How to Get Your Virginia Hunting License
Virginia requires all first-time hunters and hunters ages 12 through 15 to complete an approved hunter education course before buying a hunting license. The course itself isn't required to purchase a license if you've previously held a hunting license anywhere and are 16 or older.
A resident base hunting license costs $23, while a non-resident base license costs $111. Licenses are sold through the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) at Go Outdoors Virginia, by mail, or through an approved license agent, and most Virginia licenses are valid for one year from the date of purchase, though the deer/turkey license, bear license, and migratory waterfowl stamp instead run July 1 through June 30 every year.
Today, we cover how to get your Virginia hunting license and Hunter Education Certificate, step by step.
What Is a Hunting License in Virginia?
A Virginia hunting license is the base document DWR requires before you can pursue game in the state. Deer, turkey, and bear each need a separate license add-on beyond the base license, and hunting on U.S. Forest Service land requires its own National Forest Permit as well.
Your Hunter Education Certificate is a different document entirely. It proves you completed a DWR-approved safety course, and once you earn it, it never expires. Most of your other licenses, by contrast, are only good for one year from the date you bought them.
Who Needs a Hunting License in Virginia?
Virginia requires a hunting license for all residents and non-residents who hunt in the state, with the specific type and hunter education path shaped by age and hunting history rather than a general age cutoff.
Hunter education works on a separate track from the license itself. First-time hunters and anyone ages 12 through 15 must complete an approved hunter education course before buying a standard license, unless they use one of Virginia's supervised alternatives instead:
- Under 12 (residents): No hunting license required at all, though species-specific permits and tags still apply.
- Age 12 through 15, or any first-time hunter: Complete hunter education before buying a standard license, or use the two-year Apprentice License ($10 resident, $20 non-resident) instead.
- On the Apprentice License: Hunt under the direct supervision of a licensed adult 18 or older for up to two years without completing hunter education, though the license can't be renewed or repurchased afterward.
- 16 and older, previously licensed: Exempt from hunter education, but still needs a current license to hunt.
Whichever category applies to you, keep proof of your license and, if required, your certification on hand while hunting.
How to Get Your Virginia Hunting License (Step-by-Step)
Getting licensed in Virginia depends mostly on your age and whether you've ever held a license before, since the hunter education requirement is tied to first-time status as much as age. Here's the full process from start to finish.
- Complete an approved hunter education course if you're a first-time hunter or between the ages of 12 and 15, or use the Apprentice License instead.
- Purchase your license through the DWR website, by mail, or through an approved license agent.
- Select your license type: resident ($23), non-resident ($111), or the Sportsman's License ($100 resident) if you want hunting, bear, deer/turkey, and fishing privileges bundled together.
- Add a deer/turkey license, bear license, or National Forest Permit as needed for the species and land you're hunting.
- Carry your digital or printed license, plus your Hunter Education Certificate, any time you hunt.
Once you've completed these steps, you're fully licensed and ready for the field. The sections below cover the hunter education course and license purchase in more detail.
Step 1: Complete an Approved Hunter Education Course
Virginia splits its hunter education options by residency, and neither requires a field day.
- Online course (Virginia residents, age 12 and older): The Hunter-Ed Virginia course costs $34.95. Pass the final exam and print your certificate immediately, with no classroom component at all.
- In-person classroom course (any age, residents and non-residents): A free course that combines self-study with a hands-on class session, typically wrapped up in about six hours.
However you complete it, your certification never expires and stays valid across all 50 states once earned. Non-residents can't take the online-only course and must either complete the in-person option or bring a qualifying certificate from their home state.
Step 2: Purchase Your License
Once you have your Hunter Education Certificate, if it applies to you, you can buy your license through the DWR website, by mail, or through an approved license agent.
You'll need a government-issued photo ID, proof of hunter education if required, and payment.
Step 3: Add Permits and Go Hunting
Your base Virginia hunting license doesn't automatically cover deer, turkey, or bear. Each needs its own license add-on, and hunting on National Forest land requires a separate permit on top of whatever species licenses you're carrying.
Once your license and any needed add-ons are in hand, you're ready to hunt.
Virginia Hunting License Requirements by Age
Here's a high-level overview of the requirements for hunting licenses in Virginia by age.
Virginia Hunting License Requirements (by Age) | ||
| Age | Requirement | Supervision/Hunter Education |
| Under 12 (resident) | No license required | Species-specific permits and tags still apply |
| 12 through 15 | Junior Hunting License ($8.50 resident, $16 non-resident) | Hunter education required, or use the Apprentice License instead |
| Any age, first-time hunter | Resident ($23) or Non-Resident ($111) | Hunter education required, or use the two-year Apprentice License ($10 resident, $20 non-resident) |
| 16 and older, previously licensed | Resident ($23) or Non-Resident ($111) | Hunter education not required |
| 80 and older (resident) | Senior Resident Lifetime License ($200) | Includes bear, deer, and turkey privileges for life |
Privileges and stamps:
- Deer, turkey, and bear each require a separate license add-on ($23 resident deer/turkey, $86 non-resident adult deer/turkey, $23 resident bear).
