Hunting opportunities offered in 21 of Virginia’s state parks

Virginia State Parks, managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, offer the outdoorsman a variety of hunting opportunities, including reservation only hunts and open hunting, throughout the season, according to a news release.

Nearby state parks with hunting programs are located in the counties of Prince William, Fairfax, Spotsylvania and Warren.

Hunters can reserve stands or zones on a first come, first served basis at the following hunts:

Muzzleloader only hunts will be held at Belle Isle State Park in Lancaster County, Nov. 9-10, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 18; Caledon State Park in King George County, Nov. 11-12, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 4; Grayson Highlands State Park in Grayson County, Nov. 2-3, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 3; James River State Park in Buckingham County, Nov. 2-3 and Nov. 16-17, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 11; Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania County, Nov. 10, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 24; and Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County, Nov. 9-10 and Dec. 14-15, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 9.

Muzzleloader and archery hunts will be held at Smith Mountain Lake State Park in Bedford County, Nov. 2-3 and Nov. 9-10, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 10; York River State Park in James City County, Nov. 9-10, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 17; Kiptopeke State Park in Northampton County, Nov. 11-12, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 23; and Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County, Nov. 9-14, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 25.

A special youth muzzleloader hunt will be held at Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County on Nov. 7 with the reservation period beginning Sept. 9.

Muzzleloader and shotgun hunts will be held at James River State Park in Buckingham County, Dec. 7-8, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 11; Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania County, Nov. 17-18, with a reservation period beginning Sept. 24; Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County, Dec. 7-9 and Dec. 17-19, with a reservation period beginning Sept. 25; Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County, Jan. 22-23, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 9; and at Claytor Lake State Park in Pulaski County, Jan. 8-9, with the reservation period beginning Oct. 8.

A muzzleloader-shotgun and archery hunt will be held at Kiptopeke State Park in Northampton County, Dec. 2-3, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 23, and at York River State Park in James City County, Dec. 7-8, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 17.

Shotgun hunts will be held at Leesylvania State Park in Prince William County, Jan. 12-13, with the reservation period beginning Oct. 9.

General firearms hunts will be held at Grayson Highlands State Park in Grayson County, Nov. 16-17, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 3, and Belle Isle State Park in Lancaster County, Dec. 16-17, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 18.

A special youth general firearms hunt will be held at Shenandoah River State Park in Warren County on Nov. 16, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 16.

Hunters may reserve preferred days and stands or zones for an advanced fee of $15 a day by calling the Virginia State Parks Customer Service Center, 800-933-7275 (PARK). Reservations will be accepted until all slots are taken at each hunt, up to two days prior to the hunt, provided that the hunter can complete the payment before the day of the hunt.

Douthat State Park in Bath County will hold special hunts: a muzzleloader hunt Nov. 9-12 and a general firearms hunt Nov. 16-19. Interested hunters may reserve a slot for unlimited opportunities during the designated hunts. There is a $5 non-refundable administrative fee for a hunting slot reservation, and registered hunters must then attend one of two safety and hunt orientation sessions to obtain a hunter card required for those taking part in the hunts. Reservations for a hunting slot at Douthat State Park will begin Oct. 1 and end Oct. 30.

Open hunting is offered in designated areas of Fairy Stone in Patrick and Henry counties; Grayson Highlands in Grayson County; Hungry Mother in Smyth County; and Occoneechee in Mecklenburg County.

All hunting laws and regulations apply in Virginia State Parks. Additional rules may apply in individual parks, and all lottery and reservation hunts have special regulations.

Several state parks are in or near state forests, national forests or wildlife management areas that allow hunting. State parks with overnight accommodations are convenient and economical base camps for hunting anywhere in the area. These parks offer maps and affordable camping or cabin accommodations only minutes from the field. Campsites are available through early December, and cabins are open year-round.

For information on hunting licenses, hunter safety education and hunting regulations, call the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries at 804-367-1000 or visit http://www.dgif.virginia.gov.

For more information about hunting opportunities and programs in Virginia State Parks, or about camping or cabin reservations, call 1-800-933-7275(PARK) or visit http://www.virginiastateparks.gov .

Virginia State Parks that allow hunting:

Belle Isle State Park, Lancaster County, 804-462-5030

Caledon State Park, King George County, 540-663-3861

Chippokes Plantation State Park, Surry County, 757-294-3728

Claytor Lake State Park, Pulaski County, 540-643-2500

Douthat State Park, Bath County, 540-862-8100

Fairy Stone State Park, Patrick County, 276-930-2424

False Cape State Park, Virginia Beach 757-426-7128

Grayson Highlands State Park, Grayson County, 276-579-7092

Hungry Mother State Park, Smyth County, 276-781-7400

James River State Park, Buckingham County, 434-933-4355

Kiptopeke State Park, Northampton County, 757-331-2267

Lake Anna State Park, Spotsylvania County, 540-854-5503

Leesylvania State Park, Prince William County, 703-730-8205

Mason Neck State Park, Fairfax County, 703-490-4979

Natural Tunnel State Park, Scott County, 276-940-2674

Occoneechee State Park, Mecklenburg County, 434-374-2210

Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield County, 804-796-4255

Shenandoah River State Park, Warren County, 540-622-6840

Smith Mountain Lake State Park, Bedford County, 540-297-6066

Staunton River State Park, Halifax County, 434-572-4623

York River State Park, James City County, 757-566-3036