General Info
County history coming soon!
County history coming soon!
Not including unincorporated communities
Cities
King George
Townships
Arnolds Corner
Berthaville
Dahlgren
Dogue
Fairview Beach
Jersey
King George
Ninde
Owens
Passapatanzy
Port Conway
Rollins Fork
Sealston
Shiloh
Weedonville
A little bit of contact information for all purpose residential needs.
Attorney (540) 775-4442
Community Development Office 540-775-7111
Commissioners (540) 775-4664
Courthouse (540) 775-3322
Emergency Services 540-775-8900
Human Resources (540) 775-8525
Information Technology (540) 775-8576
Register of Deeds (540) 775-9186
Sheriff (540) 775-2049
Treasurer (540) 775-2571
*For more information visit: http://www.king-george.va.us/
For more information visit:
Bear
Bear License
To hunt bears, residents and nonresidents must purchase a bear license in addition to all other applicable licenses, permits or stamps, unless license exempt.
Unlawful to Feed Bears
It shall be unlawful for anyone, including (but not limited to) private citizens, homeowners associations, corporations, or government entities to place, distribute, or allow the placement of food, minerals, carrion, trash, or similar substances to feed or attract bear. Nor, upon notification by Department personnel, shall anyone continue to place, distribute or allow the placement of any food, mineral, carrion, trash or similar substances for any purpose if the placement of these materials results in the presence of any bears. After such notification, such person shall be in violation of the law if the placing, distribution, or presence of such food, minerals, carrion, trash or similar substances continues.
Unlawful to Shoot Without Intent to Retrieve the Bear
No person shall kill or cripple and knowingly allow any game animal to be wasted without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the animal and retain it in their possession.
Unlawful to Dislodge and Continue to Hunt
It is unlawful to dislodge an animal from a tree for the intent of continuing a hunt, chase, or for the purpose of training dogs.
Bag Limits
One per license year, at least 100 pounds live weight or 75 pounds dressed weight (all internal organs removed). Females with cubs may not be harvested.
Bear Checking
All bears must be checked at an official bear check station. Locations for bear check stations are available on the DGIF Web site or by calling 1-804-367-1000 during normal business hours.
Bear information will need to be recorded on a Black Bear Check Card. Do not record information on Deer and Turkey Check Card. Tooth collection is mandatory, and the tooth envelope is part of the Black Bear Check Card.
Look Up the Age of Your Harvested Bear Online!
The age of your harvested bear will be available online 9 to 10 months after the hunting season ends online.
Tracking Dogs
Tracking dogs maintained and controlled on a lead may be used to find a wounded or dead bear or deer statewide during any archery, muzzleloader, or firearm bear or deer hunting season, or within 24 hours of the end of such season, provided that those who are involved in the retrieval effort have permission to hunt on or to access the land being searched and do not have any weapons in their possession.
Youth and Apprentice Bear Hunting Day
October 8-9
Archery Bear Season
October 1 through November 18: Statewide
Legal Methods and Restrictions
Special restrictions apply to archery tackle use during this season. Click here for more information.
Muzzleoader Bear Season
November 12 through 18: Statewide in all areas where hunting with a muzzleloading rifle is permitted.
Legal Methods and Restrictions
Special restrictions apply to specific firearms use during this season. See Legal Use of Firearms and Archery Equipment and Local Firearms Ordinances for details.
In the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.
In the counties of Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Arlington, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Caroline, Chesterfield, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Frederick, Giles, Goochland, Greene, Hanover, Henrico, Highland, Loudoun, Louisa, Madison, Montgomery, (northwest of I-81), Nelson, Orange, Page, Powhatan, Prince William, Pulaski (northwest of I-81), Rappahannock, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Smyth (northwest of I-81), Spotsylvania, Stafford, Tazewell, Warren, Washington (northwest of I-81 and east of Route 19), Wythe (northwest of I-81), and on the Clinch Mountain and Hidden Valley Wildlife Management Areas and Channels State Forest and within the incorporated limits of any independent city, not listed, that allows bear hunting.
In the counties of Carroll, Floyd, Franklin, Grayson, Henry, Montgomery (southeast of I-81), Patrick, Pulaski (southeast of I-81), Smyth (southeast of I-81), Washington (southeast of I-81), Wythe (southeast of I-81).
In the counties of Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Washington (northwest of I-81 and west of Route 19), and Wise.
Clinch Mountain and Hidden Valley Wildlife Management Areas and Channels State Forest (see November 28-January 7 season).
In the counties of Amelia, Appomattox, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell, Charles City, Charlotte, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Essex, Gloucester, Greensville, Halifax, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Lunenburg, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, New Kent, Northumberland, Nottoway, Pittsylvania, Prince Edward, Prince George, Richmond, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, Westmoreland, and York.
