Virginia Bear Season 2026-27
Firearms Black Bear (Cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach) runs Oct 1, 2026-Jan 2, 2027. Every listed bear season for Virginia is below, with zones and notes where the agency gives them.
Quick answer
Virginia's 2026-27 firearms Black Bear (Cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach) runs Oct 1, 2026-Jan 2, 2027.
Towns and Cities Black Bear (Incorporated limits of any town or city that allows bear hunting) runs Oct 3, 2026-Jan 2, 2027.
Archery Black Bear (Accomack and Northampton counties) runs Oct 3-Nov 13, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Virginia DWR.
Bear
32 listed rowsBlack Bear
Firearms
Zone: Cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach
Black Bear
Towns and Cities
Any lawful weapon. This season will not supersede local ordinances with respect to hunting or use of weapon.
Zone: Incorporated limits of any town or city that allows bear hunting
Black Bear
Archery
Zone: Accomack and Northampton counties
Black Bear
Archery
Zone: Amelia, Brunswick, Campbell, Carroll, Charles City, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Essex, Floyd, Franklin, Gloucester, Grayson, Greensville, Henry, Isle of Wight, James City, King & Queen, King George, King…
Black Bear
Archery
Zone: Cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach
Black Bear
Archery
Zone: Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Washington, and Wise counties
Black Bear
Archery
Zone: Arlington, Bland, Caroline, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Craig, Fairfax, Fluvanna, Giles, Goochland, Halifax, Hanover, Henrico, Louisa, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Orange, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince Wi…
Black Bear
Archery
Zone: Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Buckingham, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Frederick, Greene, Highland, Loudoun, Madison, Nelson, Page, Rappahannock, Rockbr…
Black Bear
Muzzleloader
Zone: Arlington, Bland, Caroline, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Craig, Fairfax, Fluvanna, Giles, Goochland, Halifax, Hanover, Henrico, Louisa, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Orange, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince Wi…
Black Bear
Muzzleloader
Firearms: closed season.
Zone: Accomack and Northampton counties
Black Bear
Muzzleloader
Zone: Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Washington, and Wise counties
Black Bear
Muzzleloader
Zone: Amelia, Brunswick, Campbell, Carroll, Charles City, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Essex, Floyd, Franklin, Gloucester, Grayson, Greensville, Henry, Isle of Wight, James City, King & Queen, King George, King…
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Black BearBear Hound Training/Chase · Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Culpeper, Greene, Highland, Madison, Nelson, Page, Rappahannock, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren countiesNo black bear may be taken during this season. Including Sundays. | Closed | |
| Black BearBear Hound Training/Chase · Charlotte and Mecklenburg countiesNo black bear may be taken during this season. Including Sundays. | Closed | |
| Black BearBear Hound Training/Chase · Brunswick, Greensville, and Lunenburg countiesNo black bear may be taken during this season. Including Sundays. | Closed | |
| Black BearBear Hound Training/Chase · Bland, Buchanan, Carroll, Craig, Dickenson, Franklin, Floyd, Giles, Grayson (East of State Rt 16), Lee, Montgomery, Pulaski, Roanoke (North of 81), Russell, Scott, Smyth (East of State Rt. 16 and nor…No black bear may be taken during this season. Including Sundays. Except Cavalier WMA (August 8 through August 22, including Sundays). | Closed | |
| Black BearEarly Firearms · Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Washington, and Wise countiesExcept on Clinch Mountain WMA. | Closed | |
| Black BearYouth and Apprentice Bear Hunting Weekend · StatewideHunting weapons legal during the firearms season are allowed on this weekend. Youth 15 and under or holders of a valid apprentice hunting license, accompanied by a licensed adult. | Closed | |
| Black BearMuzzleloader · Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Buckingham, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Frederick, Greene, Highland, Loudoun, Madison, Nelson, Page, Rappahannock, Rockbr… | Upcoming | |
