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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 4. Conservation And Natural Resources
Agency 15. Department of Wildlife Resources
Chapter 50. Game: Bear
10/6/2025

4VAC15-50-70. Archery hunting.

A. It shall be lawful to hunt bear during the special archery season with archery equipment from the first Saturday in October through the Friday prior to the third Monday in November, both dates inclusive, except in the localities listed in subsection B of this section.

B. It shall be lawful to hunt bear during the special archery season with archery equipment from the third Saturday in October through the Friday prior to the third Monday in November, both dates inclusive, in the following counties, including the cities and towns within: Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Buckingham, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Frederick, Greene, Highland, Loudoun, Madison, Nelson, Page, Rappahannock, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren.

C. It shall be unlawful to use firearms to hunt any game species while hunting with archery equipment during the special archery seasons, except that hunters 15 years of age and under and apprentice hunters may use firearms to hunt for bear while hunting on youth and apprentice hunter bear hunting weekend as authorized by 4VAC15-50-12 and except that a muzzleloading gun, as defined in 4VAC15-50-71, may be used by a properly licensed muzzleloading gun hunter when and where the early special archery bear season overlaps the early special muzzleloading bear season.

D. It shall be unlawful to use dogs when hunting with archery equipment during the special archery season, except that hounds may be used by hunters participating in the youth and apprentice hunter bear hunting weekend in areas as defined in 4VAC15-50-12, and that tracking dogs as described in § 29.1-516.1 of the Code of Virginia may be used.

E. Changes made to the 2025-2026 seasons in this section shall be in effect only through the 2026-2027 bear hunting season.

Statutory Authority

§ 29.1-501 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR325-02-2 § 7, eff. July 1, 1987; amended, Virginia Register Volume 13, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 1997; Volume 19, Issue 19, eff. July 1, 2003; Volume 25, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2009; Volume 27, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2011; Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. August 15, 2013; Volume 31, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 2015; Volume 41, Issue 26, eff. September 1, 2025.

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