In the counties of Accomack and Northampton.
Special restrictions apply to specific firearms use during this season. See Legal Use of Firearms and Archery Equipment and Local Firearms Ordinances for details.
NO BLACK BEAR MAYBE TAKEN DURING THIS SEASON.
Certain counties, see map. *Dogs may be used during Bear Hound Training Season on Cavalier WMA only August 13-31.
Certain counties, see map.
Certain counties, see map.
November 19 through December 3
Certain counties, see map.
Closed
Certain counties, see map.
Hours
4:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M., including Sundays.
Licenses Required
Same for hunting seasons where bears can be taken. See licenses, stamps and permits section for appropriate required licenses.
Unlawful Methods
East of the Blue Ridge (except on National Forest lands in Amherst, Bedford, and Nelson counties)
The bag limit for deer shall be two a day, six a license year. Of the six-deer limit, no more than three may be antlered deer and at least three must be antlerless deer (unless noted in the exception below).
West of the Blue Ridge and on National Forest lands in Amherst, Bedford, and Nelson counties
The bag limit for deer shall be one a day and five a license year. Of the five-deer limit, no more than two may be antlered deer and at least three must be antlerless deer (unless noted in the exceptions below).
For the purposes of this section, the term “license year” defines the period between July 1 and June 30 of the following year.
Arlington County (including the cities and towns within) During a license year, it shall be unlawful to take a second antlered deer in Arlington County prior to taking at least two antlerless deer in Arlington County, and it shall be unlawful to take a third antlered deer in Arlington County prior to taking at least three antlerless deer in Arlington County. Local firearms ordinances prohibit the discharge of firearms in Arlington County.
Bedford County on private lands (including the cities and towns within) During a license year, it shall be unlawful to take a second antlered deer on private lands in Bedford County prior to taking at least one antlerless deer on private lands in Bedford County, and it shall be unlawful to take a third antlered deer on private lands in Bedford County prior to taking at least two antlerless deer on private lands in Bedford County.
Clarke County on private lands (including the cities and towns within) During a license year, it shall be unlawful to take a second antlered deer on private lands in Clarke County prior to taking at least one antlerless deer on private lands in Clarke County.
Fairfax County (including the cities and towns within) During a license year, it shall be unlawful to take a second antlered deer in Fairfax County prior to taking at least two antlerless deer in Fairfax County, and it shall be unlawful to take a third antlered deer in Fairfax County prior to taking at least three antlerless deer in Fairfax County.
Frederick County on private lands (including the cities and towns within) During a license year, it shall be unlawful to take a second antlered deer on private lands in Frederick County prior to taking at least one antlerless deer on private lands in Frederick County.
Loudoun County (including the cities and towns within) During a license year, it shall be unlawful to take a second antlered deer in Loudoun County prior to taking at least two antlerless deer in Loudoun County, and it shall be unlawful to take a third antlered deer in Loudoun County prior to taking at least three antlerless deer in Loudoun County.
Prince William County except on Department of Defense (DOD) lands (including the cities and towns within) During a license year, it shall be unlawful to take a second antlered deer in Prince William County (except on DOD lands) prior to taking at least two antlerless deer in Prince William County (except on DOD lands), and it shall be unlawful to take a third antlered deer in Prince William County (except on DOD lands) prior to taking at least three antlerless deer in Prince William County (except on DOD lands).
Rappahannock County on private lands (including the cities and towns within) During a license year, it shall be unlawful to take a second antlered deer on private lands in Rappahannock County prior to taking at least one antlerless deer on private lands in Rappahannock County, and it shall be unlawful to take a third antlered deer on private lands in Rappahannock County prior to taking at least two antlerless deer on private lands in Rappahannock County.
Roanoke County on private lands (including the cities and towns within) During a license year, it shall be unlawful to take a second antlered deer on private lands in Roanoke County prior to taking at least one antlerless deer on private lands in Roanoke County.
Warren County on private lands (including the cities and towns within) During a license year, it shall be unlawful to take a second antlered deer on private lands in Warren County prior to taking at least one antlerless deer on private lands in Warren County.
For more information go to the Earn a Buck (EAB) Questions & Answers section.
We hope you will consider joining with this innovative program to help feed the hungry. Hunters for the Hungry encourages successful hunters to donate deer that are surplus to their families needs at participating processing locations. Funds are raised to cover the costs of professional processing, then the venison is distributed to the needy across the Commonwealth. This past season 279,279 pounds of venison were distributed. This brings total distribution since 1991 to over 4.9 million pounds, nearly 20.9 million servings.
