Virginia

Centerfire rifles of .23 caliber or larger firing expanding bullets are legal for deer and bear in western mountain and Piedmont rifle counties. In designated eastern agricultural counties, local ordinances restrict deer hunting to shotguns, muzzleloaders, or rifles from elevated stands. Suppressors legal with ATF paperwork. FMJ prohibited.

10, 12, 16, and 20 gauge shotguns firing slugs or buckshot (#00 or larger) are legal for deer. 3-shell capacity limit. Buckshot widely used for traditional hound hunting drives in eastern Virginia pine plantations. Non-toxic shot required for waterfowl across Back Bay and Chesapeake marshes.

Minimum .40 caliber single-barrel muzzleloaders. Modern in-line muzzleloaders with 209 ignitions, sabots, and magnifying scopes are fully legal during the early November muzzleloader season and December late muzzleloader season. Black powder or commercial synthetic powders only.

Compound, recurve, and longbows with minimum 35 lb draw weight. Broadheads must have minimum 7/8-inch cutting width. Fixed and mechanical broadheads legal. The archery deer season runs from early October through early January (plus urban archery seasons).

Fully legal for ALL licensed hunters during both the archery deer season and modern firearms seasons without requiring a medical disability permit. Crossbows must have a minimum draw weight of 125 lbs, a functioning safety, and shoot bolts with hunting broadheads measuring at least 7/8 inch wide.

Centerfire handguns .23 caliber or larger producing at least 350 ft-lbs of energy firing expanding bullets are legal for deer and bear during the firearms season. .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and 10mm Auto popular in Blue Ridge mountain timber.