Public Hunting Lands

Department Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs)

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries maintains 37 management areas totaling over 200,000 acres for the benefit of all citizens for a variety of outdoor recreational opportunities. Thirty-five management areas are open for some type of hunting. These lands are purchased and maintained with hunting, fishing and trapping license fees and with Wildlife Restoration Funds. We encourage the public to utilize our land and enjoy the bountiful natural resources found on each area. The map and charts linked below provide a guide on the location and activities associated with each of the Department's wildlife management areas. For more detailed information on each area and an area map visit the wildlife management area section of this Web site or contact the appropriate regional office.

Rules For Wildlife Management Areas

Dogs

  • It is lawful to chase with dogs or train dogs on Department-owned lands only during authorized hunting, chase or training seasons that specifically permit these activities.
  • Dogs must be leashed at all times outside of open hunting, chase, or training seasons.

Camping/Fires

  • Primitive camping (no water, electric hookups, bathrooms or other facilities) is permitted for up to 14 consecutive days when occupants are engaged in authorized activities. No more than 3 camping units are permitted per site.
  • Camping is prohibited on or within 100 yards of any boat ramp or fishing lake or at other specific sites as posted.
  • It is unlawful to leave a campfire unattended. From February 15 to April 30 campfires are allowed only between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and midnight.

Firearms

  • It is unlawful to have in possession or in a vehicle a bow or gun which is not unloaded and cased or dismantled except when it is lawful to take bear, deer, grouse, pheasants, quail, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel or turkey; and additionally, migratory game birds on Department owned lands east of the Blue Ridge; or by permit issued by the Department; or by concealed handgun permit issued by a Circuit Court.
  • It is unlawful to possess or transport a loaded gun in or on any vehicle at any time on a WMA.
  • Target shooting is permitted on designated ranges only.

Fishing, Boating and Swimming

Please refer to the current Virginia Freshwater Fishing Regulations digest and posted signs for any special creel and size restrictions that may apply to wildlife management areas.

  • It is unlawful to use boats propelled by gasoline motors, sail or by mechanically operated recreational paddle wheel, unless otherwise posted.
  • Swimming is prohibited. Anglers actively engaged in fishing, hunters actively engaged in hunting, and trappers lawfully trapping may wade in public fishing lakes.
  • It is unlawful to use trotlines on public fishing lakes.

General

  • Activities involving groups of more than 12 persons require written authorization from the Department.
  • Display or consumption of alcoholic beverages in public is prohibited.
  • Commercial activities are prohibited except by written authorization from the Department.

Horseback/Bicycle Riding and Hiking

  • Horseback and bicycle riding are welcome on all roads and trails unless otherwise posted. Please avoid riding in cultivated or planted fields, or on eroded areas. Riders and cyclists should be mindful of all open hunting seasons.
  • Hiking is welcome. Hikers should be mindful of all open hunting seasons.
  • Please avoid engaging in these activities when they may interfere with hunters, anglers, and wildlife watchers.
  • Blaze orange hat or clothing is recommended for non-hunters during hunting seasons.

Hunting & Trapping

Please refer to the current hunting and trapping seasons found in this digest. Special seasons and bag limits that apply to a wildlife management area will be posted at the entrance.

Resource and Property Damage

  • It is unlawful to construct or occupy any permanent structure (including a permanently-affixed tree stand) except by Department permit.
  • It is unlawful to cut, mutilate, destroy or remove vegetation, or to remove minerals, artifacts or other property from the area. Metal detecting/artifact hunting is prohibited.
  • It is unlawful to damage, deface, or remove any building, gate, fence, sign or other property.

Special Antler Rules

  • It shall be unlawful to kill an antlered deer on Featherfin Wildlife Management Area or on the special Fairystone Quality Deer Management Area unless the deer has at least four antler points, 1 inch or longer, on either the right or left antler.

Vehicles

  • Motor vehicles are prohibited behind barricades or gates designed to prevent entry or within areas otherwise posted to prohibit motor vehicles.
  • Operation of ATVs and other unlicensed motor vehicles is prohibited.
  • Cross-country motor vehicle travel (off-road travel) is prohibited.
  • Amotorized wheelchair suitable for use in an indoor pedestrian area is not considered a motorized vehicle and, therefore, is not covered by any restrictions on the use of motorized vehicles on department owned lands. The term wheelchair means a device designed solely for use by a mobility - impaired person for locomotion that is suitable for use in an indoor pedestrian area.
  • Motor vehicles, campers, and trailers may be parked on Department-owned lands only when the owners/responsible party are engaged in authorized activities.