Hunters donating an entire deer are not required to pay any part of the processing fee. If you are asked to do so, please contact our office. However, if you desire to make a monetary contribution we encourage you to send it to our office at P.O. Box 304, Big Island, VA 24526. Legislation passed in 2003 in honor of program founder, David Horne, also gives hunters an opportunity to make a donation at the time they purchase their hunting license.
You can make a difference to the hungry and to the future of hunting in Virginia. For additional information and for a list of participating processors, please email: hunt4hungry@cs.com, visit the website at www.h4hungry.org, call 1-800-352-HUNT (4868), or write to P.O. Box 304, Big Island, VA 24526.
Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Highland, Rockbridge, Rockingham, and Shenandoah Counties
If a deer hunter kills two antlered bucks in a license year, at least one of the bucks must have at least four antler points, one inch or longer, on one side of the antlers in each of the counties listed above.
Fairystone and Featherfin WMAs
On the Quality Deer Management Area of the Fairystone WMA and Featherfin WMA a legal antlered deer is a deer with at least four antler points, one inch or longer, on one side.
Resident or nonresident deer hunters 15 years of age and under may take one antlerless deer per license year on days other than designated either-sex deer hunting days during the muzzleloading season(s) or the firearms season(s) in all counties that have at least one either-sex deer hunting day during the firearms deer season. This regulation applies to all private and public lands (National Forest, State Forests, WMAs, etc.) statewide (except on public and private lands in Buchanan, Dickenson, and Wise counties). This regulation is in addition to either-sex deer hunting days. For example, if a youth deer hunter, 15 years of age or younger, killed one or more antlerless deer on designated either-sex deer hunting days, he or she could still take one antlerless deer on a day not designated an either-sex day.
October 1 through November 18: Statewide
December 4 through January 7:
December 5 through January 7:
December 1 through January 7:
December 18 through January 7:
During this season only antlerless deer may be taken.
The Department has an ongoing statewide bowhunter survey to obtain information on bear, deer, turkey, small game, and furbearer populations. Participants will receive an annual survey form to complete during the early archery deer season and a copy of the results after they are compiled. To participate, please contact Mike Fies with your mailing address at mike.fies@dgif.virginia.gov.
During this season only antlerless deer may be taken.
September 3 through 30 and January 8, 2017 through March 26, 2017
Special restrictions may apply during this season. See Legal Use of Firearms and Archery Equipment and Local Firearms Ordinances for details.
In all areas where hunting with a muzzleloading rifle is permitted.
Note: Deer hunters west of the Blue Ridge Mountains may take both of their season limit of two antlered deer during the early muzzleloading season.
Muzzleloader deer hunters and persons accompanying a muzzleloader deer hunter shall wear blaze orange, except when physically located in a tree stand or other stationary hunting locations.
November 5 through 18:
Either-sex Deer Hunting East of the Blue Ridge: November 5 through 18 (full season):
Either-sex Deer Hunting West of the Blue Ridge:
December 17 through January 7:
In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Amherst (west of Route 29), Bedford, Franklin, Henry, Nelson (west of Route 151), and Patrick, and in the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp line), and Virginia Beach.
Either-sex Deer Hunting East of the Blue Ridge:
December 17 through January 7:
Season Exception:
Either-sex Deer Hunting West of the Blue Ridge:
Special restrictions apply to specific firearms use during this season. See Legal Use of Firearms and Archery Equipment and Local Firearms Ordinances for details.
In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Amherst (west of Rt. 29), Bedford*,
Botetourt, Carroll, Craig, Giles, Grayson, Montgomery, Nelson (west of Rt. 151), Pulaski, Roanoke*, Shenandoah, Warren*, and Wythe.
In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Lee, Page, Rockbridge, Russell, and
Tazewell.
In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Accomack, Albemarle, Arlington*,
Clarke*, Culpeper (see season exception for C.F. Phelps WMA below), Fairfax*, Fauquier (see
season exception for C. F. Phelps WMA below), Frederick* (see season exception for National Forest lands below), Greene, Greensville, Hanover, Henrico, Isle of Wight, James City, King George, Lancaster, Loudoun*, Madison, Northampton, Northumberland, Orange, Prince George, Prince William*, Rappahannock*, Richmond, Southampton, Stafford, Suffolk (west of the Dismal Swamp line), Surry, Sussex, Westmoreland, and York. (*denotes EAB county)
During these seasons only antlerless deer may be taken.
In the counties of Arlington*, Fairfax*, Loudoun*, and Prince William* (including the cities
and towns within). Local firearm ordinances prohibit the discharge of firearms in Arlington
County. To firearms deer hunt on private lands in Fairfax County a special landowner permit
is required (see above).
