The 2023 turkey hunting season in Virginia, which runs from April, is around. Virginia’s National Forests, State Forests, and Wildlife Management Areas combine for more than 2 million acres of public hunting land, allowing hunters enough opportunity to go over and choose the ideal hunting spot. It’s important to comprehend the time of the spring turkey season, which is a balance between biology and hunter preferences, even if the season may appear brief. This post will explore the most recent dates, rules, permits, and other information on the 2023 Virginia Turkey Hunting Season.
Virginia Turkey Season
The 2023 spring turkey hunting season in Virginia begins on April 8. Hunters are preparing for their opportunity to bring home their three-bird quota. Therefore, consider the following information and guide if you want to go turkey hunting in Virginia this season.
Youth and Apprentice Spring Turkey Hunting Weekend
| Youth and Apprentice Spring Turkey Hunting Weekend | Hunting Dates | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Season | April 1 and 2 | Statewide |
| Fall Season | October 8 and 9 |
Spring Turkey
| VA Spring Turkey | Hunting Dates | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Statewide | April 8-23 | One-half hour before sunrise until 12 noon each day |
| Statewide | April 24 through May 13 | One half-hour before sunrise to sunset. |
Fall Turkey Season
| VA Fall Turkey | Hunting Dates |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | October 1 - November 18 |
| Fall Firearms | October 22 - January 28 |
Firearms Fall Turkey Seasons
Below is the detailed Counties list date-wise for Fall Firearms Turkey season:
October 22 to November 4 and November 24
| Counties |
|---|
| Albemarle |
| Alleghany |
| Augusta |
| Bath |
| Greene |
| Highland |
| Madison |
| Page |
| Rockingham |
October 22 to November 4, November 23 and 24, December 5 to December 31, and January 14 to 28
| Bedford | Lee |
| Bland | Loudoun |
| Botetourt | Montgomery |
| Camp Peary | Nelson |
| Caroline | Newport News |
| Carroll | Northumberland |
| Clarke | Prince William |
| Craig | Pulaski |
| Culpeper | Rappahannock |
| Dickenson | Richmond |
| Essex | Roanoke |
| Fairfax | Rockbridge |
| Fauquier | Russell |
| Franklin | Scott |
| Giles | Smyth |
| Grayson | Stafford |
| Hampton | Washington |
| King and Queen | Westmoreland |
| King George | Wise |
| King William | Wythe |
| Lancaster |
October 22 to November 4, November 23 and 24, and December 5 to December 17
| Accomack | New Kent |
| Amelia | Northampton |
| Charles City | Powhatan |
| Dinwiddie | Prince George |
| Gloucester | Southampton |
| Greensville | Suffolk |
| Isle of Wight | Surry |
| James City | Sussex |
| Mathews | York |
| Middlesex |
October 22 to November 4, November 23 and 24, December 5 to December 17, and January 14 to January 28
| Amherst | Henrico |
|---|---|
| Appomattox | Henry |
| Brunswick | Louisa |
| Buchanan | Lunenburg |
| Buckingham | Mecklenburg |
| Campbell | Nottoway |
| Charlotte | Orange |
| Chesterfield | Patrick |
| Cumberland | Pittsylvania |
| Floyd | Prince Edward |
| Fluvanna | Shenandoah |
| Frederick | Spotsylvania |
| Goochland | Tazewell |
| Halifax | Warren |
| Hanover |
Closed Counties
| Closed Counties |
|---|
| Arlington |
| Chesapeake |
| Norfolk |
| Portsmouth |
| Virginia Beach |
Bag Limit
| Season | Bag Limit | Note |
|---|---|---|
| General | One per day | Three per license year, no more than two in the fall |
| Archery and Fall Firearms | One per day | Either sex may be taken |
| Spring Turkey Season | One per day | Bearded turkeys only |
Turkey Licenses
| License Types | Cost |
|---|---|
| Resident | |
| Resident Sportsman’s License | $100.00 |
| Resident Hunting License - 1-year license | $23.00 |
| Resident Junior Hunting License | $8.50 |
| Resident Apprentice Hunting License | $11.00 |
| Resident Turkey License | $23.00 |
| Resident Junior Turkey License (age 12 to 15) | $8.50 |
| Nonresident | |
| Nonresident Junior Hunting License* (under age 12) | $13.00 |
| Nonresident Junior Hunting License* (age 12 to 15) | $16.00 |
| Nonresident Youth Combination Hunting License (under age 16) | $31.00 |
| Nonresident Turkey License (Valid July 1 through June 30) | |
| Under age 12 | $13.00 |
| Age 12 to 15 | $16.00 |
| Age 16 and older | $86.00 |
- Virginia turkey hunters need a hunting license and a turkey license, which is good from July 1 to June 30. Virginia turkey hunters must follow hunting restrictions and receive permission to visit the private property.
