Virginia

Shenandoah mountain whitetails, Blue Ridge wild turkey, George Washington National Forest, and coastal waterfowl.

Public Access & WMAs

Public Lands to Hunt in Virginia

Official Regulatory Authority

Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR)

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) manages 46 designated Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) covering over 225,000 acres, dedicated to wildlife conservation and public hunting. In addition, Virginia is home to the 1.6-million-acre George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, providing sportsmen with vast public mountain access. From the rugged Appalachian ridges of the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains to the tidal salt marshes of the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia offers rich public hunting heritage.

Appalachian Mountain Ridges | 1.6 Million Acres

George Washington & Jefferson National Forests

Stretching along the spine of the Appalachian Mountains in western Virginia. Massive contiguous mountain ridges, sandstone clifflines, and deep hollows blanketed in oak-hickory timber provide endless public hunting for whitetail deer, black bear, wild turkey, and ruffed grouse.

Virginia Highlands / Allegheny | 14,200 Acres

Highland Wildlife Management Area

Located in Highland County—known as 'Virginia's Switzerland'—at elevations reaching over 4,000 feet. Steep mountain terrain and high pastures hold high densities of ruffed grouse, black bear, wild turkey, and mountain whitetail deer.

Piedmont & Blue Ridge Slopes | 15,000+ Acres Combined

C.F. Phelps & Rapidan Wildlife Management Areas

C.F. Phelps WMA (4,539 acres) in Fauquier and Culpeper counties offers rolling woods and fields along the Rappahannock River. Rapidan WMA (10,326 acres) borders Shenandoah National Park with rugged mountain slopes for deer, bear, and wild turkey.

Tidal James & Chickahominy Rivers | 8,000+ Acres Combined

Hog Island & Chickahominy Wildlife Management Areas

Located in Surry and Charles City counties along the lower James River. Tidal marshlands, agricultural grain impoundments, and hardwood timber offer premier public waterfowl hunting, whitetail deer, and wild turkey.

Central Virginia Piedmont | 5,300+ Acres Combined

Amelia & Briery Creek Wildlife Management Areas

Situated in Amelia and Prince Edward counties. Comprising mixed pine-hardwood timber, lake shores, and open fields managed for small game, quail, mourning dove, and trophy whitetail deer.