All legal deer hunting weapons including bows, crossbows, muzzleloaders, pistols, shotguns,
and rifles are legal. Local firearms ordinances still apply.
All other “normal” deer regulations apply (e.g., daily and season bag limits, tagging and
checking, DCAP, DMAP, EAB, etc.).
In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Appomattox, Brunswick, Buckingham,
Charlotte, Dinwiddie, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, and Prince Edward.
In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Amelia, Caroline, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Fluvanna, King and Queen, King William, and Powhatan.
In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Augusta, Rockingham, Scott, Smyth,
and Washington.
In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Henry and Patrick.
In the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp line), and Virginia Beach.
In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Buchanan, Dickenson, and Wise.
In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Floyd and Franklin.
In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Amherst (east of Rt. 29), Campbell,
Charles City, Essex, Gloucester, Goochland, Halifax, Louisa, Mathews, Middlesex, Nelson
(east of Rt. 151), New Kent, Pittsylvania and Spotsylvania. Note: Dogs may not be used for
deer hunting in Campbell County (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad) and in Pittsylvania
County (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad).
In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Alleghany, Bath, Bland, and Highland.
Deer of either sex may be taken full season in the incorporated limits of any city or town in Virginia that allows deer hunting except in the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp line), and Virginia Beach, but only with the specific weapons authorized by each individual city or town.
Special restrictions apply to specific firearms use during this season. See Legal Use of Firearms and Local Firearms Ordinances for details.
Elk
Successful hunters, upon checking an elk, must contact the Department at (804) 367-0044 to schedule the collection of biological samples for disease testing. This number is intended only to make arrangements to obtain tissue samples from harvested elk. No other game checking or other wildlife issues will be answered using this number. For general wildlife questions, call (804) 367-1000 during normal business hours.
Turkey
Bag Limits:
General:
One per day, three per license year, no more than two of which may be taken in the fall.
Archery and Fall Firearms Season:
One per day, either sex may be taken.
Spring Turkey Season:
One per day, bearded turkeys only.
Checking Fall and Spring Turkeys
Wild turkeys killed in the fall (except those killed in January) must be checked at a Game Check Station, by telephone, or the Internet checking system.
Wild turkeys killed in January must be checked using the telephone or Internet checking system.
Wild turkeys killed in the spring gobbler season must be checked using the telephone or Internet checking system.
Archery Turkey Season
October 1 through November 12: Statewide
Legal Methods and Restrictions for Archery Turkey Season
Special restrictions apply to specific firearms use during this season. See Legal Use of Firearms and Archery Equipment and Local Firearms Ordinances for details.
Youth and Apprentice Fall Turkey Hunting Weekend
October 15 and 16:
Fall Firearms Turkey Seasons
October 29 through November 11 and November 24:
In the counties of Albemarle, Allegheny, Augusta, Bath, Greene, Highland, Madison, Orange, Page, Rockingham, and Warren.
October 29 through November 11, November 24, December 5 through 31, and January 14 through 28:
In the counties of Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell, Caroline, Carroll, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Cumberland, Dickenson, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Floyd, Fluvanna, Franklin, Frederick, Giles, Goochland, Grayson, Greensville, Halifax, Hanover, Henrico, Henry, King and Queen, King William, Lee, Loudoun, Louisa, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Nelson, Nottoway, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince William, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Russell, Scott, Shenandoah, Smyth, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe, and on Camp Peary.
Closed:
In the county of Arlington and the cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach.
October 29 through November 11, November 24, and December 5 through 17:
In the counties of Accomack, Buchanan, Charles City, Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, King George, Lancaster, Matthews, Middlesex, New Kent, Northampton, Northumberland, Prince George, Richmond, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, Westmoreland, York (except on Camp Peary), and City of Suffolk.
Legal Methods and Restrictions for Fall Firearms Seasons and Youth and Apprentice Fall Turkey Hunting Weekend
Special restrictions apply to specific firearms use during this season. See Legal Use of Firearms and Archery Equipment and Local Firearms Ordinances for details.
Youth and Apprentice Spring Turkey Hunting Weekend
April 1 and 2, 2017:
Spring Turkey Season
New:
Bag Limit:
One per day, bearded turkeys only. Hunters may take one, two, or three bearded turkeys depending on how many turkeys were taken in the fall season.
Seasons: Statewide
April 8 through 30, 2017:
May 1 through 13, 2017:
Legal Methods and Restrictions for Spring Firearms and Youth and Apprentice Spring Turkey Hunting Weekend
Special restrictions apply to specific firearms use during these seasons. See Legal Use of Firearms and Archery Equipment and Local Firearms Ordinances for details.