- An archery license, turkey license, and hunting license are needed to hunt a turkey with archery gear during an archery season. National Forest, State Forest Use, and Bonus Deer Permits may also be needed.
- You’ll need an archery or muzzleloading license to hunt turkeys in Virginia during specific seasons. Turkey licenses, National Forest Permits, and State Forest Use Permits may be required. You don’t need a license to use archery gear or a muzzleloader during firearms deer season.
For more information on Virginia Turkey hunting licenses, refer to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website.
Hunting Regulations
- Nonmigratory birds and game animals: Hunting occurs one half-hour before dawn and one half-hour after dusk.
- Spring Turkey Season: Hunting hours are one half-hour before dawn to noon, except for the final 20 days, when they are until sundown.
- Youth/Apprentice Spring Turkey Hunting Weekend: One half-hour before dawn until sunset.
- With authorization to hunt on or access the property, licensed hunters may employ tracking dogs on a lead to discover injured or dead turkeys during archery, muzzleloader, or firearm turkey seasons. Trackers may use any legal weapon to kill injured turkeys beyond legal hunting hours gently. The weapon may only be used in self-defense to hunt, hurt, or kill the turkey being monitored.
- Turkey carcasses may be used to manufacture turkey calls for sale.
- Hunts that guarantee deer, bear, or wild turkey kills are unlawful. Landowners may lease hunting property under this legislation.
- Food or salt that attracts or feeds wild turkeys is forbidden at anytime in National Forests and Department-owned areas.
- Archery turkey season requires archery tackle. Authorized disabled people may use arrow guns. Decoys, blinders, and broadheads must be at least 7/8-inch wide or expand to 7/8-inch upon contact. Dogs can only track injured or dead turkeys. Except for CHL holders, firearms are forbidden.
- In counties, towns, and places having a fall turkey season, young hunters (15 years and under) and apprentice hunters may hunt one turkey (either sex) every weekend with an adult over 18 with a Virginia hunting license. Turkeys contribute toward the daily and season bag limit and may be hunted from dawn to sunset. Adult hunters may help call but cannot carry or fire a rifle. They must hold a gun.
- Youth and apprentice hunters aged 15 and under or holders of a valid apprentice hunting license may hunt one turkey (bearded bird only) every weekend during the nationwide Youth and Apprentice Spring Turkey Hunting Weekend. They must be accompanied by a Virginia hunting license-holding adult over 18. Hunting is from 1/2 hour before dawn until sundown. Youth and apprentice hunters’ daily and season bag limits include turkeys. At weekend, adult hunters who accompany youth or apprentice turkey hunters do not need a turkey license, can help with calling without having to carry or fire a weapon themselves, and are expected to keep close visual and verbal contact with the youth or apprentice so that they can immediately assume control of the firearm if something goes wrong.
- The Spring Weapons and Youth and Apprentice Spring Turkey Hunting Weekend allows arrow guns, modern weapons, archery equipment, and muzzleloading firearms. Electronic calls and dogs are restricted, although decoys and blinds are allowed. Spring turkey season shotguns may only use the number 2 fine shot. The Legal Use of Firearms and Archery Tackle and Local Firearms Ordinances explain the limits.
FAQs related to Virginia Turkey hunting season
When is the turkey hunting season in Virginia?
Except for regions with a closed firearm season on turkeys, Virginia’s spring turkey hunting season runs from April 8 to May 13, and its autumn turkey hunting season is from October 1 to January 28. Even while Virginia’s turkey population seems to be healthy, it’s important to keep in mind that there are a lot of other variables than population size that may affect autumn harvests.
What are the requirements for obtaining a turkey hunting permit in Virginia?
You must be at least 16 years old and possess a current Virginia hunting license to get a turkey hunting permit in Virginia. In addition, you need a turkey tag, which you can get online or from any Virginia hunting license provider. Design a query
How can I report the turkeys I killed in Virginia?
You may Call, use the mobile app, or use the online reporting system to submit a report for each wild turkey killed during the fall or spring seasons.
Where can I hunt for turkeys in Virginia?
There are many public options to go turkey hunting in Virginia. Hunting is permitted in wildlife management areas managed by DWR and national and state forests. Ten WMAs and a cooperative land area on Smith Mountain Lake are both included in Region II.
What is the maximum allowed hunting time during the Spring Turkey Season in Virginia?
Except for the 20-day spring turkey season, hunting is permitted from a half-hour before dawn to a half-hour after dusk throughout this time.
