Hey folks! I recently moved here from Mississippi where I hunted all my life. I’m looking for any solid public or private hunting land mainly for deer (would like to kill a bear but not priority). Last year I hunted okay-ish private land for a non hunting family, but had poor time with the land and their neighbors (long story) and don’t want to go back this season. I’m curious if there is any good (in terms of the people) public hunting land or if there are any hunting clubs within about 2 hours of Virginia Beach, I know it’s late to look for clubs but if there are any accepting for this year I’d happily pay for a good community, thank yall!

I noticed inside the DWR app there is a tab at the top called vehicles but I don’t see how/where/why it’s there?

Hello, I live in a rural county outside of RVA. The area I live at has a fair amount of developments that have larger lot sizes that are all wooded. My neighborhood has large amounts of oaks and other native and non native food sources for wildlife. There is a healthy adult deer population and an equal buck to doe ratio. What is dumbfounding to me is the amount of fawns that I have documented in my area. I have only seen two of the same fawns which have a distinct mother. I am very confused as to why there is only two fawns out of a large healthy deer herd. My hunting property which has poor food quantity and lower deer population does not have this fawn issue. Every doe on this property has 1-2 fawns. Does anyone have any ideas on why there is a lacking in fawns in my area?

Side note- the area has a fair amount of car travel. I have not seen any dead fawns on the side of the road. The area has had a few coyote sightings. The predation does not seem to be a factor in the fawn issue.

Rut activity in my neighborhood was very late and continued into early February with Bucks actively chasing doe.

I’m down here near Giles and Montgomery County, but I’m used to hunting private down in deeper SWVA with my family.

Never hunted public before. I got my license, and National Forest Permit, but unsure exactly how to hunt public. Do I just find a spot off an old logging trail, pull off and walk into the forest? I don’t want to be “that guy” who walks past a hunter and ruins their day.

This is the Jefferson National Forest by the way.

What are the regulations for shooting nuisance raccoons in Rockbridge county? (I just moved here)

They’ve come dangerously close to eating/killing my ducks and I don’t want that to happen.

I’ve looked online but there are 80,000 different answers and I just wanna be sure.

Is there public land in sw Virginia that is good for duc hunting?

Hi everyone!

I've lived in NoVa for about four years and I really want to get back into hunting. I haven't really hunted since I was a teenager, but this year I was hoping to get back into it. I know that Virginia has a Hunter's Mentorship program through its DWR, but it looks like I missed the sign up.

Does anyone have any other recommendations for finding a hunting mentor in this state? I'd appreciate re-learning the ropes from someone since it's been almost 15 years since I've hunted. Although I've only ever hunted whitetail deer, I'm open to hunting other types of game.

Thanks!

I know that coon hunting in general doesn’t happen much in the northern counties of the commonwealth and everyone always talks about how Thompson WMA gets extremely crowded from the DC suburb folks so I’m curious if anyone has ever witnessed or heard of coon hunters at Thompson WMA?

As the title says I just moved to the northern Va area from the middle of nowhere where I could quite literally hunt in my backyard. I’ve grown up waterfowl hunting and some deer hunting here and there but never really enjoyed that much. Anyways just looking to see if it’s even possible to find some public hunting spots as I don’t live on kind of land here, and don’t know anybody. I’m sure the options are scarce but hopefully not impossible as I’m not looking to give it up entirely. Primarily duck hunting or upland bird hunting would be even better as I’ve got two gsp’s who love it more than anything. Although from my very limited amount of research it sounds like upland bird populations have drastically declined here in the last number of years. Any information or advice would be greatly appreciated. Not looking for specific spots just a general idea of what might be possible within a couple hours of say Fairfax county. I don’t mind a drive. Thanks!

Hi, I’m out in Western Loudoun and am hoping to find a good dove field for this season. Would appreciate any tips or contacts anyone might have. Willing to pay for a lease. Thanks!

Considering I had surgery in February and was worried i wouldn’t be able to hunt much and certainly was going to struggle to cover ground the way i normally do. It all worked out pretty well. Tagged out for the spring. Going to revel in this for awhile but already looking forward to deer season in the fall.

Hey all, I have never done any hunting before this year. I went deer hunting with a friend. It was cool but as I'm diving more into this I really want to try upland hunting. My guess is I should probably get a guide to try it. I am wondering if anyone has any advice on this approach or even a recommendation for a guide.

Posted recently about some turkeys giving me fits running around an active timber project. I decided id had enough of those birds and went to other side of the property to get back to doing what i know works. Finding fresh sign, setting up, and cold calling. Never gobbled but about climbed into my lap.

Wondering if anyone has in info on the hunting at MCBQ. Anyone seen birds there and if it’s worth getting the permit to hunt on it? Any feedback welcome thanks!

Not looking for advice just figured id give some due admiration to these wonderful birds. Im having a great season, tagged one opening day, have found some great pockets of (mostly) unpressured birds and am getting action more often than not. But one group of birds in particular has me absolutely chasing my tail. I like to hunt thicker cover and hill country due to the added ability to move and set up in ways that force them into range. But i found a bunch of birds using an active logging operation and the country is wide open. The loggers come and the birds filter out into fields, then the loggers leave and they filter back into the fresh cut, which you can easily see 200-300 yards in most places while simultaneously being full of slash and things that generally hang toms up. Ill have one blow through all of it and come straight to me then another wont leave the logging road. Meanwhile others roost in tiny trees out in the middle of the fields where its about impossible to get set up. Ive never met such a challenging batch of birds before. I always say i love dumb deer and prefer smart turkeys…but this flock seems to be outsmarting me.

Opening day longbeard picture for self soothing purposes.

ADVICE NEEDED! Me and a buddy had a great hunt this past weekend. My first time ever in the field for turkeys. We scouted a bird and roosted him the night before on a ridge above his roost. Set up on the same ridge in the morning and called him. Got him to commit to us and he came 30 yards in front and spooked. We did everything right and for our first mountain hunt it went perfect minus closing the deal. Going back this coming weekend for the same bird hopefully. Wondering if some experienced mountain hunters could tell me if he’ll be in the same area or not. Also planning on going to another adjacent ridge from the one before is a good idea. There is no hens in the area that’s why I think he committed so hard. All advice is welcome on sealing the deal on this bird. Thanks!

Anybody on here turkey hunting Quantico? Went out yesterday and heard a few gobbles but couldn’t tag a bird. I did see 3 hens crossing a gravel road so I think I’m close, gonna get out early tomorrow morning to beat the fly down.

Looking for any whitetail hunters in NOVA.....I currently live there but am moving and want to gift some of my gear such as climbing sticks and stands, etc..... Please DM me.....thanks!

Was planning to hunt Powhatan WMA tomorrow to avoid some of the crowds. I'm a new hunter so I was curious how crowded it could possibly be on a weekday. I'm expecting there to at least be a car or two on each access point but it's like 7000 acres so I can live with that. Anybody have any insight here on if it's worth going in before work?

Anyone get any turkey on this opening day? I had a hen come by and heard some gobble gobble. But not Jakes. Guess I’ll head back out next Saturday.

Dont forget to set those alarms and hope gobble for everyone in the morning.

Anyone have the new link for vahunting discord server