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It’s time once again for fall hunting seasons in Rockbridge County. Many small game and furbearers’ seasons opened in early September, while most big game seasons open with various regulated weapons’ seasons in October and November. The following information applies only to Rockbridge County regarding fall hunting seasons.
Information marked with asterisks is quoted verbatim from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website at dwr.virginia.gov to ensure accuracy regarding hunting and firearms regulations.
Big Game Bear seasons: Youth and apprentice hunting weekend will be Oct. 12-13. Archery season for bear is Oct. 5 - Nov. 15. Muzzleloader season is Nov. 9-15. Regular firearms season begins Nov. 25 and runs through until Jan. 4.
*To report a bear, a hunter must have a customer account through Go Outdoors Virginia. It is free and easy to set up your account. If you have any problems, please call (804) 367-1000. The bag limit for bears is one per license year, at least 100 pounds live weight or 75 pounds dressed weight (all internal organs removed). Females with cubs may not be harvested. Cubs may be 30–50 pounds by fall. Please observe and be patient before shooting as cubs often lag behind the female. It is unlawful to feed or bait bears, shoot without intent to retrieve the bear, and cripple, harm or dislodge a bear and continue to hunt. Dogs may not be used to hunt bears in the following scenarios: on Sundays while in possession of a weapon which shall include, but not be limited to, having a firearm, bow, cross-bow, or any weapon capable of taking a black bear in or on one’s person, vehicle, or conveyance; and from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1 west of the Blue Ridge, which includes Rockbridge. Successful bear hunters must report their harvest through the internet at GoOutdoorsVirginia. com, via the Go Outdoors Virginia mobile app, or by telephone and also submit a bear tooth. The age of your harvested bear will be available online 9 to 10 months after the hunting season ends at the DWR website.
Dear seasons: Early archery season is Oct. 5 - Nov. 15. Late archery season begins Dec. 1 and runs through until Jan. 4. Early muzzleloader season is Nov. 2-15. Either-sex may be taken on Nov. 9 on private lands. Late muzzleloader season is Dec. 14 - Jan. 4. Either-sex may be taken on private lands Dec. 30 - Jan. 4. Regular firearms season is Nov. 16-30.
*West of the Blue Ridge, the bag limit for deer shall be two a day and five a license year. Of the five-deer limit, no more than two may be antlered deer and at least three must be antlerless deer unless noted in the following exceptions: 1) the daily bag limit for deer shall be unlimited in all cities and towns west of the Blue Ridge. However, no more than two antlered deer may be taken in a license year, 2) only one deer per day may be taken on National Forest lands and Department-owned and Department-managed lands, and 3) if a deer hunter kills two antlered bucks in a license year in Rockbridge County, at least one of the bucks must have at least four antler points, one inch or longer, on one side of the antlers.
Elk seasons: *Any elk (bull, cow, or calf) can be taken on any day of an open deer season (archery, muzzleloader, or firearms) in all areas outside of Buchanan, Dickinson and Wise counties. Legal weapons for taking elk coincide with legal weapons for deer during that specific season except that elk may not be taken with a slingbow or air rifle.
Reporting requirements for elk are the same as those for deer, but the animal should be reported as an elk. After receiving a confirmation number, successful elk hunters must also contact the Department at (804) 367-0044 to schedule a time for collection of biological samples. This number is only intended for making arrangements for tissue sample collection from harvested elk.
It is illegal to destroy the sex identity of any harvested elk until reported. Elk may be dismembered to pack it out of the place of kill, but the sex and all parts of the carcass (except internal organs) must be present when the elk is reported. The taking of an elk counts toward a hunter’s daily and seasonal bag limits for deer. Only one elk per day may be taken statewide. An elk with antlers above the hairline counts toward a hunter’s either-sex (buck) deer limit. An animal without antlers counts toward a hunter’s daily and seasonal antlerless deer limit. Elk cannot be harvested on DPOP, DMAP, or DCAP tags.
Turkey seasons: Archery season is Oct. 5 - Nov. 15. Youth and apprentice hunting weekend will be Oct. 12-13. Regular firearms seasons are Oct. 19 - Nov. 1, Nov. 27-28, Dec. 2 - Dec. 28 and Jan. 1126.
*Turkey bag limits are one per day, three per license year, no more than two of which may be taken in the fall. Of the 3 per license year, during archery and fall firearms season, one per day of either sex may be taken.
