Is It Legal to Use Dogs to Hunt Bear in Virginia on Sundays?
November 6, 2026
Hunting bear with dogs on a Sunday in Virginia is illegal. That one rule trips up more hound hunters than almost any other, and it is only one piece of the bear hunting season in Virginia 2026.
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) runs the season in archery, muzzleloader and firearms segments, and the dates change by county group. This article sticks to what the DWR publishes so you can plan the season without guessing.
Always match your hunting location against the DWR bear page before you go, because county groups, local ordinances and mange-related season changes all affect where and when you can hunt.
Bear Hunting Season Dates in Virginia 2026
Virginia does not run one statewide bear season. The DWR publishes separate dates by county group, and each group gets its own archery, muzzleloader and firearms windows. The official source for every date is the DWR Bear Hunting Regulations and Seasons page.
For 2026-27, the DWR-based dates reported by third-party trackers put the archery season opening October 3, 2026 in most counties and the youth and apprentice weekend on October 10-11. Muzzleloader opens November 7 in most counties. Treat those as planning dates and confirm your county group on the DWR page.
Cities and towns that allow bear hunting have their own window. Within the incorporated limits of those towns and cities, bears may be taken with any lawful weapon, and the DWR notes this season does not override local ordinances.
Pro Tip: Find your county on the DWR season map first, then read only that county group’s dates. Neighboring counties can have different opening days.
Bear Season by Weapon and Method in Virginia: Archery, Muzzleloader and Firearm
Each weapon gets its own segment, and the segments run in order through the fall. Archery opens first, muzzleloader follows in early November, and firearms open in late November in most county groups.
| Segment | Typical Timing | Key Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Early October to mid-November | Archery license required; no dogs |
| Muzzleloader | Early to mid-November | Muzzleloading license required |
| Firearms | Late November into early January | Dates vary by county group |
The DWR requires an archery license in addition to your hunting license during designated archery seasons for bear, deer, turkey and bobcat. A muzzleloading license is required too if you hunt with a muzzleloader during a designated muzzleloader bear season.
During the special archery seasons it is unlawful to hunt any game with a firearm. Youth hunters 15 and under and apprentice hunters are exempt on the youth and apprentice bear weekend.
Spring Bear Season in Virginia
Virginia has no spring bear season. All legal bear hunting takes place in the fall and early winter, so plan around the archery, muzzleloader and firearms segments.
Spring is when the state runs its youth and spring turkey hunts instead. If you are looking for a spring bear hunt, you will need to look at other states.
Bear Hunting Zones, Units and Management Areas in Virginia
Virginia does not use numbered game management units for bear. It splits the state into county groups for season dates, and the DWR manages bear populations at the zone level, where each zone covers several counties.
The department’s bear project leader, Carl Tugend, told WHSV that the goal was to stabilize populations in 21 of 22 zones. In mange zones, mostly in northwestern Virginia, seasons were shortened to reduce sow mortality.
The cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk and Virginia Beach have their own season structure. Check the DWR map for the exact county group before you scout.
Bear Hunting License, Tag and Permit Requirements in Virginia
You need a basic hunting license plus a bear license. The DWR states that a bear license is required in addition to a hunting license, and it lists the resident bear hunting license at $26.00.
Add an archery license for archery season and a muzzleloading license for the muzzleloader segment. A Resident Sportsman License covers hunting, freshwater fishing, and bear, deer and turkey privileges, along with archery and muzzleloading, at $130.00 per the DWR fee table.
Virginia does not issue physical bear tags. Instead you validate and report your harvest through the DWR’s Go Outdoors Virginia system, which is covered in the tagging section below.
Bear Permit Draws and Lotteries in Virginia
Virginia has no statewide bear permit draw or lottery. If you hold the right licenses, you can hunt bear on open land during the open seasons.
Quota and managed hunts do exist on some public lands, and the DWR lists them under its Quota and Managed Hunts page. Check that page if you want a controlled-access hunt.
Nonresident Bear Hunting in Virginia
Nonresidents follow the same seasons and the same reporting rules as residents. The difference is the license cost, which is higher for nonresidents.
A nonresident still needs the basic hunting license and a bear license, plus archery or muzzleloading licenses if applicable. Get current nonresident prices from the DWR license page before you buy.
Bear Bag Limit and Harvest Quota in Virginia
The limit is one bear per license year. Bear licenses run July 1 through June 30, so a bear taken in October 2026 counts against the 2026-27 license year.
Females with cubs may not be taken, and the DWR sets minimum size rules. Take the time to watch the animal before you shoot.
Pro Tip: Never shoot a bear traveling with cubs. Wait until you can clearly see whether it is alone.
Baiting Rules for Bear Hunting in Virginia
Baiting bears is prohibited in Virginia. Do not place food, scent attractants or other bait to draw a bear into range.
The rules for baiting and feeding wildlife are set out in the DWR’s general regulations. Read them before you hang a stand near any feed source on private land.
Hunting Bears with Hounds in Virginia
Hounds are legal in the firearms seasons but not during archery season. The DWR says it is unlawful to use dogs during archery bear season, except to track wounded or dead bears, and except for youth or apprentice hunters on the Saturday of the youth and apprentice weekend.
