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Turkey Hunting Regulations and Seasons

General Information

Bag Limits

  • General: One per day, three per license year, no more than two of which may be taken in the fall.
  • Archery and Fall Firearms Season: One per day, either sex may be taken.
  • Spring Turkey Season: One per day, bearded turkeys only.

Reporting Fall and Spring Turkeys

  • All wild turkeys killed in the fall or spring seasons must be reported using the telephone, mobile app, or internet reporting system.

Archery Turkey Season

Season Dates

October 5 through November 15: Statewide except in areas where there is a closed firearm season on turkey.

Legal Methods and Restrictions for Archery Turkey Season

Special restrictions apply to specific firearms use during this season. See Legal Use of Firearms and Archery Tackle and Local Firearms Ordinances for more details.

  • Archery tackle only.
  • Persons with a disability that prevents them from drawing a bow or crossbow may hunt with an arrowgun during the special archery season provided they have in possession an authorization form provided by the Department that has been completed by their physician.
  • Decoys and blinds may be used.
  • Broadhead widths must be at least 7/8-inch wide or expand upon impact to 7/8-inch.
  • It is unlawful to use dogs, except that dogs may be used to track wounded or dead turkeys (see Hunting with Dogs).
  • It is unlawful to have a firearm in possession. (See exception for valid concealed handgun permit holders.)

Youth and Apprentice Fall Turkey Hunting Weekend

Season Dates

October 12 and 13

  • Statewide in counties, cities, and areas with a fall turkey season.
  • Bag limit is one turkey (either sex) per youth/ apprentice hunter, per weekend.
  • Resident and nonresident youth hunters 15 years of age and under or holders of a valid apprentice hunting license, when in compliance with all applicable laws and licenses, may hunt when accompanied and directly supervised by an adult over the age of 18 who has a valid Virginia hunting license or is exempt from purchasing a hunting license. Nonresident youth of any age need to have the appropriate licenses (unless exempt from purchasing a license).
  • Hunting hours are from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.

Fall Firearms Turkey Seasons

October 19 through November 1, and November 28

In the counties of Albemarle, Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Greene, Highland, Madison, Page, and Rockingham.

October 19 through November 1, November 27 and 28, December 2 through December 28, and January 11 through 25

In the counties of Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Caroline, Carroll, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Dickenson, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, King and Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Lee, Loudoun, Montgomery, Nelson, Northumberland, Prince William, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Richmond, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Stafford, Washington, Westmoreland, Wise, and Wythe, and on Camp Peary, and the cities of Hampton and Newport News.

Closed

In the county of Arlington and the cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach.

October 19 through November 1, November 27 and 28, and December 2 through December 14

In the counties of Accomack, Amelia, Dinwiddie, Gloucester, Greensville, Isle of Wight, James City, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, Northampton, Powhatan, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, York (except on Camp Peary), and the City of Suffolk.

October 19 through November 1, November 27 and 28, December 2 through December 14, and January 11 through January 25

In the counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Brunswick, Buchanan, Buckingham, Campbell, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Floyd, Fluvanna, Frederick, Goochland, Halifax, Hanover, Henrico, Henry, Louisa, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Orange, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Prince Edward, Shenandoah, Spotsylvania, Tazewell, and Warren.

Legal Methods and Restrictions for Fall Firearms Seasons and Youth and Apprentice Fall Turkey Hunting Weekend

Special restrictions apply to specific firearms use during this season. See Legal Use of Firearms and Archery Tackle and Local Firearms Ordinances for more details.

  • Modern firearms.
  • Arrowguns are allowed.
  • Archery tackle.
  • Muzzleloading firearms.
  • Decoys and blinds may be used.
  • Dogs may be used.
  • Unlawful to use electronic calls.
  • Adult hunters accompanying youth or apprentice turkey hunters:
    • may assist with calling.
    • do not need a deer/turkey license.
    • shall not carry or discharge a firearm.
    • shall maintain close visual and verbal contact with, provide adequate direction to, and can immediately assume control of the firearm.

Youth and Apprentice Spring Turkey Hunting Weekend

Season Dates

April 5 and 6

  • Statewide.
  • Bag limit is one turkey (bearded bird only) per youth/apprentice hunter, per weekend.
  • Resident and nonresident youth hunters 15 years of age and under or holders of a valid apprentice hunting license, when in compliance with all applicable laws and licenses, may hunt when accompanied and directly supervised by an adult over the age of 18 who has a valid Virginia hunting license or is exempt from purchasing a hunting license. Nonresident youth of any age need to have the appropriate licenses (unless exempt from purchasing a license).
  • Hunting hours are from 1/2 hour before sunrise to sunset.
  • Turkeys harvested by youth or apprentice hunters count against their daily and season bag limit.
  • Adult hunters accompanying youth or apprentice turkey hunters:
    • do not need a deer/turkey license on this weekend.
    • may assist with calling.
    • shall not carry or discharge a weapon.
    • shall maintain close visual and verbal contact with, provide adequate direction to, and can immediately assume control of the firearm.

Spring Turkey Season

Bag Limit

One per day, bearded turkeys only. Hunters may take one, two, or three bearded turkeys depending on how many turkeys were taken in the fall season.

Season Dates

April 12–27

  • Statewide
  • One-half hour before sunrise until 12 noon each day

April 28 through May 17

  • Statewide.
  • One half-hour before sunrise to sunset.

Legal Methods and Restrictions for Spring Firearms and Youth and Apprentice Spring Turkey Hunting Weekend

Special restrictions apply to specific firearms use during these seasons. See Legal Use of Firearms and Archery Tackle and Local Firearms Ordinances for more details.

  • Arrowguns are allowed.
  • Modern firearms.
  • Archery tackle.
  • Muzzleloading firearms.
  • Decoys and blinds may be used.
  • It is unlawful to use electronic calls.
  • It is unlawful to use dogs, except that dogs may be used to track wounded or dead turkeys (see Hunting with Dogs).
  • When using a shotgun it is unlawful to use or have in possession any shot with a diameter larger than number 2 fine shot during spring turkey season.