Virginia State Parks, managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, offer a variety of hunting opportunities, including reservation-only hunts and open hunting, throughout the season. Hunters can reserve stands or zones on a first come, first served basis at hunts across Virginia.
Muzzleloading and archery hunts will be held at: Kiptopeke State Park in Northampton County, Nov. 9-10, the reservation period begins Sept. 28; Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County, Nov. 7-12, the reservation period begins Sept. 30; Smith Mountain Lake State Park in Bedford County, Nov. 7-8 and Nov. 14-15, the reservation period begins Sept. 15; and York River State Park in James City County, Nov. 14-15, the reservation period begins Sept. 22.
Muzzleloading-only hunts will be held at Belle Isle State Park in Lancaster County, Nov. 7-8, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 23; Caledon State Park in King George County, Nov. 16-17, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 9; Grayson Highlands State Park in Grayson County, Nov. 7-8, with a reservation period beginning Sept. 8; James River State Park in Buckingham County, Nov. 7-8, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 16; Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania County, Nov. 10, with a reservation period beginning Sept. 14; Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County, Nov. 14-15, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 29; and Shenandoah River State Park in Warren County, Dec. 12-13, with a reservation period beginning Sept. 21.
A special youth muzzleloading hunt will be held at Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County on Nov. 19 with the reservation period beginning Sept. 29 and at Shenandoah River State Park in Warren County, Nov. 14, with a reservation period beginning Sept. 21.
Muzzleloading and shotgun hunts will be held at Claytor Lake State Park in Pulaski County Jan. 6-7, with the reservation period beginning Oct. 6; James River State Park in Buckingham County, Nov. 28-29 and Dec. 12-13, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 16; Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania County, Dec. 7-8, with a reservation period beginning Sept. 14; and at Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County, Jan. 13-14, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 29.
A muzzleloading-shotgun and archery hunt will be held at Kiptopeke State Park in Northampton County, Dec. 7-8, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 28; Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County Dec. 5-7 and Dec. 13-15, with a reservation period beginning Sept. 30; and at York River State Park in James City County Dec. 5-6, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 22.
Shotgun hunts will be held at Leesylvania State Park in Prince William County, Dec. 8 -9, with the reservation period beginning Oct. 7. And a shotgun hunt (slugs only) will be held on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at Widewater State Park, currently under development in Stafford CountyTen stands will be available for reservation beginning Oct. 7. This new DCR property is managed by staff at Leesylvania State Park.
General firearms hunts will be held at Belle Isle State Park in Lancaster County Dec. 14-15, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 23; and at Grayson Highlands State Park in Grayson County, Nov. 21-22, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 8.
Hunters may reserve preferred days and stands or zones by paying in advance $15 per day by calling the Virginia State Parks Customer Service Center, 800-933-7275 (PARK). 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 of four state parks: Fairy Stone in Patrick and Henry counties (call 276-930-2424 for information); Grayson Highlands in Grayson County; Hungry Mother in Smyth County; and Occoneechee in Mecklenburg County.
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 or cabin accommodations 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 or cabin reservations, call 800-933-7275 (PARK), or visit http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/hunting.