Small Game Hunting Seasons
Legal Methods and Restrictions
Special restrictions apply to specific firearms use during this season. See Legal Use of Firearms and Archery Equipment and Local Firearms Ordinances for details.
Crow
Season:
August 20 through March 18 on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
September 3 through March 18 On National Forest Lands and Department lands on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays only.
Groundhog
Season:
Hunting Preserves
Pen-raised game birds may be taken on licensed hunting preserves from September 1 through April 30, including Sundays. A list of hunting preserves open to the public may be obtained at the Department’s Richmond office or on the Shooting Preserves page on this website. A resident hunting on a licensed hunting preserve is required to have a hunting license. A nonresident is required to have either a nonresident hunting license or a special nonresident hunting (shooting) preserve license which is valid only within the boundaries of licensed hunting preserves.
Also see the Virginia Wildlife magazine article “Upland Game Bird Trail” (PDF).
Grouse
Bag Limit:
Three per day.
Season:
Quail and Pheasant
Bag Limits:
Season:
Rabbit
Bag Limit:
Season:
Squirrel (Gray, Red, and Fox)
Bag Limit:
Fall Seasons:
Spring Season:
Gray and red squirrels may be harvested statewide, unless otherwise posted, and on the following wildlife management areas: Amelia, Big Survey, Big Woods, Briery Creek, Cavalier, Chickahominy, Dick Cross, Doe Creek, Fairystone (including Fairystone State Park and Philpott Reservoir), Featherfin, Gathright, Goshen, Hardware River, Havens, Highland, Hog Island (Carlisle Tract only), Horsepen, James River, Lake Robertson, Little North Mountain, Mattaponi, Merrimac Farm, Pettigrew, Phelps, Powhatan (including the Goochland Tract), Rapidan, Short Hills, Stewarts Creek, G. Richard Thompson, Turkeycock Mountain, and White Oak Mountain.
Fox squirrels may be harvested on all lands, unless otherwise posted, in all counties with an open fox squirrel season during the fall squirrel season and on the following wildlife management areas: Big Survey, Gathright, Goshen, Havens, Highland, Lake Robertson, Little North Mountain, Merrimac Farm, Phelps, Rapidan, Short Hills, Stewarts Creek, and G. Richard Thompson.
Special restrictions apply to specific firearms use during these seasons. See Legal Use of Firearms and Archery Equipment and Local Firearms Ordinances for details.
Two per hunting party taken between noon one day and noon the following day.
Season:
October 1 through 31: statewide
Season:
November 1 through February 28: statewide
Dogs May Not Be Used to Hunt Bobcats:
During the firearms season for deer in the counties of Alleghany, Amherst (west of Route 29), Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Campbell (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Clarke, Frederick, Highland, Nelson (west of Rt. 151), Page, Pittsylvania (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren and within the boundaries of the George Washington/Jefferson National Forests.
All hunters or trappers who kill a bobcat are required to report the kill within 24 hours through the Department’s electronic harvest reporting system. Bobcats can be checked with a touch-tone telephone (a rotary phone will not work) by calling the toll-free number 1-866-GOT-GAME (468-4263). Bobcats can also be checked online.
Before using the telephone or Internet checking system, you will need your hunting license number, a pen, and a piece of paper to record your confirmation number. If you are exempt from purchasing a license, you will need your driver’s license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number.
At the end of the check-in session, you will be provided with a confirmation number that is a letter followed by 11 digits. Write this number down and store it in a secure location where it can be retrieved to prove compliance with the checking requirement or to request CITES tags. If your telephone or Internet session is cut off before you get a complete confirmation number, start the session again and continue until the complete confirmation number is obtained. If you have more than one bobcat to check in, you will have the opportunity to report additional animals at the end of the session.
If you plan to take the bobcat to a taxidermist, you must securely attach written documentation to the carcass that includes the full name of the hunter or trapper, date of kill, and the harvest confirmation number.
Bobcats legally killed by landowners outside the season are not required to be checked in using the electronic harvest reporting system. If you plan to take a bobcat to a taxidermist that does not require checking, you must securely attach the same information described above (except for the confirmation number) and a description of how the bobcat was legally obtained.
Bobcat pelts that are sold, traded, or transported out of state must also have a CITES tag affixed to each animal. A valid confirmation number will be needed to obtain a CITES tag. No CITES tag is needed to have a bobcat mounted by a Virginia taxidermist or to ship a bobcat pelt out-of-state for tanning purposes (unless required by the state where the tannery is located).
