RICHMOND, Va. — Hunters interested in using designated areas of Virginia State Parks this season are being urged to reserve their spots early, with new opportunities available this year at Clinch River State Park and Natural Tunnel State Park.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation said Virginia State Parks offers annual hunting opportunities to help manage deer populations, protect vegetation and habitat quality, and provide a safer, more controlled hunting environment.
New this year is a hunting opportunity at Clinch River State Park in Wise County. The park, one of Virginia’s newer state parks, will now be available for hunters as part of the state park system’s managed access program.
Also new this year is a permit-only archery hunt at Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County. The hunt will be limited to 10 hunters, who will be selected through a lottery drawing.
Across participating state parks, hunting opportunities range from open hunting in designated areas to organized deer management hunts. In some parks, hunters can reserve stands or zones through an online system on a first-come, first-served basis.
State park officials said all reservation hunts carry a $15 reservation fee. Hunters must have an email address to create an account and are encouraged to do so in advance before reservation periods open.
The department said safety rules for hunting in state parks go beyond standard state hunting regulations in some cases. All participants must provide proof of completing a hunter safety course, and hunters are required to wear a blaze orange or blaze pink hat and vest while hunting in any state park.
Hunting and camping are allowed only in designated areas, and all Virginia game laws apply within state park hunting areas.
Hunters who do not have internet access can call 1-800-933-7275 and select option 5 for assistance, though officials said the best experience is to apply online.
More information, including hunt maps, dates and terms and conditions, is available at virginiastateparks.gov/hunting.
