September 4 to October 1, 2021 and January 2 to March 27, 2022, within the incorporated limits of the cities of Charlottesville, Chesapeake (except on Ministry lands), Colonial Heights, Danville, Emporia, Franklin, Fredericksburg, Galax, Hopewell, Lexington, Lynchburg, Martinsville, Poquoson, Radford, Richmond, Staunton, Suffolk and Winchester; and the cities of Altavista, Amherst, Bedford, Blacksburg, Blackstone, Boones Mill, Buchanan, Chatham, Christiansburg, Farmville, Front Royal, Halifax, Hillsville, Independence, Irvington, Kenbridge, Lebanon, Pearisburg, Pulaski, Richlands, Rocky Mount, Saltville, Scottsville, Smithfield, Stuart, Tazewell, Victoria, West Point and Wytheville; and in Chesterfield, Fairfax, James City, Prince William, Roanoke (except on National Forest and County lands), Stafford and York counties. The City of Scottsville is a newcomer for the 2021-2022 season. NOTE: Arlington and Loudoun counties have antlerless deer hunting seasons on the same dates as the municipal archery season (see Deer Seasons). You can use a crossbow if you are a criminal. I checked with Virginia Dept of Game and they gave me the green light. I`ve hunted with my crossbow several times now and modified it as much as possible. Any location participating in the city`s archery season will remain in the program until it notifies the ministry elsewhere. Any city, municipality or county that no longer participates in this season must notify the Ministry by registered mail before April 1 that it intends not to participate in the special urban archery season. On the other hand, a place that does not currently participate, but wishes to do so, must be before the 1. Submit a notice of your intention to participate in the city`s archery season by registered mail to the department. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources launched an urban archery season in 2002 to help Commonwealth cities solve urban deer management problems. The urban archery season gives villages the opportunity to reduce deer populations within their limits while providing recreation for hunting.

The regulations that establish this season are permissive, and the season is available to any city and incorporated municipality in Virginia and the county with a human population density of 300 people per square mile or more. Therefore, the season is only “open” in cities and counties that have requested in writing to participate. As of 2019, each community of common interest (e.g., Homeowners Association) participate in the city`s archery season in accordance with § 54.1-2345 of the Virginia Code, provided it is approved by the Department. The start of the archery season runs from October 1 to November 18 throughout the state. Late archery is from early December to January, depending on the location. For most fighters, the frontal loading season runs from November 5 to 18 and from January 17 to 7. And in most cases, rifle season begins on November 19, has various closing dates and has additional details based on the county. The weekend for young people and apprentices will take place on 24 and 25 September. The dates and regulations of the deer season vary greatly depending on the location. Please visit the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries website to confirm this. Local Gun Ordinances prohibit the firing of firearms in Arlington County. In Fairfax County*, gun hunting is limited by the location and size of the package.

Contact the Department of Animal Control, 4500 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 for more details. There are no plot size restrictions for archery deer hunting. The archery season in West Virginia begins each year on the last Saturday in September. This early opening date of the season offers archers the opportunity to design wildlife using soft and hard fattening food sources. Wildlife movement can be very predictable at this time of year. Hunters should consult the Mast and Hunter Outlook Survey, which is published annually by the Natural Resources Division. To make this season a success, urban archery deer hunters are advised to pay close attention to safety, respect the property rights of all landowners, and report any questionable behavior or violations they may observe. Since many urban archers hunt on small areas and/or near apartments, they are reminded to pay close attention to the boundaries of the property and inform landowners or neighboring tenants as a courtesy before hunting.

State law does not allow a hunter to track an injured animal on another person`s property without the landowner`s permission. Archery can be a great way to introduce family members or friends to hunting. Bow hunters can enjoy the beautiful autumn weather and long evenings. However, novice hunters may want to visit a professional archery store to make sure their equipment meets their needs. Everyone should use a seat belt and a lifeline when hunting from a tree. As an agency, we are very pleased with this season, which offers local governments a permissive and proactive approach to urban deer management. Hunters or citizens who have questions or comments about the city`s archery season are encouraged to contact Katie Martin, deer-bear-turkey biologist, at katie.martin@dwr.virginia.gov or 540-416-3282. Shotguns/muzzle-loading rifles, arrow rifles or archery equipment can be used for hunting during the muzzle magazine and firearm season.

Archery can include: long bows, curved bows, joints, crossbows, scarf bows, and arrow/air bows rifles. (People with a disability that prevents them from shooting a bow or crossbow may use an arrow gun or aerial bow during the archery season if they are in possession of an authorization form (www.virginiawildlife.gov/forms/#license-forms) provided by DWR and signed by their doctor. A Class Y/YY licence allows a qualified person with a disability to hunt with a crossbow during certain archery seasons. Can you use a crossbow if you are a convicted criminal in Virginia? The goal of the urban archery season is to reduce human-deer conflict in urban areas by focusing pressure on archery in urban/suburban areas. Bow deer hunting is an effective and silent method of harvesting deer in urban areas. Urban archery seasons have been used for decades in a number of eastern and mid-western states as an effective option for deer management. Deer of both sexes can be caught at the beginning and end of the archery season, including the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp Line) and Virginia Beach. Example – During a bachelor`s year, before you can take a second wood deer in the city of Lynchburg (your second dollar), you must have taken at least one antlerless deer in the city of Lynchburg. Before you can take a third wooden deer in the city of Lynchburg (your third dollar), you must have taken at least two antlerless deer in the city of Lynchburg. The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) also offers the School Archery Program, which is dedicated to partnering with schools across the state. Through this program, sports students have the opportunity to engage in a life skill that has no obstacles. If I`m under 18, I can buy a mini crossbow on Amazon.

In counties (including inland towns and villages) Accomack*, Albemarle*, Arlington*, Campbell (west of the Norfolk Southern Railroad), Charles City, Clarke*, Culpeper* (see seasonal exception for C. F. Phelps WMA below), Fairfax*, Fauquier* (see season exemption for C. F. Phelps WMA below), Frederick* (see season exemption for national forest lands below), Greene*, Goochland, Hanover*, Henrico*, Isle of Wight, James City*, Loudoun*, Madison*, New Kent, Northampton, Orange*, Pittsylvania (west of the Norfolk Southern Railroad), Powhatan, Prince George*, Prince William*, Rappahannock*, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford*, Suffolk (west of the Dismal Swamp Line), Surry, Sussex and York*. October 8 and 15 and November 18 to November 30. November: In all areas. If you`re looking for a good deer hunt on public lands, there are eight types of land available to you, including Wildlife Sanctuaries (MAAs), Public Access (PALS), National Forests, State Forests, State Parks, Federal Sanctuaries, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and Military Zones. Example – During a bachelor`s year, before you can take a second wood-led deer on private land in James City County (your second money), you must have taken at least two antlerless deer on private land in James City County.