National Forests

Day use fees are required on certain recreation areas. Please visit the George Washington/Jefferson National Forest Web site or contact the appropriate office below, for more information on fees and seasonal pass information.:

Ranger District Phone Number
Supervisor's Office (540) 265-51001
Clinch (276) 328-2931
North River (540) 432-0188
Glenwood-Pedlar (540) 291-2189
James River (540) 962-2214
Lee (540) 984-4101
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area (276) 783-5196
Eastern Divide (540) 552-4641
Warm Springs (540) 839-2521

Regulations Specific to National Forest and Game Department Lands

It shall be unlawful to have in possession a bow or gun which is not unloaded and cased or dismantled on all National Forest lands statewide, or on Departmentowned lands and on lands managed by the Department under cooperative agreement in counties west of the Blue Ridge Mountains except during the period when it is lawful to take bear, deer, grouse, pheasant, quail, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, turkey or waterfowl on these lands; and on Department-owned lands and on lands managed by the Department under cooperative agreement in counties east of the Blue Ridge Mountains except during the period when it is lawful to take bear, deer, grouse, pheasant, quail, rabbit, raccoon, squirrel, turkey, waterfowl or migratory game birds on these lands.

Except as provided by special concealed handgun permit, it shall be unlawful to possess or transport a loaded gun in or on any vehicle at any time on National Forest lands or Department-owned lands. "Loaded gun" is defined as a firearm in which ammunition is chambered or loaded in the magazine or clip, when such magazine or clip is found engaged or partially engaged in a firearm. The definition of a loaded muzzleloading gun will include a gun which is capped or has a charged pan.

The word "possession" shall include, but not be limited to, having any bow or firearm in or on one's person, vehicle or conveyance.

It is unlawful to chase with a dog or train dogs on National Forest lands or Department-owned lands except during authorized hunting, chase or training seasons that specifically permit these activities on these lands.

Access Roads

Hunter access roads on Department lands seasonally open to motor vehicles will be open (weather permitting) from the 1st Saturday in October to the 2nd Saturday in February and the 1st Saturday in April to the 3rd Saturday in May.

Opening and closing dates of hunter access roads on National Forest Lands may vary by ranger district. Opening and closing dates are determined by management considerations for the areas accessed by these roads. Contact the local ranger district listed at left for opening and closing dates on specific roads.

Any motor driven vehicle using roads normally open to motor vehicles on Department and National Forest lands shall conform with all state laws for highway travel. No cross country travel is permitted. All terrain vehicle (ATV) and offroad vehicle (ORV) travel is permitted only on designated National Forest roads and trails.

Foot travel is invited on roads closed to motor vehicles.

Camping Policy

Primitive camping (no water, electric hookups, bathrooms or other facilities) is permitted on Department-owned lands, except as otherwise posted. Camping is prohibited on or within 100 yards of any Department-owned or controlled boat ramp or fishing lake. Camping on Department-owned lands is not to exceed 14 consecutive days. Only 3 camping units permitted per site.

Camping on the George Washington/ Jefferson National Forests for more than 21 consecutive days without terminating occupancy for a minimum of 10 consecutive days within a 31-day time period is prohibited. For more information, please visit the National Forest Web site or call the appropriate office. No trash service is provided. "Pack it in, Pack it out."

Structures

It is unlawful to construct, maintain or occupy any permanent structure, except by permit, on Department-owned lands and National Forest lands.

It is unlawful to maintain any temporary dwelling on Department-owned land for more than 14 consecutive days. Persons constructing or occupying such structures are responsible for complete removal of temporary structures.

Tree Stands

It is unlawful to construct, maintain or occupy any permanent tree stand on Department-owned lands, National Forest lands and on Department of Conservation and Recreation-owned or controlled lands. Portable tree stands, which are not permanently affixed, may be used. Use of a safety harness while hunting from tree stands is strongly recommended.

Public Access Lands For Sportsmen (PALS)

PALS is a program that opens additional lands for public use. Through this cooperative private / public program the Department has opened more than 19,000 acres of private land in Dickenson County to public hunting, fishing and trapping. The property is owned by Heartwood Forestland Fund IV and managed by The Forestland Group, LLC. The Department manages access for hunting, fishing and trapping. PALS permits are only sold through license agents and the fee is $18.00. Hunters, anglers and trappers must buy the permit from a license agent. Inquiries about this area should be directed to the Marion Regional Office at 276 / 783- 4860.

The Department hopes to provide additional PALS lands in the future across other parts of the Commonwealth.

