Search Virginia.gov:

• Skip to Content
• Online Services
• Commonwealth Sites
• Help
• Governor

Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries

• Hunting
• Fishing
• Boating
• Wildlife Watching
• Wildlife Information
• Habitat
• Education
• Licenses
• Permits
• Forms
• About VDGIF

General Hunting Regulations

Blaze Orange Requirements

• When hunting any species during the firearms deer season and youth deer day, every hunter, (see exceptions following) or persons accompanying a hunter shall wear a blaze orange hat or blaze orange upper body clothing that is visible from 360 degrees or display at least 100 square inches of solid blaze orange material at shoulder level within body reach and visible from 360 degrees. Hats may have a bill or brim color or design other than solid blaze orange. Hats shall not be in "camo" style, since the latter is designated to prevent visibility. A logo,which does not detract from visibility, may be worn on a blaze orange hat.

Exceptions

• Blaze orange is not required of waterfowl hunters, dove hunters, individuals participating in hunting dog field trials, and fox hunters on horseback without firearms.
• Hunters hunting with archery tackle during an open firearms deer season, in areas where the discharge of firearms is prohibited by state law or local ordinance, are exempt from the blaze orange requirement.
• Blaze orange is not required during the muzzleloading deer season(s).

Hunting Hours

• Sunrise-Sunset Table (PDF)
• One-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset for nonmigratory birds and game animals except during spring gobbler season.
• One-half hour before sunrise until 12 noon, during spring gobbler season except the last 12 days the hunting hours are ½ hour before sunrise until sunset.
• One-half hour before sunrise to sunset for Youth Spring Turkey Hunt Day.
• Hours for bear hound training season are ½ hour before sunrise to 4½ hours after sunset.
• Bobcat, foxes, raccoons, and opossums may be hunted by day or night during authorized seasons.
• Nuisance species may be taken day or night.

Hunting With Dogs

• Dogs may be used to pursue wild birds and animals during hunting seasons where not prohibited.
• When the chase begins on other lands, fox hunters and coon hunters may follow their dogs on prohibited lands, and hunters of all other game, when the chase begins on other lands, may go upon prohibited lands to retrieve their dogs, but may not carry firearms or archery tackle on their persons or hunt any game while thereon. The use of vehicles to retrieve dogs on prohibited lands shall be allowed only with the permission of the landowner or his agent. Any person who goes on prohibited lands to retrieve his dogs must identify himself when requested by the landowner or his agent.
• Unlawful to use dogs when hunting any species with archery tackle during any archery season.
• Unlawful to chase with dogs or hunt with dogs or to attempt to chase or hunt with dogs any wild animal from a baited site or to train dogs on any wild animal from a baited site. Furthermore, it shall be unlawful to place, distribute or maintain bait or salt for any wild animal for the purpose of chasing with dogs, hunting with dogs, or the training of dogs. A baited site will be considered to be baited for 30 days following the complete removal of all such bait or salt.
• It is unlawful to intentionally cripple or otherwise harm any game animal for the intent of continuing a hunt, or chase, or for the purpose of training dogs. Upon treeing, baying, or otherwise containing an animal in a manner that offers the animal no avenue of escape, the person or the hunting party shall either harvest the animal if within a legal take season and by using lawful methods of take or terminate the chase by retrieving the dogs and allowing the animal freedom to escape for the remainder of the same calendar day.
• It is unlawful to dislodge an animal from a tree for the intent of continuing a hunt, or chase, or for the purpose of training dogs.

Training Dogs

The training of dogs on live wild animals is considered hunting and is unlawful during the closed season except as noted below.

• You must have a valid hunting license while training dogs on live wild animals.
• You may train dogs during daylight hours on rabbits and non-migratory game birds on private lands. Participants shall have no weapons other than starter pistols in their possession and no wild animals shall be taken. Weapons may be in possession when training dogs on captive raised and properly marked mallards and pigeons so that they may be immediately shot or recovered, except on Sunday.
• You may train dogs on National Forest or Department-owned lands only during authorized training seasons that specifically permit these activities.
• You may train dogs on quail on designated portions of the Amelia Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Chester F. Phelps WMA, Chickahominy WMA and Dick Cross WMA from September 1 to the day prior to the opening date of the quail hunting season, both dates inclusive. No weapons other than starter pistols may be in possession, and pen-raised birds may not be released.
• Pen-raised quail may be released at any time on private land with landowner permission. However, except on hunting (shooting) preserves, birds can only be shot during the regular quail season. Regular bag limits apply.
• You may train dogs during daylight hours on rabbits and non-migratory game birds on the Weston WMA from September 1 thru March 31, both dates inclusive. Participants in this dog training season shall have no weapons other than starter pistols in their possession, shall not release pen-raised birds, and must comply with all regulations and laws pertaining to hunting. No game shall be taken.

