Furbearer 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.

  • Modern firearms
  • Archery tackle (including crossbows)
  • Muzzleloading firearms
  • Dogs may be used (except where prohibited, see Hunting with Dogs)
  • Electronic calls for bobcat, coyote and fox
  • Hunting permitted day or night
  • Lights may be used as long as the light is not attached to or cast from a vehicle
  • No hunting on Sunday, except for raccoons, which may be hunted until 2:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings.

Electronic Calls

It is unlawful to take or attempt to take wild animals and wild birds with recorded or electronically amplified calls, except for bobcat, coyote, crow, and fox. Electronic calls may be used on private lands with written permission of the landowner and on public lands (except where specifically prohibited) during periods when the use of firearms is permitted.

Bobcat

Bag Limit:

Two per hunting party taken between noon one day and noon the following day. Season bag limit shall be 12 bobcats taken by hunting and trapping combined.

Archery

Season:

October 4-31: statewide

Legal Methods and Restrictions

  • Unlawful to use dogs when hunting with bow and arrow or crossbow during the bobcat archery season.
  • Unlawful to have a firearm in possession. (See exception for concealed handguns).

Firearms

Season:

November 1-February 28: statewide

Dogs May Not Be Used:

  • To hunt bobcat during deer season
    • 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.

Electronic Checking Requirement for Bobcats

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 using the Internet. Successful hunters and trappers can do so by accessing the Department's Check Game Online page.

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 ten 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. You may get the same confirmation number for multiple animals.

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.

CITES Tagging Requirement For Bobcats

Bobcat pelts that are sold, traded, transported out of state, or shipped 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.

To obtain a CITES tag, contact your local Conservation Police Officer or the nearest Department regional office (listed on page 3). CITES tags may also be ordered on the Internet by accessing the Department Web page at www.HuntFishVA.com, then clicking on "Hunting," "Links," and "Order CITES Tags." Make sure that you have a valid harvest confirmation number for each CITES tag requested. Tags ordered on the Internet will be mailed directly to the hunter or trapper, along with instructions for tagging. All bobcat pelts required to have a CITES tag must have them affixed by April 1.

Coyote

Season:

Continuous open season on private lands. Coyote hunting on National Forest Lands and Department Lands is permitted from September 1-March 10 and during the spring turkey season and spring squirrel season on certain areas.

Coyote Bounty Law

While coyotes are not protected,live coyotes may not be imported or possessed in Virginia.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.

Fox

Hunting With Dogs and Firearms

Season:

November 1-February 28. Closed in Albemarle, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier (except Quantico), Loudoun, Louisa, and Rappahannock counties.

Dogs May Not Be Used:

  • To hunt foxes during deer season (with or without firearm)
    • On the Gathright, Goshen, Highland and Little North Mountain Wildlife Management Areas and within the boundaries of the George Washington/Jefferson National Forests.

Hunting With Dogs Only

Continuous open season statewide; Closed March 1-October 31 on the George Washington/Jefferson National Forests and on Gathright, Goshen, G. Richard Thompson, Highland, Little North Mountain, and Rapidan WMAs.

Restrictions:

  • To have in possession a firearm when hunting fox outside of the dog and gun fox season. Possession shall include, but not be limited to, having any firearm in or on one's person, vehicle, or conveyance.

Opossum

Season:

October 15-March 10: statewide

Skunk

Season:

Continuous open season to take striped skunk on private lands. Striped skunk hunting on National Forest Lands and Department Lands is permitted from September 1-March 10 and during time periods when it is legal to hunt spring turkeys. Continuous closed season for taking spotted skunks and the pelts of spotted skunks may not be sold.

Raccoon

Legal Methods and Restrictions:

  • Raccoons may be hunted until 2:00 a.m. Sunday mornings.
  • 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.

Firearms

Season:

October 15-March 10: statewide

Bag Limit:

East of the Blue Ridge:
Two per hunter taken between noon one day and noon the following day.
West of the Blue Ridge:
Two per hunting party (individual or organized) taken between noon one day and noon the following day.

Chase Only

NO RACCOON MAYBE TAKEN EXCEPTDURING THE FIREARMS SEASON.

Season:

Continuous open season In all counties and portions of counties east of Rt. 29 and in the counties of Loudoun (east of Rt. 15) and Prince William (east of Rt. 15).

August 1-May 31 On private lands in all counties and portions of counties west of Route 29 and in the counties of Loudoun (west of Rt. 15) and Prince William (west of Rt. 15) and on Fairystone Farms, G. Richard Thompson, Rapidan and Turkeycock Wildlife Management Areas.