State guide

Public land that may allow hunting in Virginia

142 named public land units in Virginia from PAD-US 4.1: 74 state wildlife & game areas, 33 forests & grasslands, 17 wildlife refuges & WPAs, 1 BLM units, 3 lake & reservoir project lands, 14 other public land units. The largest are George Washington National Forest, Jefferson National Forest, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge.

142listed areas
2.1Macres (approx.)
74state wildlife & game areas

Deer season 2026–27: archery opens Oct. 3, 2026; firearms Nov. 14, 2026 (most counties) (General firearms, private lands). All Virginia dates by zone (checked Sep 26, 2026)

Virginia deer season dates for 2026 (from the state agency) · Deer score calculator · How to score a buck

Regulations & licenses: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

This site does not list seasons, bag limits, license or permit rules. Those change every year and differ by area. Check them with the state agency before you go, and confirm the specific area is open to the hunting you plan.

Check regulations with Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

Where the listed areas are

State wildlife & game areas (74)Forests & grasslands (33)Wildlife refuges & WPAs (17)BLM public land (1)Lake & reservoir project land (3)Other public land (14)

One dot per area at its reference point; larger dots are larger areas. Outline: U.S. Census Bureau.

Acres by land type

Approximate acres for the portion of each unit inside Virginia.

Photos from Virginia public lands

All photo credits

National Forest land
Jefferson National Forest
712,425 acres
Photo: US Forest Service - Southern Region · public domain · original source
National Forest land
Monongahela National Forest
83 acres
Photo: Monongahela National Forest from Elkins, WV, United States · public domain · original source

Public-domain photos by U.S. federal agencies, taken in the place named on each card.