| Black BearBear Hound Training/Chase · Halifax and Prince Edward countiesNo black bear may be taken during this season. Including Sundays. | Upcoming | |
| Black BearBear Hound Training/Chase · Charlotte and Mecklenburg countiesNo black bear may be taken during this season. Including Sundays. | Upcoming | |
| Black BearBear Hound Training/Chase · Amelia, Campbell (East of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Charles City, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Essex, Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, King & Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Mathews, M…No black bear may be taken during this season. Including Sundays. | Upcoming | |
| Black BearBear Hound Training/Chase · Appomattox and Buckingham countiesNo black bear may be taken during this season. Including Sundays. | Upcoming | |
| Black BearBear Hound Training/Chase · Brunswick, Greensville, and Lunenburg countiesNo black bear may be taken during this season. Including Sundays. | Upcoming | |
| Black BearFirearms · Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Washington, and Wise counties | Upcoming | |
| Black BearFirearms · Arlington, Bland, Caroline, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Craig, Fairfax, Fluvanna, Giles, Goochland, Halifax, Hanover, Henrico, Louisa, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Orange, Powhatan, Prince Edward, Prince Wi… | Upcoming | |
| Black BearFirearms - First Segment · Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Buckingham, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Frederick, Greene, Highland, Loudoun, Madison, Nelson, Page, Rappahannock, Rockbr… | Upcoming | |
| Black BearBear Hound Training/Chase · Appomattox and Buckingham countiesNo black bear may be taken during this season. Excluding Sundays. | Upcoming | |
| Black BearBear Hound Training/Chase · Clarke, Fauquier, and Frederick countiesNo black bear may be taken during this season. Excluding Sundays. | Upcoming | |
| Black BearFirearms · Amelia, Brunswick, Campbell, Carroll, Charles City, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Essex, Floyd, Franklin, Gloucester, Grayson, Greensville, Henry, Isle of Wight, James City, King & Queen, King George, King… | Upcoming | |
| Black BearBear Hound Training/Chase · Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Culpeper, Greene, Highland, Madison, Nelson, Page, Rappahannock, Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren countiesNo black bear may be taken during this season. Excluding Sundays. | Upcoming | |
| Black BearFirearms - Second Segment · Albemarle, Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Augusta, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Buckingham, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Frederick, Greene, Highland, Loudoun, Madison, Nelson, Page, Rappahannock, Rockbr… | Upcoming |
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Nearby bear seasons
Virginia Bear Season FAQ
When does bear season open in Virginia?
Firearms Black Bear (Cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach) runs Oct 1, 2026-Jan 2, 2027. The earliest listed bear season of any kind is bear hound training/chase black bear, opening August 1, 2026. Confirm zone and permit details with Virginia DWR.
What are the 2026-27 bear season dates in Virginia?
Virginia lists 32 bear season windows: Bear Hound Training/Chase Black Bear (Aug 1-Sep 26, 2026); Bear Hound Training/Chase Black Bear (Aug 1-Sep 26, 2026); Bear Hound Training/Chase Black Bear (Aug 1-Sep 26, 2026); Bear Hound Training/Chase Black Bear (Aug 1-Sep 26, 2026); Early Firearms Black Bear (Sep 28-30, 2026); Firearms Black Bear (Oct 1, 2026-Jan 2, 2027); Towns and Cities Black Bear (Oct 3, 2026-Jan 2, 2027); Archery Black Bear (Oct 3-Nov 13, 2026); and more. Always verify against Virginia DWR before hunting.
Are there different bear seasons in Virginia?
Yes — Virginia lists separate bear seasons for Bear Hound Training/Chase Black Bear, Early Firearms Black Bear, Firearms Black Bear, Towns and Cities Black Bear, Archery Black Bear, Youth and Apprentice Bear Hunting Weekend Black Bear. Each can carry its own dates, zones, and weapon rules; see the table above and Virginia DWR.
Do I need a license to hunt bear in Virginia?
Yes. Virginia generally requires the appropriate hunting license, and bear hunting may also require tags, permits, stamps, or zone authorizations. Confirm requirements with Virginia DWR.