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 3-November 13: 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.
  • It is unlawful to have a firearm in possession (see exception for concealed handgun permit holders) except that a muzzleloading firearm, as defined in the muzzleloader bear season section, may also be in possession when and where there is an overlap with a special muzzleloading bear season where bear hunting with a rifle or muzzleloading firearm is permitted.

Muzzleoader Bear Season

November 7-13

In the counties of Albemarle, Alleghany, Amelia, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, Clarke, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Franklin, Frederick, Greene, Greensville, Halifax, Henry, Highland, Isle of Wight, Lunenburg, Madison, Mecklenburg, Nelson, Nottoway, Page, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Prince Edward, Prince George, Rappahannock, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Surry, Sussex, and Warren.

October 31-November 13

In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Accomack, Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Culpeper, Essex, Fauquier, Fairfax, Fluvanna, Gloucester, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, James City, King George, King William, King and Queen, Lancaster, Loudoun, Louisa, New Kent, Mathews, Middlesex, Northampton, Northumberland, Orange, Powhatan, Prince William, Richmond, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Westmoreland, York and in the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, and Portsmouth.

Closed

In the counties of Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Chesapeake, Craig, Dickenson, Floyd, Giles, Grayson, Lee, Montgomery, Pulaski, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Southampton, Suffolk, Tazewell, Virginia Beach, Washington, Wise, Wythe.

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, capable of firing only a single bullet or saboted bullet (.38 caliber or larger).
  • Flintlock, percussion or electronic ignitions are permitted
  • Unlawful to have in immediate possession any firearm other than a muzzleloading gun while hunting with a muzzleloader (see exception for concealed handgun permit holders).
  • 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, primer, or battery has been removed from the firearm. For complete safety, a muzzleloader should be emptied by shooting into soft ground.
  • Unlawful to hunt bear with dogs.

Firearms Bear Season

October 1-January 2

In the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk and Virginia Beach.

November 21-January 2

In the counties of Alleghany, Augusta (west of I-81), Bath, Botetourt (west of I-81), Highland, Roanoke (north of I-81), Rockbridge (west of I-81), Rockingham (west of I-81), and Shenandoah (west of I-81).

November 23-January 2

In the counties of Albemarle, Amherst, Arlington, Augusta (east of I-81), Bedford, Bland, Botetourt (east of I-81), Caroline, Charles City, Chesterfield, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Essex Fairfax, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Frederick, Giles, Gloucester, Goochland, Greene, Hanover, Henrico, James City, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Loudoun, Louisa, Madison, Mathews, Middlesex, Montgomery (north of I-81), Nelson, New Kent, Northumberland, Orange, Page, Powhatan, Prince William, Pulaski (north of I-81), Rappahannock, Richmond, Roanoke (south of I-81), Rockbridge (east of I-81), Rockingham (east of I-81), Shenandoah (east of I-81), Smyth (north of I-81), Spotsylvania, Stafford, Tazewell, Warren, Washington (that part north of I-81 which is also east of Rt. 19), Westmoreland, Wythe (north of I-81), York, and in the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, and Portsmouth.

December 14-19

In the counties of Amelia, Appomattox, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell (east of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Charlotte, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Greensville, Halifax, Isle of Wight, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Pittsylvania (east of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Prince Edward, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, and Sussex.

December 7-19

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), Russell, Scott, Smyth (south of I-81), Washington (south of I-81 and that part north of I-81 that is west of Rt. 19), Wise, and Wythe (south of I-81).

Exception

Clinch Mountain and Hidden Valley Wildlife Management Areas (see November 23-January 2 season)

Closed

In the counties of Accomack and Northampton.

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), Fairfax, Floyd, Franklin, Grayson (east of the New River), Henry, Loudoun, 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 Rt. 21 on the west, I-81 on the north, the county line on the east, the New River on the southeast and Cripple Creek on the south), and in the city of Lynchburg.
  • On the Amelia, Cavalier, Chester F. Phelps, Featherfin, G. Richard Thompson and Pettigrew Wildlife Management Areas.
  • 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.

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.

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

Bear Hound Training/Chase Season

NO BLACK BEAR MAYBE TAKEN DURING THIS SEASON.

December 7-12

Certain counties, see map.

August 8-September 26 (includes Sundays)

Certain counties, see map.

Closed

Certain counties, see map.

Hours

One-half hour before sunrise to 4-½ 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, crossbow or any weapon capable of taking a black bear while participating in the bear hound training season. The meaning of "possession" for the purpose of this section shall include, but not be limited to, having a firearm, bow, crossbow or any weapon capable of taking a black bear in or on one's person, vehicle, or conveyance (see exception for concealed handgun permit holders).