1. A. It shall be lawful to hunt bears in the following localities, including the cities and towns therein, during the following seasons:

   Location	Season
   Accomack County	Closed
   Albemarle County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Alleghany County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Amelia County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Amherst County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Appomattox County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Arlington County	The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Augusta County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Bath County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Bedford County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Bland County	The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Botetourt County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Brunswick County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Buchanan County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Buckingham County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Campbell County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Caroline County	Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Carroll County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Charles City County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Charlotte County	Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Chesapeake (City of)	October 1 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Chesterfield County	Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Clarke County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Craig County	The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Culpeper County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Cumberland County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Dickenson County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Dinwiddie County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Essex County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Fairfax County	The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Fauquier County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Floyd County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Fluvanna County	Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Franklin County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Frederick County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Giles County	The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Gloucester County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Goochland County	Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Grayson County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Greene County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Greensville County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Halifax County	Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Hanover County	Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Henrico County	Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Henry County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Highland County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Isle of Wight County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   James City County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   King and Queen County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   King George County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   King William County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Lancaster County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Lee County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Loudoun County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Louisa County	Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Lunenburg County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Madison County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Mathews County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Mecklenburg County	Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Middlesex County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Montgomery County	The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Nelson County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   New Kent County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Northampton County	Closed
   Northumberland County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Nottoway County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Orange County	Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Page County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Patrick County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Pittsylvania County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Powhatan County	Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Prince Edward County	Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Prince George County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Prince William County	The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Pulaski County	The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Rappahannock County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Richmond County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Roanoke County	The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Rockbridge County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Rockingham County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Russell County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Scott County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following; and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Shenandoah County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Smyth County	The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Southampton County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Spotsylvania County	Fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Stafford County	The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Suffolk (City of)	October 1 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Surry County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Sussex County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Tazewell County	The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Virginia Beach (City of)	October 1 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Warren County	Friday following the fourth Monday in November and for two consecutive days following, and 12 days immediately prior to and including the first Saturday in January.
   Washington County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following, and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Westmoreland County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Wise County	Monday following the last Saturday in September and for two days following, and the fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   Wythe County	The fourth Monday in November through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.
   York County	Monday nearest December 2 through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive.

2. B. Notwithstanding provisions of subsection A of this section, bears may be hunted from the first Saturday in October through the first Saturday in January, both dates inclusive, within the incorporated limits of any town or city that allows bear hunting.
3. C. Changes to seasons in this section for the 2025-2026 bear hunting season shall be in effect only through the 2026-2027 bear hunting season, except that the consistent, county-wide season in Montgomery, Pulaski, Smyth, Washington, and Wythe Counties shall be maintained to ensure the season in these counties follows the season that existed north or west of Interstate 81 during the 2024-2025 bear firearms season.

Statutory Authority

§§ 29.1-103 and 29.1-501 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 23, eff. July 1, 2011; amended, Virginia Register Volume 29, Issue 25, eff. August 15, 2013; Volume 30, Issue 24, eff. August 1, 2014; Volume 33, Issue 23, eff. August 1, 2017; Volume 35, Issue 23, eff. August 1, 2019; Volume 39, Issue 24, eff. July 17, 2023; Volume 41, Issue 26, eff. September 1, 2025.