Virginia Migratory Waterfowl

What's New for 2009-2010

Ducks

  • Canvasback season has been re-opened with a bag limit of 1 bird per day for the entire season (see below for seasons and bag limits).
  • Scaup bag limit has been increased to 2 birds per day for the entire season (see below for seasons and bag limits).

Canada Geese

  • The former Western Canada Goose Zone has been divided into two separate zones which have different season dates and bag limits (see below for seasons and zone descriptions).
  • The Back Bay Canada Goose Zone has been incorporated into the Atlantic Population Zone which has a 45 day season and a 2 bird per day bag limit (see below for seasons and zone descriptions).

Light (Snow) Geese

  • Virginia has established a Light (Snow) Goose Conservation Order season from February 1 to March 27. Hunters may use electronic calls and unplugged shotguns. Hunting hours are ½-hour before sunrise to ½-hour after sunset and there is no bag or possession limit. (See below for season and zone description).
  • Hunters who want to participate in this Conservation Order season must register with the Department and provide hunter effort and harvest information. (See below for details).

Atlantic Brant

  • Brant season has been reduced to 50 days and the bag limit has been reduced to 2 birds (see below for seasons and bag limits).

Floating Blind License

  • Floating blind licenses can now be purchased from any license agent through point of sale or online.

Non-toxic Shot

On October 20, 2009, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the approval of an additional non-toxic shot (Tungsten-Iron-Fluoropolymer Shot Alloy) for use in the hunting of waterfowl and coots. This shot is therefore available for use during the remainder of the 2009-2010 waterfowl hunting season in Virginia.

Non-toxic shot approved by the Department [steel, bismuthtin, tungsten-bronze, tungsten-iron, tungsten-tin-bismuth, tungsten-polymer, tungsten matrix, tungsten-nickeliron (HEVISHOT), tungsten-iron-nickel-tin (TINT), tungsten-iron-copper-nickel, tungsten-tin-iron, iron-tungsten-nickel shots, and tungsten-iron-fluoropolymer] is required for hunting all waterfowl, mergansers, coots, moorhens, gallinules, snipe and rails. Lead shot is not allowed for hunting these species and cannot be in possession in the field while hunting these species. Shot size should be no larger than "T".

Hunting Seasons and Bag Limits

No person shall take migratory game birds except during the hours open to shooting and hawking as prescribed. Shooting and hawking hours for all waterfowl, all seasons is ½-hour before sunrise until sunset, (except when permitted in the September Canada Goose season and the Light Goose Conservation Order season). See sunrise-sunset timetable (PDF). Non-toxic shot is required for all waterfowl hunting.

Possession Limits

After opening day, possession limit is equal to two daily limits, (except snow geese where the possession limit has been removed), but no one is allowed to have more than one daily bag limit of game in his possession while in the forests, fields or waters of this state. Wounded birds reduced to possession shall be immediately killed and included in the daily bag limit.

September Canada Goose

  • September 1-September 25 (statewide)

Bag Limit: 10 daily, 20 in possession

Shooting Hours:

East of I-95

  • September 1-19: ½-hour before sunrise to ½-hour after sunset
  • September 21-25: ½-hour before sunrise to sunset.

West of I-95

  • September 1-25: ½-hour before sunrise to ½-hour after sunset.

September Teal

  • September 21-30

Hunt Area: East of Interstate 95

Bag Limit: 4 daily, 8 in possession (any combination of Blue-winged and Green-winged teal)

Shooting Hours: ½-hour before sunrise until sunset daily

Duck Seasons

  • October 8-12 (Black duck closed)
  • November 21-December 5
  • December 12-January 30
  • October 24: Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day, see below for more details.

Daily Bag Limit: 5 ducks which may include no more than 4 mallards (only 2 can be hen mallards), 4 scoters, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 scaup, 1 pintail, 1 black duck (except closed during Oct. 8-12), 1 canvasback, 1 mottled duck, and 1 fulvous whistling duck.

