Where do I buy a Virginia hunting license?

Virginia hunting licenses and tags are sold by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) through its official licensing site. Buy direct from the agency rather than a reseller, and complete hunter education first if your birth year requires it.

When is Virginia hunting season?

Seasons differ by species, weapon and zone, and the Virginia season dates change every year. Our Virginia deer guide summarizes the 2025-26 deer season structure; for every other species, check the current Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) regulations before you plan a hunt.

Where is public hunting land in Virginia?

Good starting points include George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, Chester F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area, Amelia Wildlife Management Area. Confirm access rules, closures and special regulations with the managing agency before you go.

Hunting · State by State

Virginia Hunting Guide

What to hunt in Virginia, what it costs, the laws that matter and where the public land is — with the official Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) links.

From Blue Ridge hardwoods to Piedmont farmland and Tidewater bottomland, Virginia offers one of the East's longest deer seasons and biggest annual harvests.

Virginia's terrain splits roughly into three zones: steep, forested mountains in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest to the west, rolling Piedmont farmland and hardwoods in the middle of the state, and flat agricultural and swamp/bottomland terrain in Tidewater and the Eastern Shore.

Agency: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR)
Region: Southeast
Deer rank: #25 of 50
Species guides: 1

Virginia hunting license and tag costs

Deer license and tag prices as last reviewed. Other species' permits are listed in the agency fee schedule.

License / tag	Price
Resident hunting license	approx. $23
Resident big game license (deer/bear/turkey)	approx. $23
Nonresident hunting + big game combo package	approx. $171

Virginia hunting laws to know

Rules that catch hunters out most often. Not a substitute for the regulations book.

Topic	Rule
Blaze orange	At least 100 square inches of blaze orange visible from all directions required during firearms deer season on most public and private land, with limited exceptions.
Baiting	Baiting is illegal for hunting deer statewide in Virginia, on both public and private land.
Crossbows	Legal for all hunters during archery season, not just those with disabilities.
Sunday hunting	Sunday hunting is allowed on private land with landowner permission and on some public land, subject to firearm-discharge distance restrictions near dwellings and places of worship.
Legal firearms	Centerfire rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders and handguns are legal for deer during firearms season; specific calibers and restrictions vary by county in the eastern part of the state.
Tagging/reporting	All harvested deer must be reported through DWR's electronic harvest reporting system (phone, app, or online) by the end of the day of the kill.
CWD carcass transport	Carcass movement restrictions apply out of CWD-positive Disease Management Areas in western and northern Virginia; deboned meat, cleaned skull plates, and finished taxidermy are generally exempt.
Hunter education	Required for anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1972, before purchasing a hunting license.

Virginia deer season structure (2025-26)

Season lengths, weapon rules and either-sex days vary by county and DMU — always confirm current dates in the DWR hunting and trapping regulations digest before you hunt.

Season	Weapon	Typical window
Early Archery	Bow / crossbow	Early Oct – mid-Nov, statewide
Muzzleloader	Muzzleloader	Early-to-mid Nov, about two weeks
General Firearms	Rifle/shotgun	Mid-Nov – early Jan, length varies by county
Late Archery/Muzzleloader	Bow / crossbow / muzzleloader	Late Dec – early Jan, statewide
Special Youth/Apprentice & Urban Archery	Any legal weapon / bow	Varies; includes September urban archery and dedicated youth weekends

What you can hunt in Virginia

Deer — White-tailed deer
Very good · ranked #25 of 50 for deer.

Public hunting land in Virginia

Virginia has a strong mix of national forest, state forests, and DWR-managed wildlife management areas spread across all three of its major deer-hunting regions.

George Washington and Jefferson National Forest
National forest · Western Virginia
Over 1.6 million acres of mountain terrain with light pressure well off the main roads.
Official page
Chester F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area
WMA · Northern Piedmont
Large managed WMA along the Rappahannock River with mixed farmland and hardwoods.
Amelia Wildlife Management Area
WMA · Central Piedmont
One of the state's most popular WMAs, known for consistent deer numbers.
Big Woods Wildlife Management Area
WMA · Tidewater
Bottomland hardwoods and agricultural edges near the James River with strong deer densities.
Ramsey's Draft Wilderness / national forest tracts
National forest · Shenandoah Valley area
Rugged, lightly hunted wilderness terrain for hunters willing to hike in.
Hog Island Wildlife Management Area
WMA · Tidewater
Coastal plain terrain with agricultural fields, marsh edges and reliable deer sign.

Official Virginia links

Last reviewed 2026-09.

Nearby state hunting guides

Questions

Frequently asked

Where do I buy a Virginia hunting license?: Virginia hunting licenses and tags are sold by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) through its official licensing site. Buy direct from the agency rather than a reseller, and complete hunter education first if your birth year requires it.
When is Virginia hunting season?: Seasons differ by species, weapon and zone, and the Virginia season dates change every year. Our Virginia deer guide summarizes the 2025-26 deer season structure; for every other species, check the current Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) regulations before you plan a hunt.
Where is public hunting land in Virginia?: Good starting points include George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, Chester F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area, Amelia Wildlife Management Area. Confirm access rules, closures and special regulations with the managing agency before you go.