Legal Use of Firearms and Archery Equipment

Special restrictions may apply to specific firearms use in some counties. See Local Firearms Ordinances for details.

• No restrictions on shot size except for spring gobbler season when it is unlawful to have any shot in possession larger than number 2 fine shot while hunting.
• Shotguns must not be larger than 10 gauge.
• Unplugged shotguns are legal for hunting non-migratory game and crows.
• Shotgun barrels must be at least 18 inches long.
• Shotguns with rifled barrels are permitted in areas where slugs may be used.
• All game birds and animals, except deer, may be hunted with shotguns from boats. Hunters must have permission from the landowner to hunt/retrieve game located on private land.
• Rifles used for deer or bear must be .23 caliber or larger.
• Rifles (including air rifles) may be used for taking wild animals and wild birds, except migratory game birds and waterfowl, and where prohibited by local ordinances.
• Rifles (including air rifles), pistols, and revolvers may be used for hunting crows, except where prohibited by local ordinances.
• Rifles (including air rifles), pistols, and revolvers may be used for hunting turkeys, except where prohibited by local ordinances.
• Pistols, revolvers and muzzleloading pistols may be used for small game except where prohibited by local ordinances.
• Pistols and revolvers are lawful for deer and bear hunting only in those counties where hunting deer and bear with rifles is lawful. Cartridges used must be .23 caliber or larger and have a manufacturer's rating of 350 foot-pounds muzzle energy or more.
• Muzzleloading shotguns, muzzleloading rifles or archery tackle may be used to hunt during the firearms seasons where not prohibited.
• Archery tackle (including crossbows) may be used for hunting wild birds and animals.
• Crossbows are legal to use by any hunter.
  • If a crossbow is used during an archery season (including the urban archery season) the hunter must have a crossbow license.
  • If a hunter chooses to use both conventional archery tackle and a crossbow during an archery season, they will need both an archery license when using the conventional bow and a crossbow license when using the crossbow.
  • If a hunter chooses to use a crossbow during the firearms season, no crossbow license will be required (just as there is no requirement for a person to have an archery license if using conventional archery equipment during the firearms season).
  • The laws governing the use of archery tackle also apply to crossbow tackle.

Unlawful Methods

Penalties may include hunting license revocation for one year to life and forfeiture of firearms.

A person found guilty of a violation a second time within three years of a previous conviction shall have their license revoked by the court trying the case.

It is unlawful to:

