VDCR
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 the park system’s wildlife management program. 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.

Muzzle loading and archery hunts will be held at these state parks:

Kiptopeke in Northampton County, Nov. 15-16, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 13;

Pocahontas in Chesterfield County, Nov. 6-11, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 27;

Smith Mountain Lake in Bedford County, Nov. 6-7, and Nov. 13-14, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 14; and York River in James City County Nov. 13-14, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 21.

Muzzle loading only hunts will be held at these state parks: Belle Isle in Lancaster County, Nov. 7-8, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 22; Caledon in King George County, Nov.16, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 8; Grayson Highlands in Grayson County, Nov. 6-7, with a reservation period beginning Sept. 7; James River in Buckingham County, Nov. 6-7, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 15; Lake Anna in Spotsylvania County, Nov. 8, with a reservation period beginning Sept.29; Natural Tunnel in Scott County, Nov. 13-14, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 28; and Shenandoah River in Warren County, Nov. 7 and Nov. 14 with a reservation period beginning Sept. 20.

A special youth muzzle loading hunt will be held at Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County on Nov. 4 with the reservation period beginning Sept. 28 and at Shenandoah River State Park in Warren County, Nov. 13, with a reservation period beginning Sept. 20.

Muzzle loading and shotgun hunts will be held at Belle Isle State Park in Lancaster County, Dec. 11-12, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 22; Claytor Lake State Park in Pulaski County, Jan. 5-6, with the reservation period beginning Oct. 5; James River State Park in Buckingham County, Nov. 20-21 and Dec. 4-5, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 15; Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania County, Dec. 6-7 with a reservation period beginning Sept. 29; and at Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County, Jan. 19-20, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 28.

A muzzle loading, shotgun and archery hunt will be held at Kiptopeke State Park in Northampton County, Dec. 6-7, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 13; and at Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County Dec. 11-13 and Jan. 3-5, with a reservation period beginning Sept. 27.

Shotgun hunts (slugs only) will be held at Leesylvania State Park in Prince William County, Dec. 6 and Dec. 13, with the reservation period beginning Oct. 6; and at Widewater State Park in Stafford County, Dec. 7 and Dec. 14, with the reservation period beginning Oct. 4.

General firearms hunts will be held at Grayson Highlands State Park in Grayson County, Nov. 20-21, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 7.

Hunters may reserve preferred days and stands or zones for an advanced fee of $15 a day by calling the Virginia State Parks Customer Service Center, 800-933-7275 (PARK.) Reservations will be accepted until all slots are filled for each hunt, up to two days prior to the hunt, provided that the hunter completes 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.

An 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 Nov. 6 and at Lake Anna State Park on Nov. 7. A special general firearms hunt will be held on Nov. 18 at Staunton River State Park. Applications will be available Aug. 1, and the deadline is Sept. 30. Apply or download the application at http://www.vanwtf.com/wheelin.aspx. Contact Robin Clark, 434-249-6154, weeeelz@aol.com, for details.

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 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, camping, cabins and programs in Virginia State Parks, call 800-933-7275 (PARK) or visit http://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
• Chippokes Plantation State Park, Surry County, 757-294-3728
• 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
• 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, 757-566-3036W