Bear Hunting

General Information

To report a bear, a hunter must have a customer account through GoOutdoorsVA. It is free and easy to set up your account at www.gooutdoorsvirginia.com/. If you have any problems, please call 804-367-1000.

Bag Limits

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 lbs by fall. Please observe and be patient before shooting as cubs often lag behind the female.

Unlawful to Feed or Bait Bears

See Hunting Information for details.

Feeding or baiting prohibited year round and statewide. Do your part to keep bears wild, reduce human-bear conflicts, and slow the spread of mange. Bears with mange will have hair loss, dry and scaly skin, and sometimes look thin or starving (see Black Bears with Mange).

Unlawful to Shoot Without Intent to Retrieve the Bear

No person shall kill or cripple and knowingly allow any game animal to be wasted without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the animal and retain it in their possession.

Unlawful to Cripple, Harm, or Dislodge and Continue to Hunt

It is unlawful to cripple, harm or dislodge a bear from a tree for the intent of continuing a hunt, chase, or for the purpose of training dogs.

Bear Harvest Reporting and Tooth Submission

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. See Tag Validation & Checking Requirements.

Look Up the Age of Your Harvested Bear Online!

The age of your harvested bear will be available online 9 to 10 months after the hunting season ends at www.virginiawildlife.gov/wildlife/bear/age.

Tracking Dogs

Allowed (see Hunting Information for details).

Archery Bear Season

Season Dates

October 7 through November 17: Statewide

Legal Methods and Restrictions

Special restrictions apply to archery tackle use during this season. See Legal Use of Firearms and Archery Tackle, Local Firearms for more details.

• Archery tackle only, excluding slingbows.
• 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.
• Broadhead widths must be at least 7/8-inch wide or expand upon impact to 7/8-inch.
• It is unlawful to use explosive head arrows or arrows to which any drug, chemical, or toxic substance has been added.
• It is unlawful to use dogs, except that dogs may be used to track wounded or dead bears (see Hunting with Dogs, Hunting Information) and dogs may be used by youth or apprentice bear hunters on the Saturday of Young and Apprentice Bear Hunting Weekend.
• It is unlawful to have a firearm in possession, except that a muzzleloading firearm as defined in the muzzleloader bear season section may also be in possession when and where there is an overlap with a muzzleloading bear season where bear hunting with a rifle or muzzleloading firearm is permitted. (See exception for valid concealed handgun permit holders on Legal Use of Firearms & Archery Tackle)

Muzzleloader Bear Season

Season Dates

November 11 through 17: Statewide in all areas where hunting with a muzzleloading rifle is permitted.

Legal Methods and Restrictions

Special restrictions apply to specific firearms use during this season. See Legal Use of Firearms and Archery Tackle, Legal Use of Firearms & Archery Tackle, and Local Firearms for more details.

• Muzzleloading guns that can be used during this season include:
  • Single shot muzzleloading rifles .40 caliber or larger, firing a single projectile or sabot (with a .35 caliber or larger projectile) where the projectile is loaded from the muzzle;
  • Muzzleloading shotguns (one or more barrels) not larger than 10 gauge where the projectiles are loaded from the muzzle;
  • Muzzleloading pistols (one or more barrels) .45 caliber or larger, firing a single projectile or sabot (with a .35 caliber or larger projectile) per barrel where the propellant and projectile are loaded from the muzzle;
  • Muzzleloading revolvers .45 caliber or larger, firing a single projectile or sabot (with a .35 caliber or larger projectile) per cylinder where the propellant and projectile are loaded from the forward end of the cylinder.
• Flintlock, percussion, or electronic ignitions are permitted.
• It is unlawful to have in immediate possession any firearm other than a muzzleloading firearm while hunting with a muzzleloader. (See exception for valid concealed handgun permit holders on Legal Use of Firearms & Archery Tackle)
• Smokeless powder is allowed in muzzleloading firearms designed for it. Never use smokeless powder of any type in any quantity in a muzzleloading firearm that is not specifically designed for it.
• Scopes are permitted.
• Pnuematic arrowguns are allowed.
• It is unlawful to use dogs, except that dogs may be used to track wounded or dead bear (see Hunting with Dogs, Hunting Information).