Welcome, hunters and nature enthusiasts, to Virginia’s Hunting Season 2023-24. This guide explores the essence and details of various hunting seasons, helping you plan your ultimate outdoor adventure.
What is this season all about?
Virginia Hunting Season is a diverse and exhilarating experience that unfolds throughout the year, offering enthusiasts the opportunity to engage with nature, uphold traditions, and contribute to wildlife management.
Various Seasons Categorized by each type of animal
Bear Season
| VA Bear Season | Season Start Date | Season End Date |
| Archery Bear Season | 7 – Oct – 2023 | 14 – Nov – 2023 |
| Youth & Apprentice Bear hunting | 14 – Oct – 2023 | 15 – Oct – 2023 |
| Muzzleloader Bear Season | 11 – Nov – 2023 | 17 – Nov – 2023 |
| Early Firearms Bear Season | 2 – Oct – 2023 | 4 – Oct – 2023 |
| Firearms Bear Seasons | 1 – Oct – 2023 | 6 – Jan – 2024 |
| Bear Hound Training/Chase Season | 1 – Aug – 2023 | 2 – Dec – 2023 |
Deer Season
| Seasons | Season Start Date | Season End Date |
| Early Archery Season | 7 – Oct – 2023 | 17 – Nov – 2023 |
| Late Archery Seasons | 1 – Dec – 2023 | 6 – Jan – 2023 |
| Urban Archery Deer | 2 – Sept – 2023 | 31 – Mar – 2024 |
| NOVA Late Archery Season | 1 – Apr – 2024 | 28 – Apr – 2024 |
| Early Muzzleloader Season | 4 – Nov – 2023 | 17 – Nov – 2023 |
| Late Muzzleloader Season (East of the blue ridge) | 16 – Dec – 2023 | 6 – Jan – 2024 |
| Late Muzzleloader Season (West of the blue ridge) | 16 – Dec – 2023 | 6 – Jan – 2024 |
| Firearms Deer Season | 1 – Oct – 2023 | 6 – Jan – 2024 |
| Early & Late Antlerless Only Firearms Deer Season | 2 – Sep – 2023 | 31 – Mar – 2024 |
Elk Season
| VA Elk Season | Season Start Date | Season End Date |
| Elk hunt within the Elk Management Zone (Buchanan, Dickenson, and Wise counties) | 14 – Oct – 2023 | 20 – Nov – 2023 |
| Early Archery Seasons | 7 – Oct – 2023 | 17 – Nov – 2023 |
| Late Archery Seasons | 1 – Dec – 2023 | 6 – Jan – 2023 |
| Urban Archery Season | 2 – Sept – 2023 | 31 – Mar – 2024 |
| NOVA Late Archery Season | 1 – Apr – 2024 | 28 – Apr – 2024 |
| Early Muzzleloader Season | 4 – Nov – 2023 | 17 – Nov – 2023 |
| Late Muzzleloader Season (East of the blue ridge) | 16 – Dec – 2023 | 6 – Jan – 2024 |
| Late Muzzleloader Season (West of the blue ridge) | 16 – Dec – 2023 | 6 – Jan – 2024 |
| Firearms Season | 1 – Oct – 2023 | 6 – Jan – 2024 |
| Early & Late Antlerless Only Firearms Season | 2 – Sep – 2023 | 31 – Mar – 2024 |
Turkey Season
| VA Turkey Season | Season Start Date | Season End Date |
| Fall Archery Turkey Season | 7 – Oct – 2023 | 17 – Nov – 2023 |
| Youth & Apprentice Fall Turkey Hunting Weekend | 14 – Oct – 2023 | 15 – Oct – 2023 |
| Fall Firearms Turkey Season | 21 – Oct – 2023 | 27 – Jan – 2024 |
| Spring Turkey Season | 13 – Apr – 2024 | 18 – May – 2024 |
| Youth & Apprentice Spring Turkey Hunting Weekend | 6 – Apr – 2024 | 7 – Apr – 2024 |
VA Furbearer Season
Bobcat Season
| Bobcat Seasons | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit |
| Archery Season | 7 – Oct – 2023 | 31 – Oct – 2023 | Two per hunting party taken between noon one day & noon the following day |
| Youth & Apprentice Fall Turkey Hunting Weekend | 1 – Nov – 2023 | 29 – Feb – 2024 | Two per hunting party taken between noon one day & noon the following day |
Coyote Season
| Seasons | Season Start Date | Season End Date |
| Coyote | 1 – Sep – 2023 | 10 – Mar – 2024 |
Fox Season
| Seasons | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit |
| Red Fox | 1 – Nov – 2023 | 29 – Feb – 2024 | Two per hunting party taken between noon one day & noon the following day |
| Gray Fox | 1 – Jan – 2024 | 29 – Feb – 2024 | Two per hunting party taken between noon one day & noon the following day |
Opossum Season
| Seasons | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Notes |
| Opossum Season | 15 – Oct – 2023 | 23 – Mar – 2024 | Statewide |
Skunk Season
| Seasons | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Note |
| Skunk | Continuous Open | Except on National Forest lands and department lands | |
| Stripped Skunk | 1 – Sep – 2023 | 10 – Mar – 2024 | On National Forest and department lands |
VA Furbearer Trapping Season
| Bobcat Seasons | Season Start Date | Season End Date |
| Beaver | 1 – Dec – 2023 | 29 – Feb – 2024 |
| Bobcat | 15 – Nov – 2023 | 29 – Feb – 2024 |
| Fisher | Continuous | |
| Red Fox | 15 – Nov – 2023 | 29 – Feb – 2024 |
| Gray Fox | 15 – Nov – 2023 | 29 – Feb – 2024 |
| Mink | 1 – Dec – 2023 | 29 – Feb –2024 |
| Muskrat | 1 – Dec – 2023 | 29 – Feb -2024 |
| Nutria | Continuous | |
| Opossum | 15 – Nov – 2023 | 29 – Feb – 2024 |
