Upcoming Events: Hunting

Registration for this virtual series opens February 27th @ 8:00am!

Beginning in 2026, the VOW Program will be hosting an annual Women's Mentored Hunting Virtual Series covering all topics related to hunting in Virginia. Virtual classes will be held every other week beginning on March 30th and concluding on August 31st. This series will cover hunting in general, and will not focus on any specific species, but instead is designed for beginners and women interested in hunting and need the basic information and resources to get started. Throughout the series, there will also be scheduled in-person opportunities and additional events/workshops throughout the state to promote a sense of community.

The Virginia Outdoor Women (VOW) program's goal is to help women feel comfortable and confident in the outdoors - no matter their experience level. DWR is committed to developing a community of women who enjoy the outdoors, value the importance of conservation and outdoor recreation, and want to have opportunities for personal growth, independence, and empowerment.

Please NOTE: All virtual VOW courses do not qualify for any of the VOW Certificates. By registering for this event, you are automatically registered for ALL classes. Separate registration is not required.

Classes will generally be 45 minutes of instruction/presentation, followed by a 15-minute Q&A session. Please see the registration page for class schedule and agenda.

This class will offer insight into the different public lands available to hunters in Virginia and information on how to make the most of your time spent on those properties before and during hunting season. This class is for you if you have interest in hunting public land or if you already do hunt on public land but would like to learn some new tactics.

Agenda

•Public Land Hunting Opportunities
•Quota Hunts
•Hunter Etiquette
•Safety
•Scouting
•Public Land Tips and Tricks
•Public Land Hunting Misconceptions
•Q&A

Come join us for a great small game hunting experience! This Bullfrog Gigging Workshop is for youth ages 10-17 and will include an evening frog hunt with gigs as well as topics covering the habitat and biology of frogs, safety while in the field, care and cleaning of the game, and legal methods of harvesting frogs. Parents/guardians must stay at the program with the participants. Dinner will be provided and will include a sample of frog legs.

NOTE: A hunting license is required for participants 12 years and older. Participants that do not have a hunting license may hunt with an apprentice license within arm’s reach of the Mentor/Instructor.

The workshop portion will take place at DWR's Region 1 Office conference room and the hunt (gigging) portion will take place just down the road at the Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery. Rubber boots are recommended as feet will get wet! This is a partnership program between the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, The Luck Association, and the Harrison Lake National Fish Hatchery.

VOW is proud to offer a Tree Stand Safety Workshop! See and learn about the different types of tree stands and the various tree stand equipment available. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn about set-up and take-down and overall use of several different types of tree stands, including safety systems. DWR Volunteers/Certified Tree Stand Safety Instructors will be leading the course.

More information will be sent out via email prior to the event.

There is a strict 15-person maximum for this event. Please do not register unless you are sure you can attend!

Registering for VOW events and not showing up ("no-shows") prevents other women from participating in the VOW Program. DWR makes every attempt to offer free/low-cost educational opportunities; however, no-shows waste valuable state resources/staff time and continued no-shows may result in implementing participation fees and other increased event costs. Please help DWR/VOW keep our free/low-cost educational programming!

This 4-hour, hands-on workshop will cover the tips and techniques for safely using all types of tree stands. For participants under age 18, a parent or guardian must be present.

Hunting from an elevated stand increases your chances of harvesting a deer, but it also introduces additional safety risks. During this workshop, instructions and tips will be given relative to using a ladder stand, climber stand, hang-on stand, and a tree saddle, as well as how to wear and use a full body fall arrest system.

We will be outside for this workshop, so please dress appropriately. Suggested items to bring: a snack or light lunch, water, sunscreen, and insect spray.

No firearms or live ammunition.

This 4 hour, hands-on workshop will cover scouting tips and techniques for different types of game animals (deer, turkey, squirrel, etc.).

Scouting prior to hunting helps to ensure a safe and enjoyable hunt and enhances your chances of being successful in harvesting game. During this workshop, we will be hiking through the woods with frequent stops, so please dress appropriately. Suggested items to bring: a compass, snack or light lunch, water, sunscreen, insect spray, and a walking/trekking stick.

Participants under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian present.

No firearms or live ammunition.

This workshop is being held at Weston WMA for training purposes only. No hunting is allowed on the Weston WMA.

This event is designed for all waterfowl hunters young and old. There will be a live fire station, a decoy setup station, and a waterfowl identification station. Minimum age to attend is 14. Anyone under 18 must attend with a registered parent. Lunch will be provided courtesy of the Virginia Hunter Education Association.

You may bring your own firearm. It must be cased, unloaded and left locked in your vehicle until you are instructed to bring it out. ALL ammunition will be provided. DO NOT BRING ANY AMMO TO THIS EVENT! Eye and ear protection will be required. Please dress for the weather including closed toe shoes.

This is a partnership event made possible by Virginia DWR, Rappahannock Pistol and Rifle Club, and Virginia Hunter Education Association (www.vahea.org).

This 4-hour, hands-on workshop will teach you the skills you need to successfully “blood-trail” and track a wounded deer. Participants under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian present.

You shot at a deer! If all went as planned, you will watch your deer topple over after a short distance. But what happens when your hit is not immediately fatal? What you do next will have a huge impact on whether or not you recover the deer. After a good double-lung hit, tracking a deer is typically simple. After a less-conclusive shot, you’ll need the skills of “blood-trailing” and tracking a wounded deer to greatly increase your odds of recovering your deer.

During this workshop, we will be in the woods following simulated “blood-trails”. Some parts of the woods might have thick vegetation to go through, so please dress appropriately. Suggested items to bring: a compass, snack, water, sunscreen, and insect spray.

No firearms or live ammunition.