Hunting is a treasured pastime in the state of Virginia adored by residents and visitors alike. If you would like to take part in Virginia hunting, you must obey the rules and regulations of the state. If you are between the ages of 12-15 or have not purchased a hunting license previously, you must complete a hunter education course. Prior to completing the course, apprentice licenses can be purchased. This allows new hunters to hunt in a season under the watch of a mentor without hunter education. 

Unless hunters are over the age of 65 and intend to hunt on private property, all hunters must obtain a hunting license. There are many hunting license exceptions that will excuse the need for a hunting license. For example, licenses are not necessary for individuals who live on Indian reservations, or stockholders owning 50% or more stock of a corporation owning land in Virginia. 

The game you intend to hunt determines the different additional licenses you may need to obtain. The Department of Wildlife Resources website has helpful guides, PDFS, and charts that can help you determine what stamps, tags, and licenses you need for your chosen game. Other regulations hunters must follow are hunting hours, Sunday hunting guidelines, and dog hunting guidelines.

Depending on the game, you must also report your harvest. Some of the reporting processes are more complex. For example in order to report a bear, hunters must properly submit a premolar bear tooth. Regardless of the level of experience, hunters are advised to research updated information before every season as they change annually.