Small Game Crow season is open Aug. 17 through March 21, only on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and Sept. 2 through March 10 on National Forest and Department- owned lands on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays only.
*Crows are a federally regulated migratory species; however, no HIP registration is required and hunters may use unplugged shotguns to hunt them. Electronic calls may be used on private and public lands. Written permission of the landowner is not required to hunt crows with electronic calls, except when hunting on posted property.
Groundhog season is open continuously on private lands and Sept. 1 through March 10 on National Forest and Department- owned lands.
Grouse season is open Oct. 26 - Feb. 8. The bag limit is three per day.
Quail and Pheasant season is closed on all public lands west of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Rabbit season is open Nov. 2 through Feb. 28. The bag limit is six per day.
*Important carcass disposal regulations due to rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus serotype 2 (RHDV2) still applies and these regulations can be found in detail at https://dwr. virginia.gov/wp-content/ uploads/media/RHDV2Hunters-and-Field-Trials-Guidance-Factsheet.pdf. Squirrel seasons: Gray and Red Squirrel season is Sept. 7 through Feb. 28. Fox Squirrel season is Sept. 7 through Jan. 31. The bag limit is six per day - all squirrels combined.
Furbearers Bobcat season: Archery season is Oct. 5-31. Firearms season is Nov. 1 through Feb. 28.
*During bobcat archery season, it is unlawful to use dogs when hunting with archery tackle, it is unlawful to have a firearm in possession, and persons with a disability that prevents them from drawing a bow or crossbow may hunt with an arrowgun during the special archery season provided they have in possession an authorization form provided by the Department that has been completed by their physician. During bobcat firearms season, dogs may not be used to hunt bobcats during the deer firearms season in Rockbridge and within the boundaries of the George Washington/ Jefferson National Forests. Specific requirements regarding electronic checking and CITES tagging can be found at https://dwr.virginia. gov/ hunting /reg ulations/ furbearerhunting/#bobcat.
Coyote season is open continuously on private lands and Sept. 1, 2024 - March 10, 2025 on National Forest and Department owned lands. For information regarding coyote bounty laws, contact your local county board of supervisors.
Fox seasons: Red Fox fi rearms season is Nov. 1 through Feb. 28. Gray Fox firearms seasons is Jan. 1 through Feb. 29. One per hunting party may be taken between noon of one day and noon the following day.
*Dogs may not be used to hunt foxes during the firearms season for deer on the Gathright, Goshen, Highland, and Little North Mountain Wildlife Management Areas and within the boundaries of the George Washington/Jefferson National Forests.
Specific regulations regarding chase-only season, and licensing requirements can be found at https://dwr.virginia. gov/ hunting /reg ulations/ furbearerhunting/#fox.
Opossum firearms season is Oct. 15 through March 10.
Raccoon firearms season is Oct. 15 through March 10.
*The bag limit is two per hunting party (individual or organized) taken between noon one day and noon the following day. Lights may be used as long as it is not attached to or cast from a vehicle. Chase season on department-controlled lands west of the Blue Ridge Mountains and on National Forest lands where bear hound training is permitted ended on Sept. 28. Specific regulations regarding the use of dogs, chase-only season, and licensing requirements can be found at https://dwr.virginia. gov/ hunting /reg ulations/ furbearerhunting/#raccoon.
Striped Skunk season is open continuously on private lands and Sept. 1 - March 10 on National Forest and Department- owned lands.
*Continuous closed season for taking spotted skunks, and the pelts of spotted skunks may not be sold.
*Electronic calls may be used to hunt bobcats, coyotes, crows, foxes and raccoons, but not other species. With the exception of crows, written permission of the landowner is required to hunt with electronic calls on private lands. Electronic calls may also be used on public lands (except where specifically prohibited) during periods when the use of firearms is allowed. -Information regarding migratory gamebird seasons, regulations, restrictions, bag limits, licensing requirements, etc. can be found at https://dwr.virginia.gov/hunting/ regulations/#migratorygamebirds.
More detailed information regarding licensing, specific regulations, exceptions for concealed-carry permit holders, and seasons in other areas as well as updates on legal methods and restrictions for all seasons can be found on the DWR’s website. Please visit https://dwr.virginia.gov/ hunting/regulations/ before planning any hunt.
As always, be mindful and safe during all open hunting seasons.