Closed season on harlequin ducks.

The possession limit is twice the daily bag limit. No person shall take in any one day more than one daily bag limit.

Youth Waterfowl Hunting Day: October 24, 2009

Youth 15 years and younger may harvest the allowed daily bag limit of ducks (as specified above), coots, mergansers, gallinules, moorhens, 2 Canada geese and 1 tundra swan (if the youth possesses a tundra swan permit) on the designated youth waterfowl hunting day. Youth 12 years of age and older will need a valid Virginia state hunting license. All participating youth must be HIP registered and accompanied by a licensed adult at least 18 years of age or older. The accompanying adult may not hunt the species listed above on this day.

Don't Forget: HIP and Migratory Duck Stamps!

All hunters (whether licensed or exempt from being licensed) who plan to hunt doves,waterfowl, rails,woodcock, snipe, coots, gallinules or moorhens in Virginia must be registered with the Virginia Harvest Information Program (HIP). HIP is required each year and a new registraton number is needed for the upcoming season. You can register online or call 1-888-788-9772.

Also, Virginia waterfowl hunters must obtain a Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, and the Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp (unless license exempt) to hunt waterfowl in Virginia. The annual Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp can be purchased for $10.00 (resident or non-resident) at VDGIF license agents or clerks that sell Virginia hunting licenses or from the Department's website. To request collector stamps and prints, contact Mike Hinton by e-mail at ducks@hintons.org.

Waterfowl Hunting On Wildlife Management Areas

For information about waterfowl hunting opportunities on Department Wildlife Management Areas, refer to the "2009-2010 Hunting & Trapping in Virginia, Regulations and Information Digest."

Note: Waterfowl hunting on the Amelia, Briery Creek and James River Wildlife Management Areas is permitted only on the opening day, Wednesdays and Saturdays of the duck and goose seasons.

Special Sea Duck Season in the *Special Sea Duck Zone

Sea duck species are scoter, long-tailed duck (formerly oldsquaw), and eider.

  • October 8-January 30

Bag limit: 7 per day (14 in possession), but may include no more than 4 scoters (8 in possession).

*Special Sea Duck Zone Boundary

Those waters at a distance greater than 800 yards from any shore, island or emergent vegetation in the following areas: the ocean waters of Virginia, the tidal waters of Northampton and Accomack counties, and the Chesapeake Bay and each of its tributaries up to the first highway bridge. Back Bay and its tributaries are not included in the special sea duck hunting area.

Outside the Special Sea Duck Zone

Sea ducks may be taken during the regular duck season outside the Special Sea Duck Zone but must be counted as part of the regular duck season daily bag limit.

Light Goose (Greater and Lesser Snow Geese and Ross's Geese)

Regular Season

  • October 8-January 30; statewide

Bag limit: 15 per day, no possession limit.

Conservation Order Season (see hunt zone below)

Bag limit: No daily or possession limit.

Special Hunting Methods: Electronic calls, unplugged shotguns and extended shooting hours to ½-hour after sunset.

Special Requirements: All hunters who plan to participate during this season must register online or by phone, obtain a harvest report form prior to hunting, and return the report form back to the Department within two weeks following the close of the season.

Conservation Order Season Zone: Same as the AP Canada Goose Zone—the area east of the Stafford/King George County line from the Potomac River south to the Rappahannock River, then west along the Stafford County line to Interstate 95, then south along Interstate 95 to Route 460 in Petersburg, then southeast along Route 460 to Route 32 in the City of Suffolk, then south along Route 32 to the North Carolina border.

Conservation Order Season Hunt Zone

Atlantic Brant

  • November 21-28
  • December 12-January 30

Bag limit: 2 per day, 4 in possession.

Coots

  • October 8-12
  • November 21-December 5
  • December 12-January 30

Bag limit: 15 per day, 30 in possession.

