	One per day, either sex may be taken.	Check state DNR for more details.	2
	December 5, 2025	December 31, 2025	Turkey	General	None	See regulations for additional dates in certain counties.	One per day, either sex may be taken.	Check state DNR for more details.	27
	December 5, 2025	December 17, 2025	Turkey	Firearm	None	See regulations for additional dates in certain counties.	One per day, either sex may be taken.	Check state DNR for more details.	13
	January 14, 2026	January 28, 2026	Turkey	Firearm	None	See regulations for additional dates in certain counties.	One per day, either sex may be taken.	Check state DNR for more details.	15
	April 1, 2026	April 2, 2026	Turkey	General	Youth	Not specified. Check state resources.	N/A	Check state DNR for more details.	2
	April 8, 2026	April 23, 2026	Turkey	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	One per day, bearded turkeys only	Open until 12 noon each day.	16
	April 24, 2026	May 14, 2026	Turkey	General	None	Not specified. Check state resources.	One per day, bearded turkeys only	Open until 12 noon each day.	21
Season	Season Begins	Season Ends		Hunting Type		Zone