- Waterfowl hunters need the state duck stamp ($4), the Federal Duck Stamp ($27), and free HIP registration
- Anyone hunting U.S. Forest Service land needs a separate National Forest Permit ($17).
Season dates and bag limits vary by species and county, so check before you plan a hunt.
Hunter Safety Course: Format and Cost
Virginia's fully online course skips the classroom entirely for residents 12 and older, while non-residents and younger hunters use the state's free in-person option instead. The chart below breaks down both paths.
Virginia Hunter Safety Course Formats Comparison | ||||
| Format | Provider | Cost | Time | Exam |
Online (Virginia residents, age 12 and older) | Hunter-Ed | $34.95 | A few hours, self-paced | Final exam only (immediate certificate) |
In-Person Classroom (any age, any residency) | DWR-certified volunteer instructors | Free | About 6 hours, plus self-study | Chapter review and final test included in course |
Once you've passed either option, that certification is yours for good, no renewal, no expiration. It's just your hunting license and species add-ons that need refreshing, most of them every year from the date you bought them.
What to Bring To Buy Your License
Make sure you have the right documentation handy to purchase your Virginia hunting license. You'll need:
- A government-issued photo ID
- Proof of your Hunter Education Certificate, if you're required to hold one
- Payment (card online or in person, or check by mail)
- Proof of Virginia residency, if applying for resident rates
Virginia Hunting Laws and Penalties
Hunting without a valid license in Virginia is a Class 3 misdemeanor. In addition to any court fine, you still have to pay the state the cost of the license you should have bought. A judge can also bar you from getting a Virginia hunting license for one to five years, and hunting during that ban is a separate Class 2 misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail.
Additionally:
- Hunting without carrying your license, even if you have one, is a lesser Class 4 misdemeanor with fines up to $250.
- Trespassing to hunt on posted land is a Class 1 misdemeanor carrying up to $2,500 in fines and up to a year in jail
- Trespassing on unposted land without permission is a Class 3 misdemeanor.
What About Reciprocity?
Virginia accepts hunter education certificates from any U.S. state, Canadian province, or country meeting International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) standards. States and provinces with their own mandatory hunter education requirements return the favor and accept a Virginia Hunter Education Certificate, so your card travels with you if you hunt elsewhere.
What Out-of-State Visitors Need to Know
Non-resident hunters pay $111 for a base hunting license, plus $86 for the adult deer/turkey add-on and $151 for the adult bear add-on if pursuing those species.
First-time non-resident hunters must still complete hunter education. Since Hunter-Ed's online course is residents-only, out-of-state hunters need to bring a qualifying certificate from their home state or complete Virginia's free in-person course instead.
Start Your Virginia Hunter Safety Course Today, Then Get Your Hunting License
Ready to get certified? The Hunter-Ed Virginia course is approved by the DWR, self-paced, and available on any device, with no in-person field day currently required. Complete the course and get your lifetime Virginia hunter education certificate.
Approved by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) | Last verified August 12, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How much does a hunting license cost in Virginia?
A: A resident base hunting license in Virginia costs $23, while a non-resident base license costs $111, both valid for one year from the date of purchase. Hunters after deer, turkey, or bear need a separate add-on license for each species, which runs on a fixed July 1 through June 30 cycle instead.
Q: Do I need hunter education to hunt in Virginia?
A: Yes, Virginia requires hunter education for any first-time hunter and for all hunters ages 12 through 15 before they can buy a standard license. Hunters 16 or older who've previously held a license are exempt, and first-timers of any age can also use the two-year Apprentice License to hunt under supervision without completing the course right away.
Q: Is a field day required for the online hunter safety course in Virginia?
A: No, Virginia's fully online hunter safety course has no classroom or field day component for residents 12 and older who complete it through Hunter-Ed. Non-residents can't take the online-only course, so they either complete Virginia's free in-person course or bring a qualifying certificate from their home state.
Q: Can an 11-year-old hunt in Virginia?
A: An 11-year-old resident can hunt in Virginia without a license at all, since the state doesn't require one until age 12. Once a Virginia hunter turns 12, hunter education becomes mandatory before they can buy their first license.
Q: Does Virginia's hunter education certificate work in other states?
A: Yes, a Virginia Hunter Education Certificate is accepted in any U.S. state, Canadian province, or country with a mandatory hunter education requirement that meets IHEA-USA standards. This reciprocity means Virginia-certified hunters generally don't need to retake a course before hunting elsewhere.
Q: What's the penalty for hunting without a license in Virginia?
A: Hunting without a valid license in Virginia is a Class 3 misdemeanor, and beyond any court fine, you also owe the state the cost of the license you should have purchased. A judge can additionally bar you from getting a Virginia hunting license for one to five years, and hunting during that ban escalates to a Class 2 misdemeanor with fines up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail.
