Bear

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.

Archery Bear Season

October 11-November 8: Statewide

Legal Methods and Restrictions

Special restrictions apply to archery tackle use during this season. Click here for more information.

  • Archery tackle (includes crossbows) only.
  • Broadhead widths must be at least 7/8-inch wide or expand upon impact to 7/8-inch.
  • Bows must be capable of propelling a broadhead arrow at least 125 yards.
  • Unlawful to use arrows to which any drug, chemical, or toxic substance has been added or explosive head arrows.
  • Unlawful to have a firearm in possession.
  • Unlawful to use dogs.

Muzzleoader Bear Season

November 11-14: Certain counties, see map below.

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.

  • Only muzzleloading firearms, .45 caliber or larger, loaded from the muzzle of the gun.
  • Muzzleloading firearms must be single shot, flintlock or percussion ignition, excluding muzzleloading pistols.
  • Must be capable of firing only a single bullet or saboted bullet (.38 caliber or larger).
  • Unlawful to have in immediate possession any firearm other than a muzzleloading gun while hunting with a muzzleloader.
  • Unlawful to use muzzleloading pistols.
  • Must use at least 50 grains of black powder or black powder equivalent.
  • Smokeless powder is allowed in muzzleloading weapons designed for it. Never use smokeless powder of any type in any quantity in a muzzleloading firearm that is not specifically designed for it.
  • Scopes are permitted.
  • For the purposes of transportation in a vehicle, muzzleloading firearms are considered "unloaded" when all powder has been removed from the flashpan, or the percussion cap has been removed from the nipple. For complete safety, a muzzleloader should be emptied by shooting into soft ground.
  • Unlawful to hunt bear with dogs.

Firearms Bear Season

December 1-13

In the counties of Buchanan, Campbell (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Carroll, Dickenson, Floyd, Franklin, Grayson, Henry, Lee, Montgomery (south of I-81), Patrick, Pittsylvania (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Pulaski (south of I-81), Roanoke (south of I-81), Russell, Scott, Smyth (south of I-81), Tazewell (north of Rt. 19 and west of Rt. 16), Washington (south of I-81 or west of Rt. 19), Wise and Wythe (south of I-81), and on the Clinch Mountain and Hidden Valley Wildlife Management Areas and The Channels State Forest.

November 24-January 3

In the counties of Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Culpeper, Craig, Giles, Greene, Highland, Madison, Montgomery (north of I-81), Nelson, Page, Pulaski (north of I-81), Rappahannock, Roanoke (north of I-81), Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Smyth (north of I-81), Tazewell (south of Rt. 19 or east of Rt. 16), Warren, Washington (that part north of I-81 which is east of Rt. 19), Wythe (north of I-81) .

Exception

Clinch Mountain and Hidden Valley Wildlife Management Areas (see December 1-13 season).

October 1-January 3

In the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk and Virginia Beach.

Closed

In the counties of Accomack, Amelia, Appomattox, Arlington, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell (east of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Caroline, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Clarke, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Frederick, Gloucester, Goochland, Greensville, Halifax, Hanover, Henrico, Isle of Wight, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Loudoun, Louisa, Lunenburg, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, New Kent, Northampton, Northumberland, Nottoway, Orange, Pittsylvania (east of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince George, Prince William, Richmond, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Surry, Sussex, Westmoreland, York and the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk and Portsmouth.

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.

  • Modern firearms
  • Archery tackle (including crossbows)
  • Muzzleloading firearms

Dogs May Not Be Used to Hunt Bear:

  • During the firearms deer season in the counties west of the Blue Ridge and in the counties of Amherst (west of Rt. 29), Bedford, and Nelson (west of Rt. 151).
  • During the first 12 hunting days of the firearms deer season in Madison and Greene counties.
  • In the counties of Campbell (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Carroll (east of the New River), Floyd, Franklin, Grayson (east of the New River), Henry, Montgomery (south of I-81), Patrick, Pittsylvania (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Pulaski (south of I-81) Roanoke (south of I-81) and Wythe (southeast of the New River or that part bounded by Route 21 on the west, Interstate 81 on the north, the county line on the east, the New River on the southeast and Cripple Creek on the south).
  • When hunting during the archery or muzzleloading bear seasons.

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. There are check stations in all counties except for Accomack, Arlington, Brunswick, Caroline, Charles City, Dinwiddie, Essex, Fairfax, Goochland, Greensville, Hampton, Hanover, Henrico, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Newport News, Norfolk, Northampton, Northumberland, Nottoway, Portsmouth, Prince George, Richmond City, Westmoreland and York.

Bear information will need to be recorded on Black Bear Check Cards. There is no longer a combined check card for Bear, Deer, and Turkey. Do not record information on Deer and Turkey Check Card. Tooth collection is mandatory and the tooth envelope is part of the new Black Bear Check Card.

The Department no longer requires affixing a nose seal to the bear carcass at check stations.

Look Up the Age of Your Harvested Bear Online!

Sportsmen are required to remove a small tooth from the bear they harvest to submit with their check cards each year. In the past, when the statewide bear kill was much lower than today, a notice was mailed to successful hunters with the age of the bear. Although the Agency no longer sends out notices, hunters with Internet access can now find out the age of the bear they harvested through the Department’s Web site. Hunters will be asked to provide the following information as submitted on the bear check card; first initial, last name, month and year of kill, and county of kill.

Age data will be available by request and online 9 to 10 months after the harvest. Please do not request the age of your bear before the September following the harvest season.

Hunters will be able to view records from multiple years. Access the Web site here.

Hunters without Internet access can request this information by calling 804-367-8001.

Bear Hound Training Season

NO BLACK BEAR MAYBE TAKEN DURING THIS SEASON.

December 1-13 (Sundays closed)

Certain counties, see map.

August 9-September 27 (Sundays closed)

Certain counties, see map.

Closed

Certain counties, see map.

Hours

One half hour before sunrise to four and one half hours after sunset.

Licenses Required

Same for hunting seasons where bears can be taken. See licenses, stamps and permits section for appropriate required licenses.

Unlawful Methods

  • To have in possession a firearm, bow, or other weapon which is capable of taking black bear. Possession shall include, but not be limited to, having any bow, firearm, or other weapon in or on one's person, vehicle or conveyance.