To obtain a CITES tag for a bobcat, contact License Sales and Information at (866) 721-6911 during regular business hours. If you cannot reach License Sales and Information, you can contact a Conservation Police Officer through your nearest Department regional office) or your local Sheriff’s Office (after hours). Every effort will be made to provide CITES tags as quickly as possible, but we may not be able to accommodate short notice requests received on weekends or after hours. Nonresident hunters or trappers who need to leave the state before they are able to secure a CITES tag should plan to leave the bobcat pelt or carcass in the care of someone in Virginia until a tag can be attached.
Make sure that you have a valid harvest confirmation number for each CITES tag requested. Tags ordered from our Customer Service Center will be mailed directly to the hunter or trapper, along with instructions for tagging. If a bobcat pelt is required to have a CITES tag affixed, it must be tagged by April 1.
Continuous open season except on National Forest lands and Department lands. Coyote hunting on National Forest lands and Department lands is permitted from September 1 through March 10 and during the spring turkey season. Coyotes may also be hunted on Department lands during the spring squirrel season unless otherwise posted (see area listings for spring squirrel season).
Coyote bounties are not administered by DGIF. Counties have the option of establishing their own coyote bounty system. For more information, hunters and trappers should contact their County Administrator or County Board of Supervisors.
Continuous closed season for hunting or trapping fisher. Please report verifiable sightings.
October 15 through March 10: statewide
Continuous open season to hunt striped skunk except on National Forest lands and Department lands.
Striped skunk hunting on National Forest lands and Department lands is permitted from September 1 through March 10 and during the spring turkey season. Striped skunks may also be hunted on Department lands during the spring squirrel season unless otherwise posted (see area listings for spring squirrel season).
Continuous closed season for taking spotted skunks, and the pelts of spotted skunks may not be sold.
Season:
November 1 through February 28
Closed in Albemarle, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier (except Quantico), Loudoun, Louisa, and Rappahannock counties.
During the firearms season for deer on the Gathright, Goshen, Highland, and Little North Mountain Wildlife Management Areas and within the boundaries of the George Washington/ Jefferson National Forests.
NO FOXES MAY BE TAKEN EXCEPT DURING THE FIREARMS SEASON.
Licenses Required:
License requirements are the same as those for hunting foxes with firearms. However, a Fox Hunting License to hunt foxes on horseback with hounds without firearms may be purchased in lieu of a basic hunting license. This license exempts the licensee from having to complete the hunter education program.
Season:
Continuous open season statewide (including Sundays) unless noted below.
Restrictions:
Electronic calls may be used to hunt bobcats, coyotes, crows and foxes, but not other species. With the exception of crows (see page 46), written permission of the landowner is required to hunt with electronic calls on private lands. Electronic calls may also be used on public lands (except where specifically prohibited) during periods when the use of firearms is allowed. Electronic calls may not be attached to or played from a vehicle.
Season:
October 15 through March 10: statewide
NO RACCOON MAY BE TAKEN EXCEPT DURING THE FIREARMS SEASON.
Continuous open season statewide (including Sundays) Except on Department-controlled lands west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and on National Forest lands.
August 13 through September 24 (including Sundays) On Department-controlled lands west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and on National Forest lands where bear hound training is permitted).
It is unlawful to have in possession a firearm, bow, axe, or any tree climbing device when chasing raccoons outside of the firearms season. Possession shall include, but not be limited to, having these devices in or on one’s person, vehicle, or conveyance while engaged in the act of chasing.
