Virginia’s hunting and fishing license laws for 2025 establish clear requirements and exemptions for residents and nonresidents. Here’s an overview of the current regulations:
Hunting Licenses
Who Needs a License:
- All Virginia residents aged 12 or older must have a hunting license unless exempt.
- Nonresidents must also obtain a hunting license, except under specific exemptions.
Exemptions:
- Landowners: Landowners, their spouses, children, grandchildren, and parents (resident or nonresident) may hunt, trap, and fish on their own land without a license.
- Tenants: Bona fide tenants, renters, or lessees may hunt, trap, and fish on the land they reside on (with written permission from the landowner).
- Age: Residents under 12 years old do not need a hunting license but must be accompanied and directly supervised by a licensed adult.
- Seniors: Residents aged 65 or older do not need a license to hunt or trap on private property in their county or city of residence.
- Native Americans: Members of Virginia-recognized tribes or those habitually residing on an Indian reservation may hunt, trap, and fish without a license if they carry proper tribal identification.
- Stockholders: Owners of 50% or more of a domestic corporation owning land in Virginia, their spouses, children, and minor grandchildren may hunt, trap, and fish on the corporation’s land without a license.
Additional Permits:
- Species-Specific: Additional licenses or stamps are required for hunting bear, deer, turkey, and waterfowl.
- Method-Specific: Archery and muzzleloader licenses are required for hunting with those method.
- Waterfowl: Hunters 16 and older must have a Virginia Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp and a Federal Duck Stamp, plus register with HIP (Harvest Information Program).
Hunter Education:
- Completion of hunter education certification is required for most first-time hunters to buy a license.
Fishing Licenses
Who Needs a License:
- All persons age 16 and older must have a fishing license unless exempt.
- Nonresident children under 16 do not need a license if accompanied by a licensed adult.
Exemptions:
- Landowners and Tenants: Landowners, their families, and bona fide tenants (with written permission) may fish on their own land or waters without a license.
- Age: Residents and nonresidents under 16 do not need a license to fish.
- Seniors: Residents 65 or older do not need a saltwater license but must comply with the Virginia Fisherman Identification Program (FIP) requirements. They pay a $1 fee for an annual inland fishing license.
- Native Americans: Members of Virginia-recognized tribes or those habitually residing on an Indian reservation do not need a freshwater license but must have proper identification. A saltwater license is still required.
- Legally Blind: No fishing license required.
Special Licenses:
- Resident State Freshwater Fishing License: Required for age 16 and older.
- Resident State Fresh/Saltwater Fishing License: Available for those fishing in both types of water.
- Trout License: Required for fishing in stocked trout waters, unless otherwise exempt.
- Lifetime Licenses: Available for both residents and nonresidents.
Free Fishing Days:
- Up to three free fishing days per year, designated by the Board.
Summary Table
| Activity | Who Needs a License? | Key Exemptions/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hunting | Residents 12+, Nonresidents | Landowners, tenants, under 12 (with adult), 65+ |
| Fishing | Residents 16+, Nonresidents 16+ | Landowners, tenants, under 16, 65+, Native Americans |
| Bear/Deer/Turkey | Additional license required | — |
| Waterfowl | Additional stamps required | — |
| Archery/Muzzleloader | Additional license required | — |
Where to Buy Licenses
Licenses can be purchased online through the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) website, by phone, at authorized agents, or by mail.
Virginia’s 2025 hunting and fishing license laws require most residents and nonresidents to obtain licenses, with significant exemptions for landowners, tenants, youth, seniors, and Native Americans. Additional permits or stamps are required for certain species and hunting methods. Always check the latest regulations before heading out.
Sources:
- https://www.hunter-ed.com/virginia/hunting_license/
- https://dwr.virginia.gov/hunting/regulations/licenses/
- https://dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/regulations/licenses/
- https://wvdnr.gov/2025-license-guide/