Virginia hunting
Public hunting land in Virginia
Caliber maps 120 public hunting areas in Virginia, with Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources's license fees, hunter education rules and official links in one place. Find the closest land to you on a list or a map, free.
Virginia · 120 areas
George Washington National Forest
National forest · 960,993 acres
Jefferson National Forest
National forest · 712,461 acres
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 172,633 acres
Goshen and Little North Mountain Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife area · 66,546 acres
Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area
State wildlife area · 49,708 acres
Largest areas shown. Caliber sorts all 120 by distance from you.
- 96
- State wildlife areas
- 7
- National forests
- 17
- National wildlife refuges
Virginia hunting licenses and rules
- Wildlife agency
- Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
- Phone
- 804-367-1000 (license customer service: 1-866-721-6911)
- Resident license
- $28 — Resident License to Hunt (age 16+, annual); deer/turkey and bear licenses are separate
- Nonresident license
- $136 — Nonresident License to Hunt (age 16+, annual); deer/turkey ($136) and bear ($176) extra
- Hunter education
- Required before buying a license if age 12-15 or you have never bought a regular hunting license; apprentice license defers it.
- Good to know
- A Public Access Lands for Sportsmen (PALS) permit ($23) is required on PALS lands; some State Forests require a State Forest Use Permit.
Fees and rules as published by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, checked Oct 31, 2026. They change, so confirm on the agency's site. This isn't legal advice.
Official links
- Hunting licenses
- Season dates
- Regulations
- Public hunting lands
- Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website
Practicing for hunter ed?
Caliber has unofficial hunter education practice questions with explanations.
Try sample questions →Largest public hunting areas in Virginia
The 12 biggest of 120 areas. Caliber has every one, with a map, and sorts them by distance from you.
| Area | Type | Acres | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| George Washington National Forest | National forest | 960,993 | Open |
| Jefferson National Forest | National forest | 712,461 | Open |
| Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 172,633 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Goshen and Little North Mountain Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 66,546 | Open |
| Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 49,708 | Open |
| Highland Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 27,631 | Open |
| Gathright Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 26,314 | Open |
| Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 23,723 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Rapidan Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 19,969 | Open |
| Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 17,456 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
| Mockhorn Wildlife Management Area | State wildlife area | 15,406 | Open |
| Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge | Wildlife refuge | 15,282 | Restricted: permit, reservation or special rules |
State wildlife areas · 96
Run for wildlife and, usually, hunting. Many need a state license plus a land-use permit or have their own season dates, draw hunts or weapon limits.
National forests · 7
Hunting is generally allowed under state hunting laws, except near developed sites and where posted. Some areas close for fire or wildlife.
National wildlife refuges · 17
Refuges allow hunting only where and when each refuge opens it, often with its own permit and rules. Check the refuge's hunt page before you go.
Virginia hunting FAQ
Where can I find public hunting land in Virginia?
Caliber lists 120 public hunting areas in Virginia: 96 state wildlife areas, 7 national forests, 17 national wildlife refuges. Open Caliber, enter your ZIP and see the closest areas on a list or a map. Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources also publishes its own public hunting land information on its website.
How much is a hunting license in Virginia?
As published by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (checked Oct 31, 2026): resident, $28 — Resident License to Hunt (age 16+, annual); deer/turkey and bear licenses are separate; nonresident, $136 — Nonresident License to Hunt (age 16+, annual); deer/turkey ($136) and bear ($176) extra. Fees change, so confirm on the agency's licensing page before you buy.
Do I need hunter education to hunt in Virginia?
Required before buying a license if age 12-15 or you have never bought a regular hunting license; apprentice license defers it. Check Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources for exemptions and current rules.
When is hunting season in Virginia?
Seasons vary by species, zone and year, so Caliber links to Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources's official season-date page instead of listing dates. Always check current regulations before you hunt.
Find Virginia hunting land near you
All 120 Virginia areas on a list or a map, sorted by distance, plus a free bullet drop calculator and DOPE book. Free on iPhone.
Free download · Optional Caliber Pro upgrade · iPhone and iPad
Public hunting land in other states
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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Area data: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1, public domain. Access as recorded in PAD-US. Always check current regulations, seasons and access rules with Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and the managing agency before you hunt.
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