Season Dates |
Sep 2-Oct 29 |
|
Nov 22-Nov 29 |
||
Dec 23-Jan 15 |
||
Shooting Hours |
Sep 2-Sep 8 |
Noon until sunset |
Sep 9-Oct 29 |
½ hr before sunrise to sunset |
|
Nov 22-Nov 29 |
½ hr before sunrise to sunset |
|
Dec 23-Jan 15 |
½ hr before sunrise to sunset |
|
Bag Limit |
15 daily & 45 in possession. Composed of mourning doves and white-winged doves, singly or in combination. |
|
Woodcock |
||
Season Dates |
Nov 20-Dec 8 |
|
Dec 21-Jan 15 |
||
Bag Limit |
3 daily, 9 in possession |
|
Shooting Hours |
½ hr before sunrise until sunset |
|
Snipe |
||
Season Dates |
Oct 6-Oct 9 |
|
Oct 21-Jan 31 |
||
Bag Limit |
8 daily, 24 in possession |
|
Shooting Hours |
½ hr before sunrise until sunset |
|
September Teal Season |
||
Season Dates |
Sep 16-Sep 30Hunt area: East of I-95 |
|
Sep 21-Sep 30Hunt area: West of I-95 |
||
Bag Limit |
6 daily, 18 in possession (Blue-winged & Green-winged teal only) |
|
Shooting Hours |
½ hr before sunrise to sunset |
|
Ducks, Mergansers, Coots |
||
Season Dates |
Oct 6-9 (Black duck closed) |
|
Nov 15-Nov 26 |
||
Dec 16-Jan 28 |
||
Oct 21, Feb 3-Youth days |
||
Bag Limit |
Ducks – Daily bag limit: 6 ducks of any species except for the following restrictions: can include no more than 4 mallards (only 2 can be hen mallards), 3 wood ducks, 2 scaup, 2 redheads, 2 canvasback, 2 black duck (except closed Oct 6-9), 1 pintail, 1 mottled duck, 1 fulvous whistling duck, 4 scoters, 4 long-tailed ducks and 4 eiders.Closed season on harlequin duck. |
|
Mergansers – 5 mergansers daily, of which only 2 birds may be hooded mergansers. |
||
American Coot – 15 daily |
||
The possession limit is three times the daily bag limit |
||
Shooting Hours |
½ hr before sunrise until sunset daily |
For more information visit:
Creel & Length Limit |
Geographic Exceptions |
Creel or Length Limits for Exceptions |
Bass |
Briery Creek Lake |
No bass 16 to 24 inches, only 1 per day longer than 24 inches |
5 per day in the aggregate (combined) No statewide length limits |
Buggs Island (Kerr) |
Only 2 of 5 bass less than 14 inches |
Claytor Lake |
No bass less than 12 inches |
|
Flannagan Reservoir |
No bass less than 12 inches |
|
Lake Gaston |
Only 2 of 5 bass less than 14 inches |
|
Leesville Reservoir |
Only 2 of 5 bass less than 14 inches |
|
Lake Moomaw |
No bass less than 12 inches |
|
Philpott Reservoir |
No bass less than 12 inches |
|
Quantico Marine Base waters |
No bass 12 to 15 inches |
|
Smith Mt. Lake and its tributaries below Niagara Dam |
Only 2 of 5 bass less than 14 inches |
|
South Holston Reservoir |
No smallmouth less than 15 inches, 15 spotted bass per day |
|
Clinch River–within the boundaries of Scott, Wise, Russell or Tazewell counties |
No bass less than 20 inches, only 1 bass per day longer than 20 inches |
|
Dan River and tributaries down-stream from the Union Street Dam, Danville |
Only 2 of 5 bass less than 14 inches |
|
James River–Confluence of the Jackson and Cowpasture rivers (Botetourt Cty) downstream to the 14th St. Bridge in Richmond |
No bass 14 to 22 inches, only 1 per day longer than 22 inches |
|
New River–Fields Dam (Grayson County) downstream to the VA-WV state line and its tributaries Little River downstream from Little River Dam in Montgomery County, Big Walker Creek from the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge downstream to the New River and Wolf Creek from the Narrows Dam downstream to the New River in Giles County. (This does not include Claytor Lake which is delineated as: The upper end of the island at Allisonia downstream to the dam.) |
No bass 14 to 22 inches, only 1 per day longer than 22 inches |
|
North Fork Holston River–Rt. 91 Bridge upstream of Saltville, Va. downstream to the Va-Tn state line |
No bass less than 20 inches, only 1 per day longer than 20 inches |
|
North Fork Shenandoah River– Rt. 42 bridge, Rockingham Co. downstream to the confluence with S. Fork Shenandoah at Front Royal |
No bass 11 to 14 inches |
|
Potomac River – Virginia tidal tributaries above Rt. 301 bridge |
No bass less than 15 inches from March 1 through June 15 |
|
Roanoke (Staunton) River–and its tributaries below Difficult Creek, Charlotte County |
Only 2 of 5 bass less than 14 inches | |
Shenandoah River– Confluence of South Fork and North Fork rivers, Front Royal, downstream to the Warren Dam, near Front Royal |
No bass 11 to 14 inches |
|
Base of Warren Dam, near Front Royal downstream to Rt. 17/50 bridge |
No bass 14 to 20 inches, only 1 per day longer than 20 inches |
|
Rt. 17/50 bridge downstream to VA–WV state line |
No bass 11 to 14 inches |
|
South Fork Shenandoah River– Confluence of North and South rivers below Port Republic, downstream to Shenandoah Dam, near Town of Shenandoah |
No bass 11 to 14 inches |
|
Base of Shenandoah Dam, near Town of Shenandoah, downstream to Luray Dam, near Luray |