Gallinules/Moorhens

  • October 8-12
  • November 21-December 5
  • December 12-January 30

Bag limit: 15 per day, 30 in possession.

Mergansers

  • October 8-12
  • November 21-December 5
  • December 12-January 30

Bag limit: 5 per day in addition to the regular duck bag, no more than 2 hooded mergansers (10 in possession, only 4 of which may be hooded mergansers).

Canada Goose

Atlantic Population Zone (AP) [including Back Bay]

  • November 21-December 5
  • December 25-January 30

Bag Limit: 2 geese per day

Southern James Bay Population Zone (SJBP)

  • November 21-December 5
  • December 15-January 14
  • January 15-February 13

Bag Limit: 3 geese per day: Nov. 21-Dec. 5 and Dec. 15-Jan. 14; 5 geese per day: Jan. 15-Feb. 13

Resident Population Zone (RP)

  • November 21-December 5
  • December 12-February 27

Bag Limit: 5 geese per day (10 in possession)

Canada Goose Zones

The dividing lines between the hunting zones is as follows:

  • Atlantic Population (AP) Hunt Zone: The area east of the Stafford/King George County line from the Potomac River south to the Rappahannock River, then west along the Stafford County line to Interstate 95, then south along Interstate 95 to Route 460 in Petersburg, then southeast along Route 460 to Route 32 in the City of Suffolk, then south along Route 32 to the North Carolina border.
  • Southern James Bay Population (SJBP) Hunt Zone: The area to the west of the AP Hunt Zone boundary and east of the following line: the "Blue Ridge" (Loudoun County-Clarke County line) at the West Virginia-Virginia border, south to Interstate 64 (the Blue Ridge line follows county borders along the western edge of Loudoun-Fauquier- Rappahannock-Madison-Green-Albemarle and into Nelson counties), then east along Interstate 64 to Route 15, then south along Route 15 to the North Carolina line.
  • Resident Population (RP) Hunt Zone: The portion of the state west of the SJBP Hunt Zone.

Tundra Swan

  • December 1-January 30

Bag limit: 1 per permit.

Tundra Swan Permit

Before any person may hunt tundra swans in Virginia, he or she must first apply for and receive a tundra swan hunt permit. Permits are issued through a special drawing held in October. Deadline for applications is October 2, 2009. The Department will issue no more than 600 swan hunting permits. The drawing is open only to holders of a valid Virginia hunting license. Hunters may apply for a swan permit by mail, online, or by telephone at 1-877-VAHUNTS.

Swan hunting permits are non-transferable and are valid for use only by the person to whom issued. Permits must be in the immediate possession of the permit holder while swan hunting. Immediately at the time and place of kill successful permittees must cancel their swan hunting permit by permanently recording the month and day of kill and by attaching the permit to the swan as instructed. The VDGIF is required to obtain hunter participation and harvest information to offer this tundra swan hunting season. Hunters are required to complete the accompanying tundra swan hunt questionnaire and return it to the address listed on the questionnaire at the end of your hunt. Those who fail to return a completed questionnaire by February 15, 2010 are ineligible for future drawings.

Tundra Swan Hunt Area

Hunting will be permitted in all counties and portions of counties lying east of I-95 and south of the Prince William-Stafford County line in Chopawamsic Creek at Quantico Marine Corps Base.

