What's New for 2008-2009

General Information

  • An Apprentice Hunting License is now available. See Licenses for details.
  • Unplugged shotguns are legal for hunting non-migratory game.

Bear

  • Black bear checking procedures have changed and there is a new way to find out the age of your harvested bear, click here for more information.
  • Hours for bear hound training season have been changed to 1/2 hour before sunrise to 4 1/2 hours after sunset.

Deer

Earn A Buck

  • A new earn a buck regulation has been established in Bedford, Fairfax, Fauquier, Franklin, Loudoun, Patrick, Prince William and Roanoke counties.

Urban Archery

  • The early segment of the antlerless only urban archery season has been extended to open on the first Saturday of September (September 6, 2008 - October 3, 2008).

Early Antlerless Only Season

  • An early antlerless only archery season has been established in Loudoun and Prince William counties (except on Department-owned lands) to coincide with the early segment of the urban archery season (September 6, 2008 - October 3, 2008).

Muzzleloading

  • At the April 8, 2008 meeting, the Board of DGIF proposed the use of electronic ignition for muzzleloaders. Final Board action will be taken at the June 3, 2008 meeting. Check the Department's Web site for more information.

Early Muzzleloading Season

  • The early muzzleloading season west of the Blue Ridge Mountains has been extended to two weeks (November 1-14).

Late Muzzleloading Season

  • Private lands in Grayson County will now have the last six days as either-sex deer hunting days.
  • City of Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp Line) now has a late muzzleloading season with the last six days as either-sex deer hunting days.

Special Late Antlerless Only Firearms Deer Season

  • The special late antlerless only firearms deer season in Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties has been expanded to include Fauquier County, except on Department-owned lands and was also extended to the last Saturday in March.

General Firearms Either-Sex Deer Hunting Days

  • Either-sex deer hunting days have been increased in 16 eastern Virginia city/counties, click here for more information.
  • Either-sex deer hunting days were reduced on National Forest and Department- owned lands (public lands) in 12 counties west of the Blue Ridge and on National Forest lands in Amherst, Bedford, and Nelson counties, click here for more information.
  • Either-sex deer hunting days were reduced on private lands in two western Virginia counties (Rockbridge and that portion of Rockingham County west of Routes 613 and 731).

Turkey

Youth Fall Turkey Hunt Day

Youth SpringTurkey Hunt Day

  • Hunting hours were extended to sunset during the youth spring hunt.

Fall Turkey Season East of the Blue Ridge

  • Starting and ending dates for the late segment for fall turkey have changed in most counties east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, click here for more information.

Fall Turkey Season Opened

  • A2-week fall turkey season has been opened in Accomac and Northampton counties and in the city of Suffolk.

Furbearers

Bobcat

Mandatory Electronic Checking

  • Anew regulation was passed that requires all hunters and trappers who kill a bobcat to report the kill within 24 hours through an electronic harvest reporting system, click here for more information.

Tagging Requirements

CITES Tags

  • Hunters and trappers who require CITES tags to sell bobcat pelts can now order them via the Internet and attach the tags themselves, click here for more information.

Electronic Calls

Use on Public Lands

Trapping

Trap Tagging

  • Trappers will now have the option of tagging their traps with a permanent identification number issued by the Department, instead of their name and address, click here for more information.

Body-Gripping Traps

  • Body-gripping traps in excess of 7 1/2 inches can now be set half-submerged in water.

Width of Foothold Traps

Shooting Over Public Waters

  • Beginning this year, licensed trappers may shoot a .22 caliber rimfire rifle or pistol on or over public waters to dispatch trapped animals.