All 142 areas, largest first

Land type Manager PAD-US access Minimum size

National Forest land
George Washington National Forest
961,016 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Augusta County, Bath County + 11 more
Open access
National Forest land
Jefferson National Forest
712,425 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Craig County, Bland County + 17 more
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
86,533 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Chesapeake city, Suffolk city
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Goshen and Little North Mountain Wildlife Management Area
33,307 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Rockbridge County, Augusta County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area
24,804 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Smyth County, Russell County + 2 more
Open access
State forest
Appomattox-Buckingham State Forest
20,058 acres
State: department of natural resources · Appomattox County, Buckingham County
Open access
State forest
Cumberland State Forest
16,729 acres
State: department of natural resources · Cumberland County, Buckingham County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Highland Wildlife Management Area
13,911 acres
Not recorded · Highland County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Gathright Wildlife Management Area
13,193 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Bath County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge
11,943 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Accomack County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Rapidan Wildlife Management Area
10,051 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Madison County, Greene County
Open access
State forest
Dragon Run State Forest
9,546 acres
State: department of natural resources · King and Queen County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Havens Wildlife Management Area
9,380 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Roanoke County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge
8,820 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Virginia Beach city
Restricted access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
John W Flannagan Recreation Area
8,162 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Dickenson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Mockhorn Wildlife Management Area
7,704 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Northampton County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge
7,680 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Richmond County, Essex County + 3 more
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
The Big Survey Wildlife Management Area
7,596 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Wythe County
Open access
Other state land
DCR Holding
7,352 acres
State: department of conservation · Halifax County
Restricted access
State forest
Prince Edward-Gallion State Forest
7,038 acres
State: department of natural resources · Prince Edward County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Hidden Valley Wildlife Management Area
6,250 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Washington County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Saxis Wildlife Management Area
6,197 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Accomack County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Fairystone Farms Wildlife Management Area
5,187 acres
Not recorded · Patrick County, Henry County
Open access
State forest
Charlotte State Forest
5,012 acres
Not recorded · Charlotte County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Smith Mountain Cooperative Wildlife Management Area
4,992 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Pittsylvania County, Bedford County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Chickahominy Wildlife Management Area
4,951 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Charles City County
Open access
State forest
The Channels State Forest
4,848 acres
State: department of natural resources · Washington County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
James River National Wildlife Refuge
4,626 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Prince George County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Powhatan Wildlife Management Area
4,590 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Powhatan County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State wildlife / game area
C.F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area
4,559 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Fauquier County, Culpeper County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Cavalier Wildlife Management Area
4,529 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Chesapeake city
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Oakley Forest Wildlife Management Area
4,470 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Spotsylvania County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Short Hills Wildlife Management Area
4,313 acres
Not recorded · Rockbridge County, Botetourt County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Big Woods Wildlife Management Area
4,176 acres
Not recorded · Sussex County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Thompson Wildlife Management Area
4,012 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Fauquier County, Warren County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Featherfin Farm Wildlife Management Area
3,168 acres
Not recorded · Prince Edward County, Buckingham County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Briery Creek Wildlife Management Area
3,122 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Prince Edward County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge
3,058 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Poquoson city
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Horsepen Lake Wildlife Management Area
2,957 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Buckingham County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
North Fork Of Pound Rv Recreation Area
2,791 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Wise County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
White Oak Mountain Wildlife Management Area
2,675 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Pittsylvania County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Ware Creek Wildlife Management Area
2,659 acres
Not recorded · New Kent County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Wildlife Management Area
2,659 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · New Kent County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Turkeycock Wildlife Management Area
2,637 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Henry County, Franklin County
Open access
Army Corps of Engineers project land
Bluestone Recreation Area
2,558 acres
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers · Giles County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Mattaponi Wildlife Management Area
2,533 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Caroline County
Open access
State forest
Big Woods State Forest
2,402 acres
Not recorded · Sussex County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Hog Island Wildlife Management Area
2,382 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Surry County, Isle of Wight County
Open access
State forest
Moore's Creek State Forest
2,365 acres
State: department of natural resources · Rockbridge County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Amelia Wildlife Management Area
2,224 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Amelia County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
James River Wildlife Management Area
2,132 acres
Not recorded · Nelson County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
National Wildlife Refuge
Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge
2,084 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Northampton County
Restricted access
State forest
Sandy Point State Forest
2,059 acres
State: department of natural resources · King William County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Crooked Creek Wildlife Management Area
1,833 acres
Not recorded · Carroll County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Havens
1,809 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Roanoke County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Dick Cross Wildlife Management Area
1,516 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Mecklenburg County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Elizabeth Hartwell Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge
1,479 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Fairfax County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Princess Anne Wildlife Management Area
1,479 acres
Not recorded · Virginia Beach city
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Ragged Island Wildlife Management Area
1,468 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Isle of Wight County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Robert W. Duncan Wildlife Management Area
1,343 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Caroline County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Eastern Shore Of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge
1,325 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Northampton County
Restricted access
State forest
New Kent Forestry Center
1,307 acres
State: other or unknown agency · New Kent County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Presquile National Wildlife Refuge
1,299 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Chesterfield County, Henrico County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Hardware River Wildlife Management Area
1,242 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Fluvanna County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Stewarts Creek Wildlife Management Area
1,204 acres
Not recorded · Carroll County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
James River
1,166 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Nelson County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State wildlife / game area
Pettigrew Wildlife Management Area
918 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Caroline County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge
888 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Virginia Beach city
Restricted access
National Forest land
George Washington and Jefferson National Forest
870 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Alleghany County, Montgomery County + 4 more
Open access
Other state land
Chestnut Ridge
812 acres
State: department of conservation · Giles County
Restricted access
BLM public land
BLM Southeastern States District Office Public Lands
802 acres
Bureau of Land Management · Fairfax County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Game Farm Marsh Wildlife Management Area
798 acres
Not recorded · New Kent County, Charles City County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Guinea Marsh
787 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Gloucester County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge
627 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Prince William County
Restricted access
State forest
First Mountain State Forest
622 acres
State: other or unknown agency · Rockingham County
Open access
State forest
Judge Matthews State Forest
568 acres
State: department of natural resources · Grayson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lake Robinson State Wildlife Management Area
526 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Rockbridge County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lands End Wildlife Management Area
485 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · King George County
Open access
Other state land
Virginia Outdoors Foundation Land Holding
481 acres
State: other or unknown agency · King William County
Open access
Other state land
Poor Mountain
481 acres
State: department of conservation · Roanoke County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Mattaponi Bluffs Wildlife Management Area
472 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Caroline County
Open access
State forest
Devils Backbone State Forest
469 acres
State: department of natural resources · Shenandoah County
Open access
State forest
Conway Robinson Memorial State Forest
437 acres
State: department of natural resources · Prince William County
Open access
State forest
Lesesne State Forest
427 acres
State: department of natural resources · Nelson County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Nansemond National Wildlife Refuge
425 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Suffolk city
Restricted access
State forest
Chilton Woods State Forest
395 acres
State: department of natural resources · Lancaster County
Open access
State forest
Zoar State Forest
370 acres
State: department of natural resources · King William County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge
358 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Accomack County
Restricted access
Other state land
The Cedars
355 acres
State: department of conservation · Lee County
Restricted access
Other state land
Lyndhurst Ponds
351 acres
State: department of conservation · Augusta County
Restricted access
National Wildlife Refuge
Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge
343 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Prince William County
Restricted access
State forest
Old Flat State Forest
319 acres
State: department of natural resources · Grayson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Merrimac Farm Wildlife Management Area
302 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Prince William County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Kittewan Wildlife Management Area
292 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Charles City County
Open access
State forest
Bourassa State Forest
284 acres
State: department of natural resources · Bedford County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Weston Wildlife Management Area
274 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Fauquier County
Open access
State forest
South Quay State Forest
266 acres
State: department of natural resources · Suffolk city
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Featherfin
264 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Appomattox County, Prince Edward County
Open access
State forest
Crawford State Forest
262 acres
State: department of natural resources · New Kent County
Open access
Fish and Wildlife Service land
Great Dismal Swamp
252 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Suffolk city
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lake Burke Public Fishing Lake
204 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Fairfax County
Open access
State forest
Garland Gray Forestry Center
198 acres
State: department of natural resources · Sussex County
Open access
Other state land
Deep Run Ponds
198 acres
State: department of conservation · Rockingham County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Doe Creek State Wildlife Management Area
193 acres
Not recorded · Accomack County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Highland
191 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Highland County
Open access
State forest
Niday Place State Forest
181 acres
State: department of natural resources · Craig County
Open access
State forest
Paul State Forest
176 acres
State: department of natural resources · Rockingham County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lake Brunswick Public Fishing Lake
168 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Brunswick County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
General Vaughns Bridge Wildlife Management Area
165 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Southampton County
Open access
National Forest land
Kimberling Creek Purchase Unit
164 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Bland County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lake Nottoway Public Fishing Lake
158 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Nottoway County
Open access
Other state land
South Quay Sandhills
158 acres
State: department of conservation · Suffolk city
Restricted access
Other state land
Magothy Bay
152 acres
State: department of conservation · Northampton County
Open access
State forest
Whitney State Forest
147 acres
State: department of natural resources · Fauquier County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lake Frederick Public Fishing Lake
139 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Frederick County
Open access
Other state land
Antioch Pines
139 acres
State: department of conservation · Isle of Wight County
Restricted access
Other state land
Pedlar Hills Glades
137 acres
State: department of conservation · Montgomery County
Restricted access
State forest
Browne State Forest
134 acres
State: department of natural resources · Essex County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lake Orange Public Fishing Lake
134 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Orange County
Open access
National Wildlife Refuge
Martin National Wildlife Refuge
123 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Accomack County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Airfield Pond Public Fishing Lake
119 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Sussex County
Open access
State forest
Hawks State Forest
118 acres
State: department of natural resources · Carroll County
Open access
National Forest land
Divided Mountain Purchase Unit
108 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Grayson County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lake Gordon Public Fishing Lake
108 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Mecklenburg County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lake Connor Public Fishing Lake
98 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Halifax County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Crooked Creek
93 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Carroll County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Johnson Marsh State Wildlife Management Area
88 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Chesterfield County
Restricted access
Other state land
Mount Joy Pond
84 acres
State: department of conservation · Augusta County
Restricted access
National Forest land
Monongahela National Forest
83 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Highland County, Bath County + 1 more
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Short Hills
82 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Rockbridge County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Balthrope Marsh Wildlife Management Area
80 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Newport News city, Halifax County
Mixed (open and restricted parcels)
State wildlife / game area
Fairystone Farms
73 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Patrick County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lake Brittle Public Fishing Lake
68 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Fauquier County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Lake Burton Public Fishing Lake
68 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Pittsylvania County
Open access
Other state land
Crow's Nest
60 acres
State: department of conservation · Stafford County
Open access
Other state land
Camp Branch Wetlands
59 acres
State: department of conservation · Floyd County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Fluvanna Ruritan Lake Public Fishing Lake
57 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Fluvanna County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Goochland Marsh State Wildlife Management Area
49 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Goochland County
Restricted access
State wildlife / game area
Chandlers Millpond Public Fishing Lake
49 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Westmoreland County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Gardys Millpond Public Fishing Lake
44 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · Northumberland County, Westmoreland County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
Greensprings Wildlife Management Area
43 acres
Not recorded · James City County
Open access
State wildlife / game area
DGIF Land Holding
43 acres
State: fish and wildlife agency · James City County
Open access

Acreage is calculated from simplified PAD-US boundaries for the portion inside Virginia. “Access” is the PAD-US public access field, not a statement about hunting. National wildlife refuges are generally coded “restricted” in PAD-US because of seasonal or area closures.