Sunday is closed to dog hunting. The DWR general regulations prohibit hunting deer or bear with a gun or other weapon with the aid of dogs on Sunday.
It is also unlawful to hunt or kill a bear on Sunday with dogs within 200 yards of a place of worship. Mange-infested bears cannot be killed during hound training (chase) seasons, and no bear may be taken during those seasons at all.
Licensed hunters tracking a wounded bear can carry a legal weapon and humanely kill the animal, even after legal hours.
Legal Weapons and Methods for Bear Hunting in Virginia
Legal weapons depend on the segment. Archery tackle is legal during archery season, muzzleloaders during the muzzleloader season, and any lawful firearm during the firearms season.
The DWR allows muzzleloading revolvers sold as .44 caliber and designed to shoot a .45 caliber projectile during the muzzleloading season. Flintlock, percussion and electronic ignitions are all permitted. During the special muzzleloading bear season, it is unlawful to hunt bear with any firearm other than a muzzleloading gun.
No part of a black bear may be bought or sold, except taxidermy mounts. It is also illegal to buy or sell a hunt that guarantees the killing of a bear.
Legal Bears and Protected Bears in Virginia
Any black bear that meets the minimum size rules is legal during open season. Females accompanied by cubs are protected and may not be taken.
Bears with mange need special handling. If you harvest one during open season, you must still tag and report it, but you are not required to handle or remove the carcass. Send reports with photos and location to the DWR’s mange email, or call 1-855-571-9003, per a News-Gazette summary of DWR regulations.
Youth and Special Bear Hunts in Virginia
The Youth and Apprentice Bear Hunting Weekend is a statewide special hunt. The DWR reports it for October 10-11, 2026, and it is the one time a youth hunter 15 or under can use a firearm in an area that would otherwise be archery-only.
Hounds can be used by youth or apprentice hunters on the Saturday of that weekend. The youth must be supervised by a licensed adult.
Bear hound training and chase seasons are separate from the kill season. No bear may be taken in them, and they run on their own county-by-county calendars.
Where to Hunt Bear in Virginia: Public and Private Land
Public bear hunting centers on Wildlife Management Areas, national forests and other DWR-listed public lands. The Blue Ridge and Alleghany mountain regions hold the highest concentrations of bears.
The DWR publishes a Public Hunting Lands page with maps and rules for each area. Some lands have their own season dates and weapon limits, so read the area rules before you go.
On private land, you need the landowner’s permission. Local firearms ordinances can also limit weapon use, especially near towns.
Best Time to Hunt Bear in Virginia
Bears move most in the weeks before they den, as they feed heavily to build fat. Early archery season and the opening days of the firearms segment tend to offer the most movement.
Weather matters. Cold snaps push bears toward food sources, and a good mast crop in a given area can keep bears spread out and harder to pattern.
The DWR reported that hunters harvested 2,344 bears in the 2025-26 season, about 13.3 percent below the previous year. Use that as a reminder that success rates are modest and scouting pays off.
Bear Hunting Hours, Sunday Hunting and Blaze Orange in Virginia
Legal hunting hours for most game are one half-hour before sunrise to one half-hour after sunset, per the DWR general regulations. Hours for bear hound training season run from 4:00 a.m., and sources list the training window as ending at 10 p.m.
Hunting is allowed on Sundays, with one big exception: you cannot hunt or kill deer or bear with a gun or other weapon with the aid of dogs on Sunday. A still hunter without dogs can hunt a Sunday, subject to local rules.
Blaze orange rules depend on the weapon and season. Read the DWR’s general regulations for the exact requirement for firearm bear hunting in your county group.
Tagging, Check-In and Reporting a Bear in Virginia
You must report every bear you harvest. The DWR uses the Go Outdoors Virginia website, the Go Outdoors Virginia app or a phone report. You must also submit a bear tooth for aging.
- Validate your harvest as soon as you reach your vehicle or by the end of hunting hours.
- Report the bear through the website, the app or by phone.
- Keep the tooth for submission to the DWR.
- If the bear shows signs of mange, tag and report it and send photos and location to the DWR.
Pro Tip: Take a photo of the bear and your location before you move it. It helps if you need to file a mange report.
Bear Hunting Season in Virginia 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
When Does Bear Season Open in Virginia in 2026?
Archery bear season opens October 3, 2026 in most county groups, per trackers that read the DWR page. Muzzleloader follows November 7 in most counties, and firearms open in late November.
Do You Need a Bear License in Virginia?
Yes. A bear license is required in addition to your hunting license, per the DWR license page.
How Many Bears Can You Take in Virginia?
One bear per license year. Females with cubs are protected.
Can You Hunt Bear With Dogs in Virginia?
Yes in the firearms seasons, but not during archery season except for tracking wounded bears and the youth hunt Saturday. Never on Sunday.
Can You Bait Bears in Virginia?
No. Baiting bears is prohibited.
Is There a Spring Bear Season in Virginia?
No. Virginia has no spring bear season.
Looking at other Virginia seasons? See our guides to turkey hunting in Virginia, rabbit hunting in Virginia, quail hunting in Virginia and dove hunting in Virginia. Heading across the border? Try turkey season in West Virginia.