Lawful Hunting Methods

  1. All migratory game birds may be taken by the aid of dogs, artificial decoys, manually or mouth-operated bird calls, with bow and arrow, crossbow, or with a shotgun (not larger than 10 gauge and incapable of holding more than three shells) fired from the shoulder; and by means of falconry. Crows and light geese during the Light Goose Conservation Order Season may be hunted with unplugged shotguns.
  2. All migratory game birds may be taken in the open, or from a blind or other place of concealment (except a sinkbox) on land or water camouflaged with natural vegetation, or with vegetation from agricultural crops, as long as such camouflaging does not result in the exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering of grain or other feed. (The term "sinkbox" refers to a raft or any type of low floating device having a depression which affords a hunter a means of concealing himself below the surface of the water).
  3. All migratory game birds may be taken from floating craft (except a sinkbox), including those propelled by motor, sail and wind, or both, when (1) the motor of such craft has been completely shut off and/or the sails furled as the case may be and its progress therefrom has ceased; and (2) it is drifting, beached, moored, resting at anchor, or it is being propelled by paddle, oars, or pole. Craft under power may be used to retrieve dead or crippled birds. Crippled birds may not be shot from such craft under power except shooting of crippled waterfowl from a motorboat under power is permitted in those areas described, delineated and designated as special sea duck hunting areas.
  4. All migratory game birds may be taken on or over standing crops or flooded standing crops (including aquatics); flooded harvested croplands; or lands or areas where seeds or grains have been scattered solely as the result of "normal agricultural planting, harvesting, post harvest manipulation or normal soil stabilization practice" that is conducted in accordance with official recommendations of county State Extension Specialists of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Agricultural practices for hunting are limited to those undertaken to produce and gather a crop and manage the field afterwards.)
  5. All migratory game birds may be taken on or over standing, flooded, or manipulated natural vegetation. There is no restriction on when manipulation may occur. Planted millet is not considered natural vegetation unless it becomes naturalized and grows on its own in subsequent years.
  6. All migratory game birds may be taken over surface-mined lands being reclaimed where seeds or grains are scattered solely as a result of normal soil stabilization practice.
  7. All migratory game birds, except for waterfowl, may be taken on or over lands or areas that are not otherwise baited areas, and where grain or other feed has been distributed or scattered solely as the result of manipulation of an agricultural crop or other feed on the land where grown, or solely as the result of a normal agricultural operation that is conducted in accordance with official recommendations of county State Extension Specialists of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
  8. All migratory game birds may be taken over standing or flooded standing agricultural crops where hunters have inadvertently scattered grain solely as a result of entering or leaving the field, placing decoys, or retrieving downed birds.

Unlawful Hunting Methods

  1. Migratory game birds may not be taken with a trap, snare, net, rifle, pistol, swivel gun, or machine gun.
  2. Migratory game birds (except crows and light geese during the Light Goose Conservation Order Season) may not be taken with a shotgun of any description capable of holding more than three shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler, incapable of removal without disassembling the gun, so its total capacity does not exceed three shells in the magazine and chamber combined.
  3. Migratory game birds may not be taken from or by means, aid, or use of a sinkbox, motor-driven conveyance, motor vehicle, or aircraft of any kind.
  4. Migratory game birds may not be taken from or by means of a sailboat or other boat or floating craft having a motor attached unless the motor has been completely shut off and/or sails furled and its progress therefrom has ceased.
  5. Migratory game birds may not be taken by means or aid of any motor-driven land, water, or air conveyance or sailboat used for the purpose of or resulting in the concentrating, driving, rallying, or stirring up of waterfowl and coots.
  6. Migratory game birds may not be taken by the use or aid of livestock as a blind or means of concealment.
  7. Migratory game birds may not be taken by the use or aid of live birds as decoys.
  8. Migratory game birds (except crows and light geese during the Light Goose Conservation Order Season) may not be taken by the use or aid of recorded bird calls or sounds, or recorded or electrically amplified imitations of bird calls or sounds.
  9. Migratory game birds may not be taken by the aid of baiting, or on, or over any baited area. As used in this section, "baiting" shall mean the direct or indirect placing, exposing, depositing, distributing, or scattering of salt, grain, or other feed that could serve as a lure or attraction for migratory game birds to, on, or over any areas where hunters are attempting to take them; and "baited area" means any area on which salt, grain, or other feed has been placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, or scattered, if that salt, grain, or other feed could serve as a lure or attraction for migratory game birds to, on, or over areas where hunters are attempting to take them. Any such area will remain a baited area for 10 days following the complete removal of all such salt, grain, or other feed. Hunters may be charged with hunting over bait if they "know or reasonably should know" that the area is a baited area. The placing or directing the placement of bait on or adjacent to an area for the purpose of causing, inducing, or allowing any person to take or attempt to take any migratory game bird by the aid of baiting or on or over a baited area constitutes a separate offense.
  10. Waterfowl may not be hunted over manipulated planted millet, or over seed or grain from manipulated agricultural crops or normal agricultural operations except where seed or grain is present solely as a result of normal planting, harvesting or post-harvest manipulation or normal soil stabilization practice.