| Otter | 1 – Dec – 2023 | 29 – Feb –2024 |
| Rabbit | 15 – Oct – 2023 | 31 – Jan –2024 |
| Racoon | 15 – Nov – 2023 | 29 – Feb – 2024 |
| Skunk | Continuous | |
| Weasel | 1 – Dec – 2023 | 29 – Feb – 2024 |
VA Migratory Season
Virginia Dove Season
| VA Dove Seasons | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
| Statewide | ||||
| First Segment | 2 – Sep | 22 – Oct | 15 per day | 45 |
| 3 – Sep | 22 – Oct | 15 per day | 45 | |
| Second Segment | 18 – Nov | 26 – Nov | 15 per day | 45 |
| Third Segment | 22 – Dec | 20 – Jan | 15 per day | 45 |
| Wildlife Management Areas | ||||
| First Segment | 2 – Sep | 21 – Oct | 15 per day | 45 |
| Second Segment | 18 – Nov | 26 – Nov | 15 per day | 45 |
| Third Segment | 22 – Dec | 20 – Jan | 15 per day | 45 |
Rails & Gallinules Season
| Rails & Gallinules Season | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
| Clapper/ King Rails | 11 – Sep | 5 – Nov | 15 counted together daily, only one of which may be a king rail | 15 per day, only 3 of which can be king rails |
| Clapper/ King Rails | 13 – Nov | 26 – Nov | ||
| Sora/ Virginia | 11 – Sep | 5 – Nov | ||
| 13 – Nov | 26 – Nov | 25 | 75 | |
| Common & Purple Gallinule | 11 – Sep | 5 – Nov | ||
| 13 – Nov | 26 – Nov | 15 | 45 |
Woodcock Season
| Seasons | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
| Woodcock | 10 – Nov | 27 – Nov | ||
| 26 – Dec | 21 – Jan | 3 per day | 9 |
Snipe Season
| Seasons | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
| Snipe | 25 – Sep | 26 – Nov | 8 per day | 24 |
| 19 – Dec | 31 – Jan | 8 per day | 24 |
VA Waterfowl Season
Teal Season
| Seasons | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
| September Teal | 17 – Sep | 30 – Sep | 6 per day | 18 |
| 21 – Sep | 30 – Sep | 6 per day | 18 |
Mergansers Season
| Seasons | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
| Mergansers | 6 – Oct | 9 – Oct | 5 birds daily | 15 |
| 15 – Nov | 26 – Nov | 5 birds daily | 15 | |
| 19 – Dec | 31 – Jan | 5 birds daily | 15 |
Ducks Season
| Seasons | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit |
| Ducks | 6 – Oct | 9 – Oct | 6 |
| 15 – Nov | 26 – Nov | 6 | |
| 19 – Dec | 31 – Jan | 6 |
Coots Season
| Seasons | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
| Coots | 6 – Oct | 9 – Oct | 15 per day | 45 |
| 15 – Nov | 26 – Nov | 15 per day | 45 | |
| 19 – Dec | 31 – Jan | 15 per day | 45 |
Goose Season
| Seasons | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
| Canada Goose (Atlantic Population Zone) | 22-Nov | 26-Nov | 2 geese per day | 6 |
| Canada Goose (Atlantic Population Zone) | 23-Dec | 31-Jan | 2 geese per day | 6 |
| Resident Population Zone | 15-Nov | 26-Nov | 5 geese per day | 15 |
| Canada Goose (Resident Population Zone) | 19-Dec | 24-Feb | 5 geese per day | 15 |
| September Canada Goose | 1-Sep | 25-Sep | 10 per day | 30 |
| Light Goose (Regular Season) | 17-Oct | 31-Jan | 25 per day | No limit |
| Light Goose Conservation Order | 1-Feb | 5-Apr | No Limit | No Limit |
Brant Season
| Seasons | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit | Possession Limit |
| Atlantic Brant | 23-Dec | 31-Dec | 1 per day | 3 |
| 11-Jan | 31-Jan | 1 per day | 3 |
Swan Season
| Seasons | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit |
| Tundra Swan | 15-Nov | 31-Jan | 1/permittee per season. |
WMA Waterfowl Hunting
| Wildlife Management Area | Season Start Date | Season End Date | Bag Limit |
| Mattaponi WMA | 6-Oct | 9-Oct | Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays |
| Game Farm Marsh WMA | October 6, 7, 9 | Fridays, Saturdays, Mondays | |
| 15-Nov | 26-Nov | Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays | |
| 19-Dec | 31-Jan | Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays | |
| Robert W. Duncan WMA | 6-Oct | Thursdays, Sundays | |
| Mattaponi Bluffs WMA | October 6-9 | Quota hunt only (Oct 6, 7, Nov 15, Dec 19) | |
| 8 – Jan | 3 – Feb | Wednesday, Saturdays | |
Youth & Veterans Waterfowl Hunt
| Seasons | Season Start Date | Note |
| Youth & Veterans Waterfowl Hunting Days | 21 – Oct | Statewide |
| 3 – Feb | Statewide |
Where the Wilderness Speaks
To read more about the VA hunting seasons and regulations:
- Virginia DWR: The official website of Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Conclusion:
Embrace the Call of the Wild
Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or a newcomer to the world of hunting, these seasons offer a unique opportunity to connect with nature, uphold traditions, and create lasting memories.
Gear up, respect the wilderness, and embark on an adventure that transcends time. Happy hunting!