No bass 14 to 20 inches, only 1 per day longer than 20 inches |
|
Base of Luray Dam, near Luray, downstream to the confluence with North Fork of Shenandoah, Front Royal |
No bass 11 to 14 inches |
|
Staunton River–Leesville Dam (Campbell County) downstream to the mouth of Difficult Creek, Charlotte County |
No smallmouth bass less than 20 inches, only 1 per day longer than 20 inches |
|
Striped Bass |
Buggs Island (Kerr) Reservoir including the Staunton (Roanoke) River to Leesville Dam and the Dan River to the Union Street Dam (Danville) |
October 1–May 31: 2 per day in the aggregate (combined) No striped bass or hybrid striped bass less than 24 inches |
4 per day in the aggregate No fish less than 20 inches |
June 1–September 30: 4 per day in the aggregate (combined) No length limit. |
|
Lake Gaston |
4 per day in the aggregate (combined) October 1–May 31: No striped bass or hybrid striped bass less than 20 inches June 1–September 30: No length limit |
|
Smith Mountain Lake and its tributaries, including the Roanoke River upstream to Niagara Dam |
2 per day in the aggregate (combined) November 1–May 31: No striped bass 30 to 40 inches June 1–October 31: No length limit |
|
Walleye, Saugeye |
New River upstream of Buck Dam in Carroll County |
No walleye less than 20 inches |
5 per day in the aggregate No walleye or saugeye less than 18 inches |
New River downstream from Claytor Dam |
No walleye less than 18 inches |
Claytor Lake and the New River upstream of Claytor Lake Dam to Buck Dam in Carroll County |
February 1–May 31: 2 walleye per day; no walleye 19 to 28 inches June 1–January 31: 5 walleye per day; no walleye less than 20 inches |
|
Sauger |
||
2 per day No statewide length limits |
None apply |
None apply |
White Bass |
||
5 per day No statewide length limits |
South Holston Reservoir |
No harvest or possession (catch and release only) |
Chain Pickerel |
||
5 per day No statewide length limits |
Gaston and Buggs Island (Kerr) reservoirs |
No daily limit |
Northern Pike |
||
2 per day No pike less than 20 inches |
None apply |
None apply |
Muskellunge |
||
2 per day No muskellunge less than 30 inches |
New River-Fields Dam (Grayson County) downstream to Claytor Dam, including Claytor Lake |
1 per day No muskellunge less than 42 inches |
New River-Claytor Dam downstream to VA-WV state line |
1 per day June 1–last day of February: No muskellunge between 40 to 48 inches March 1–May 31: No muskellunge less than 48 inches |
|
Bluegill |
||
50 per day in the aggregate (combined) No statewide length limits |
Gaston and Buggs Island (Kerr) reservoirs and that portion of the New River from the VA–NC state line downstream to the confluence of the New and Little rivers in Grayson County |
No daily limit |
Crappie |
||
25 per day in the aggregate (combined) No statewide length limits |
Gaston and Buggs Island (Kerr) reservoirs and that portion of the New River from the VA–NC state line downstream to the confluence of the New and Little rivers in Grayson County |
No daily limit |
Flannagan and South Holston reservoirs |
No crappie less than 10 inches; South Holston Res.–15 per day in the aggregate (combined) |
|
Rock Bass |
||
25 per day No statewide length limits |
Gaston and Buggs Island (Kerr) reservoirs and that portion of the New River from the VA–NC state line downstream to the confluence of the New and Little rivers in Grayson County |
No daily limit |
Nottoway and Meherrin rivers and their tributaries |
5 per day in the aggregate (combined) with Roanoke bass No rock bass less than 8 inches |
|
South Holston Reservoir |
20 per day |
|
Roanoke Bass |
||
No statewide daily limit No statewide length limits |
Nottoway and Meherrin rivers and their tributaries |
5 per day in the aggregate (combined) with rock bass No Roanoke bass less than 8 inches |
Perch |
||
No statewide daily limit No statewide length limit |
Lake Moomaw |
10 per day |
Trout |
||
6 per day 7 inch minimum sizeNo minimum size limit |
South Holston Reservoir |
7 fish per day—only 2 lake trout. No minimum size. |
Catfish |
||
Channel, White and Flathead 20 per day No length limits |
All rivers below the fall line |
No daily limit |
Blue |
Kerr Reservoir |
|
20 per day No statewide length limits |
James River and its tributaries below the fall line and York River and its tributaries (including the Pamunkey River and Mataponi River) below the fall lineAll rivers below the fall line other than the James River and its tributaries and the York River and its tributaries |
20 per day, except only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inchesNo daily limit, except only 1 blue catfish per day longer than 32 inchesNo daily limit |
Yellow, brown, black, flat, and snail bullhead No daily limit No length limits |
None apply |
None apply |
All Catfish |
South Holston Reservoir |
20 per day, only 1 catfish per day longer than 34 inches |