From the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia State Parks, managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, offer a wide variety of hunting opportunities. Managed deer hunts are a tool in Virginia State Parks’ overall deer management program. Participating hunters are asked to support the management effort by following harvest guidelines associated with each hunt. Hunting opportunities range from open hunting in designated areas to managed deer hunts where individuals participate through a reservation or lottery system. Hunters can reserve stands or zones on a first-come, first-served basis at the following hunts:
Muzzleloading and archery hunts will be held at Kiptopeke State Park in Northampton County, Nov. 14-15, reservation period begins Sept. 12; Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County, Nov. 7-10, reservation period begins Sept. 26; Smith Mountain Lake State Park in Bedford County, Nov. 5-6, and Nov. 12-13, reservation period begins Sept. 13; and York River State Park in James City County, Nov. 13-14, reservation period begins Sept. 20.
Muzzleloading only hunts will be held at Belle Isle State Park in Lancaster County, Nov. 6-7, reservation period begins Sept. 21; Caledon State Park in King George County, Nov. 8, reservation period begins Sept. 5; Grayson Highlands State Park in Grayson County, Nov. 5-6, reservation period begins Sept. 7; James River State Park in Buckingham County, Nov. 5-6, reservation period begins Sept. 14; Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania County, Nov. 7, reservation period begins Sept. 27; Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County, Nov. 13-14, reservation period begins Sept. 28; and Shenandoah River State Park in Warren County, Nov. 6 and Nov. 13, reservation period begins Sept. 19.
A special youth muzzleloading hunt will be held at Shenandoah River State Park in Warren County, Nov. 12, reservation period begins Sept. 19.
Muzzleloading and shotgun hunts will be held at Belle Isle State Park in Lancaster County Dec. 10-11, reservation period begins Sept. 21; Claytor Lake State Park in Pulaski County Jan. 4-5, reservation period begins Oct. 4; James River State Park in Buckingham County, Nov. 26-27 and Dec. 10-11, reservation period begins Sept. 14; Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania County Dec. 5 and Dec. 12 reservation period begins Sept. 27; and Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County, Jan. 11-12, reservation period begins Sept. 28.
A muzzleloading-shotgun and archery hunt will be held at Kiptopeke State Park in Northampton County, Dec. 5-6, reservation period begins Sept. 12; and at Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County Dec. 4-6 and Dec. 18-20, reservation period begins Sept. 26.
Shotgun hunts (slugs only) will be held at Leesylvania State Park in Prince William County, Dec. 3 and Dec. 10, reservation period begins Oct. 5; at an undeveloped state park site in Loudoun County on Nov. 19 and Nov. 26, reservation period begins Sept. 6; and at Widewater State Park, in Stafford County, Dec. 6 and Dec. 13, reservation period begins Oct. 3.
General firearms hunts will be held at Grayson Highlands State Park in Grayson County Nov. 19-20, reservation period begins Sept. 7.
Hunters may reserve preferred days and stands or zones for an advanced fee of $15 a day by calling 800-933-7275. Reservations will be accepted until all slots are taken at each hunt, up to two days prior to the hunt, provided that the hunter can complete the payment before the day of the hunt. Some hunts require special qualifications or have special restrictions.
Open hunting is offered in designated areas at four state parks: Fairy Stone in Patrick and Henry counties; Grayson Highlands in Grayson County; Hungry Mother in Smyth County; and Occoneechee in Mecklenburg County. Designated areas within those parks are open to hunting throughout the hunting season. Statewide regulations apply. Contact the individual park for more information.
Archery hunt by permit only will be available at Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County. Contact the park for more information.
Wheelin’ Sportsmen Special Muzzleloader hunts for people with disabilities will be held at Shenandoah River State Park on Monday, Nov. 5, and at Lake Anna State Park on Tuesday, Nov. 6. A special General Firearms hunt will be held on Saturday, Nov. 17, at Staunton River State Park. Applications are available at www.vanwtf.com and the deadline to submit is Sept. 30. Contact Robin Clark, 434-249-6154, [email protected], for more information.
All hunting laws and regulations apply in Virginia State Parks. Additional rules may apply in individual parks, and all lottery and reservation hunts have special regulations.
Several state parks are in or near state forests, national forests or wildlife management areas that allow hunting. State parks with overnight accommodations are convenient and economical base camps for hunting anywhere in the area. These parks offer maps and affordable camping and cabins only minutes from the field. Campsites are available through early December, and cabins are open year-round.
For information on hunting licenses, hunter safety education and hunting regulations, call the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries at 804-367-1000 or visit www.dgif.virginia.gov.
For more information about hunting opportunities and programs in Virginia State Parks or camping and cabin reservations, call 800-933-7275 or visit www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/hunting.
Virginia State Parks that allow hunting:
Belle Isle State Park, Lancaster County, 804-462-5030
Caledon State Park, King George County, 540-663-3861
Claytor Lake State Park, Pulaski County, 540-643-2500
Fairy Stone State Park, Patrick County, 276-930-2424
Grayson Highlands State Park, Grayson County, 276-579-7092
Hungry Mother State Park, Smyth County, 276-781-7400
James River State Park, Buckingham County, 434-933-4355
Kiptopeke State Park, Northampton County, 757-331-2267
Lake Anna State Park, Spotsylvania County, 540-854-5503
Leesylvania State Park, Prince William County, 703-730-8205
Loudoun County site, 571-409-0030
Mason Neck State Park, Fairfax County, 703-490-4979
Natural Tunnel State Park, Scott County, 276-940-2674
Occoneechee State Park, Mecklenburg County, 434-374-2210
Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield County, 804-796-4255
Shenandoah River State Park, Warren County, 540-622-6840
Smith Mountain Lake State Park, Bedford County, 540-297-6066
Staunton River State Park, Halifax County, 434-572-4623
Widewater State Park, Stafford County, 703-730-8205
York River State Park, James City County, 757-566-3036