• Hunt wild birds and wild animals with firearms or other weapons on Sunday, except on licensed shooting preserves. Raccoon hunters may hunt until 2:00 a.m. Sunday mornings.
• Hunt migratory game birds with a shotgun capable of holding more than three shells in the magazine and chamber, combined, unless allowed by Federal regulations and authorized by the Department.
• Discharge a firearm or archery tackle in or across or within the right-of-way of any public road.
• Cast a light attached to a vehicle or from a vehicle beyond a roadway upon places used by deer without written permission of the landowner or at anytime while in the possession of a rifle, shotgun, pistol, archery tackle, or speargun.
• Handle any firearm in a reckless manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person.
• Destroy, mutilate, or take down "posted" signs or to litter.
• Hunt adjacent to forest fires.
• Willfully and intentionally impede the lawful hunting or trapping of wild birds or wild animals.
• Kill or cripple and knowingly allow any non-migratory game bird or game animal to be wasted without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the animal and retain it in possession.
• Hunt under age 12 without being accompanied and directly supervised by a licensed parent, guardian, or other adult designated by the parent or guardian. The term "accompanied and directly supervised" means the adult is within sight of the person under the age of 12.
• Hunt with an Apprentice Hunting License without being accompanied and directly supervised by a licensed adult over the age of 18. The term "accompanied and directly supervised" means the adult maintains close visual and verbal contact, provides adequate direction to, and can immediately assume control of the firearm.
• Shoot a rifle or pistol at wild birds or animals on or over the public inland waters of the state. However, licensed trappers may shoot a .22 caliber rimfire rifle or pistol on or over public inland waters for the purpose of dispatching trapped animals.
• Carry a loaded rifle or pistol on a boat or other floating device on public inland waters for hunting wild birds or animals.
• Shoot waterfowl or migratory game birds from a boat being propelled by a motor.
• Hunt while under the influence of intoxicants or narcotic drugs.
• Molest eggs, nest, den or young of any wild bird or animal, except nuisance species, at any time without a permit as required by law.
• Occupy any baited blind or other baited place for the purpose of taking or attempting to take any wild game bird or wild game animal or to put out bait or salt for the purpose of taking or killing any wild game bird or wild game animal, except for the purpose of trapping furbearing animals.
• Shoot or attempt to take any wild bird or animal from any vehicle, except as otherwise provided by law.
• Exceed the bag limit or possess over the daily limit of any wild bird or animal while in the forests, fields, or waters of this state.
• Use vehicles or possess firearms while retrieving dogs on private lands without permission of the landowner.
• Use live birds or animals to decoy or call game.
• Kill or attempt to kill any deer while in a boat or other type of watercraft.
• Hunt or attempt to kill or trap any species of wild bird or wild animal after having obtained the daily bag or season limit during such day or season. However, any properly licensed person, or a person exempt from having to obtain a license, who has obtained such daily bag or season limit while hunting may assist others who are hunting game by calling game, retrieving game, handling dogs or conducting drives if the weapon in his possession is an unloaded firearm, a bow without a nocked arrow or an unloaded crossbow. Any properly licensed person, or person exempt from having to obtain a license, who has obtained such season limit prior to commencement of the hunt may assist others who are hunting game by calling game, retrieving game, handling dogs, or conducting drives, provided he does not have a firearm, bow or crossbow in his possession.
• Hold in captivity any live wild birds or wild animals outside the limits allowed by regulations without a permit.
• Alter, change, borrow or lend a hunting license or permit.
• Hunt with arrows to which any drug, chemical or toxic substance has been added or explosive-head arrows.
• Possess or transport any wild bird or wild animal or the carcass or the parts thereof, unless specifically allowed and only in accordance with regulations.
• Hunt wild birds and wild animals with fully automatic firearms, (i.e. machine guns).
• Sell or purchase any wild bird or wild animal carcass or parts thereof, except as specifically permitted by law.
• Virginia law specifies that it shall be unlawful for any person who has been convicted of a felony to knowingly and intentionally possess or transport any firearm. Amuzzleloading firearm is considered a firearm under Virginia law. Any person prohibited from possessing, transporting, or carrying a firearm under this law may petition the circuit court of the jurisdiction in which he resides for a permit to possess or carry a firearm.
• Use radio tracking equipment, except on dogs or on raptors permitted by a falconry permit, to aid in the chase, harvest or capture of wildlife.

Earn A Buck (EAB) Questions and Answers

• What is EAB?
• EAB is designed to increase the antlerless (a doe or button buck) deer kill.

• When and where will EAB be in effect?
• EAB became mandatory on private lands during all open deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading, and firearms) in Bedford, Fairfax, Fauquier, Franklin, Loudoun, Patrick, Prince William and Roanoke counties in fall 2008.

• Will deer hunters have to kill an antlerless deer first under EAB?
• No, the first deer can be an antlered buck or an antlerless deer (a doe or button buck).

• How will EAB work?
• Hunters hunting on private lands in EAB counties will be required to shoot at least one antlerless deer (a doe or a button buck) before they can kill their second antlered buck of the deer season. East of the Blue Ridge, they will be required to kill a second antlerless deer on private land in an EAB county before they can kill their third antlered buck of the season.

• What if I hunt deer in one of the EAB counties and in other counties in Virginia?
• EAB will still apply. Antlered bucks taken anywhere in the state count against the EAB antlered buck requirement, but only antlerless deer taken on private lands in the eight designated EAB counties count toward the EAB antlerless deer requirement.

• Why require EAB?
• The Department’s Deer Management Plan calls for deer populations to be reduced in all these counties, and traditional liberal deer regulations have not effectively achieved that objective. In fact, deer populations in several of these counties have increased. EAB has been demonstrated in several other states to be an effective management tool to control and reduce deer numbers.

• Can a deer hunter shoot an antlerless deer first and be "pre-qualified" to kill two bucks?
• Yes.

• Can antlerless deer "carry over"from season to season?
• No.

• What should I do if I have additional EAB questions?
• Email Matt Knox at matt.knox@dgif.virginia. gov.