Unauthorized Feeding

It is unlawful to place or direct the placement of, deposit, distribute, or scatter food or salt capable of attracting or being eaten by bear, deer or turkey on National Forest lands and Department-owned lands. This regulation does not prohibit the proper disposal of food in trash receptacles provided by the National Forest or by the Department. Click here for other feeding restrictions.

State Forests

Hunting is allowed on Appomattox- Buckingham State Forest, Prince Edward-Gallion State Forest, Cumberland State Forest, and Sandy Point State Forest (contact 804-492-4121), and Channels State Forest (contact 276-676- 5488). AState Forest Hunting Permit is required and may be purchased from license agents or online. No motorized vehicles permitted on gated roads and trails (opened or closed). Information on regulations governing the use of state forests is available at: http://www.dof.virginia. gov/stforest/regulations.shtml.

State Parks

Virginia State Parks offers a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities for the entire family, including hunting opportunities. These range from open hunting in designated areas to managed deer hunts where individuals participate through a reservation or lottery system. Managed deer hunts are a tool in Virginia State Parks'overall deer management program. Specific sites that offer hunting may change from year to year. Participating hunters are asked to support our efforts by following harvest guidelines associated with each hunt.

Please refer to the sections below for specific information and the chart linked below for park-specific hunt information. Information is also available on the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Web site.

Federal Refuges

Hunting is allowed on the following National Wildlife Refuges in Virginia. For more information, contact the appropriate refuge manager at:

Refuge Phone Number
*Back Bay (757) 721-2412
Chincoteague (757) 336-6122
*Dismal Swamp (757) 986-3705
Eastern Shore (757) 331-2760
James River (804) 829-9020 or
(804) 333-1470
Mason Neck/Occoquan (703) 490-4979
*Plum Tree Island (804) 829-9020 or
(804) 333-1470
*Presquile (804) 829-9020 or
(804) 333-1470
*Rappahannock River Valley (804) 333-1470

* Quota hunts are offered through VDGIF Quota Hunts program.

Military Areas

Fort A.P. Hill

  • Archery Season: October 4-November 14.
  • Muzzleloading Season: November 1-November 14.
  • General Firearms: November 15-January 3. One deer per day.
    • Either sex deer hunting on Saturdays and November 17-21 and Dec. 29-Jan. 2. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
  • All persons 12 years of age and older must present a hunter education certificate in order to purchase an A.P. Hill hunting permit. Contact Fort A.P. Hill Game Check Station at (804) 633-8244 for details about the hunter education requirements, permits and fees required to hunt on Post; and restrictions, seasons and bag limits for all other game species.

Fort Pickett

  • Deer:
    • General Firearms: November 15-January 3. Two per day, six per year, either-sex deer hunting on Wednesdays and November 22, November 29 and December 29-January 3.
  • Quail:
    • Hunting permitted on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays only. Contact the Ft. Pickett Game Check Station at (434) 292-2618 for further details about seasons and special restrictions.

Quantico Marine Reservation

  • Deer:
    • General Firearms: November 15-January 3. Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day. Open half day on Thanksgiving Day.
    • Archery Season: October 4-November 14.
    • No Muzzleloading Season.

Consult Quantico Game Check Station for daily and seasonal bag limits, other seasons and further details, at (703) 784-5523 or their Web site.

Fort Belvoir

  • Archery Only: qualification required.
  • Deer: September 6, 2008-March 28, 2009.
  • Spring Turkey: April 11-May 16, 2009.

Contact Outdoor Recreation staff at (703) 805-3688 for further details.

National Parks

Hunting is prohibited in all National Parks in Virginia. Hunters may obtain hunter parking access permits from the Blue Ridge Parkway National Park Service to park at designated areas along the Blue Ridge Parkway and cross national park lands (firearms must be unloaded and cased) to hunt on National Forest lands. For further information call (540) 377-2377.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

John H. Kerr Reservoir

The John H. Kerr Reservoir is a federally managed multipurpose project located on the Virginia-North Carolina border. It consists of a 50,000 acre reservoir and 55,000 acres of land surrounding the lake which offers 40,000 acres open to hunting. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains 26 wildlife management areas located around Kerr Reservoir. For more information contact:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
1930 Mays Chapel Road
Boydton, VA 23917
(434) 738-6143
www.saw.usace.army.mil/jhkerr/ index.htm

John W. Flannagan Reservoir

The John W. Flannagan Reservoir in western Dickenson County provides 6,400-acres of land open to public hunting. The area offers deer, black bear, wild turkey, and small game hunting opportunities. For further information, contact:

(276) 835-9544
www.lrh.usace.army.mil/projects/ lakes/jwf/