Possession and Transportation

  • Possession limits apply to transportation of game killed on more than one day.
  • Ownership and possession of birds legally taken by any hunter is deemed to have ceased when such birds have been delivered by him to a post office, a common carrier, or a commercial cold-storage or locker plant for transportation to some person other than the hunter.
  • No person may possess over the daily limit of any wild bird or animal while in the forests, fields or waters of this state.
  • If any person leaves migratory game birds in any place for any purpose, including temporary storage, the birds must have a tag attached with certain identifying information. Also, no person shall have in possession any migratory game birds belonging to another unless the birds are tagged.
  • Any person, without a permit, may possess and transport for his own use the plumage and skins of lawfully taken, migratory game birds.
  • Any persons, without a permit, may possess, dispose of and transport for the making of fishing flies, bed pillows, and mattresses, and for similar commercial uses, but not for millinery or ornamental use, feathers of wild ducks and wild geese lawfully killed, or seized and condemned by federal or state game authorities.
  • Any person, without a permit, may transport lawfully killed migratory game birds into, within, or out of any state during and after the open seasons in the state where taken, subject to these and other conditions and restrictions.
    1. If such birds are dressed, one fully feathered wing must remain attached to each bird so as to permit species identification while being transported between the place where taken and the personal abode of the possessor or between the place where taken and a commercial preservation facility.
    2. Any package or container in which such birds are transported must have the name, address and hunting license number of the shipper, name and address of the consignee and an accurate statement of the numbers and kinds of birds contained therein clearly and conspicuously marked on the outside thereof.

Waterfowl Blind Laws »

Areas Closed To Waterfowl Hunting

The discharge of firearms is prohibited within 750 yards of a wildlife sanctuary in any city in Virginia.

Taking, attempting to take, pursuing or disturbing waterfowl is prohibited in the following areas:

  • In Virginia Beach on the waters and from the shores of Crystal Lake, Linkhorn and Broad Bay and Long Creek and their tributaries.
  • Hog Island State Waterfowl Refuge in Surry County and all of the waters of the James River within a radius of 1,000 yards around that island, with the exception of blinds erected by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
  • The waters of the James River around Presquile National Wildlife Refuge (except for Turkey Island cutoff canal) to the mean low water mark on the opposite shore.
  • The Dick Cross Waterfowl Refuge below Kerr Dam and in the Roanoke River downstream to High Rock.
  • Within the posted section of the Rappahannock River adjacent to Lands End Waterfowl Refuge in King George County.
  • The waters of the Great Hunting Creek embayment within the City of Alexandria, and the waters of the Potomac River in Fairfax County north of Dyke Marsh and south of the City of Alexandria and between the shore and a line 1,000 feet from the Maryland State line, although waterfowl that have been wounded elsewhere may be pursued into this area.
  • The waters of Kane Creek Waterfowl Refuge within the boundaries of Mason Neck State Park in Fairfax County.
  • The waters of the Potomac River in Fairfax County adjacent to the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge extending from Sycamore Point northeasterly to Hallowing Point including all tributary creeks, guts, and inlets along the shoreline.
  • The portion of the New River that lies entirely within the boundaries of the Radford Army Ammunition Plant in the counties of Montgomery and Pulaski.