Only ever been squirrel hunting. This year decided to buy a muzzleloader and face my fear of heights (mostly just the fear of falling) and learn saddle hunting. Hunted last Saturday and Sunday and didn't see anything at all, decided a quick couple hour sit after work on Friday and this guy walks our behind my stand down wind of me not even 15 yards away. Gutted and quartered.. now I have to figure out how to actually process all this meat, if anyone has any good resources like youtube videos or a good book that goes over how to butcher all this it would be appreciated, also does anyone know how i can defrost the unprocessed meat to process it and put it all into vaccum bags and refreeze safely? Ill admit i wasnt fully prepared to shoot anything last night and dont want to waste anything. Otherwise I'm gunna piss my wife off even more and figure it out on her counter tops lol. Any help is appreciated.

Picture makes it seems brighter but everything looks great except for light on the actual front of the target. Not bad for TikTok shop though

It’s too hot out here. I’m in Powhatan and it’s in the seventies a week into flipping November. The deer aren’t moving. I’m sweating like a pig. WTH is going on with the weather. I’m gonna start going hunting in my underwear and a tee shirt. Heck I might hop into the creek just to cool off

Anyways that’s my rant. Stay cool out there yall. And good luck this season.

The rules don't seem very clear to me, trying to figure out if I can take these does that keep walking in front of me in GWNF. No bucks seen yet but does a plenty.

Hunting archery and I'm out here for a few days.

Thought I would make another post regarding use of bow as well in Stafford. I see the NO SHOOT ZONES on the county site. DWR site says the below and I can't find anything pertaining to using a bow in Stafford. Wondering if anyone has more knowledge about this. Would someone's say garage or shed count as a regular occupied structure? So does this mean, you could stand at the edge of your property and shoot your rifle or bow (towards game on your property) as long as neighboring property does not meet any of the criteria? Is there a minimum acreage your property must be?

I just want to be sure I don't break any laws.

Have confirmed DWR states the following for Stafford but not sure what else may apply:

No person shall discharge an arrow from any bow in a manner that can be reasonably expected to result in the impact of the arrow upon the property of another without permission from the owner or tenant of such property.

80. It shall be unlawful to hunt with a rifle larger than .22 caliber rimfire, except rifles of a larger caliber may be used for hunting groundhogs and coyotes between March 1 and August 31.

81. It shall be unlawful to shoot or hunt with a firearm within 100 yards of any regularly occupied structure without written permission of its owner or occupant or within 100 yards of any private road located in a subdivision where lots are 10 acres or less in size without written permission of the owner or occupant.

I’ve always been intrested in hunting growing up in the inner city. I have a YouTube channel that does documentaries and I’m unbiased. I was looking for someone who goes hunting and wouldn’t mind me tagging along with a cameraman and show me the ins and outs of it. Pro points if you’re a character and someone who’s very interesting. I’ll throw some cash your way as well if that suits you.

Preface: Hunting the Hampton roads area specifically Suffolk and chesapeake, this is my first year hunting in VA. Been hunting my farm in Kentucky my whole life.

Been out at least 12 time since OCT 5 and I can’t even see deer while in the tree. I’m hunting on sign whether that be on a scrape, rub, browse, or set up on where they are clearly traveling through.

Is there some kind of trick to Virginia hunting or am I just that unlucky thus far?

Anyone seeing good signs of the rut being on? Finding a ton of scrapes but no significant rubs, which is strange for my property in Hanover.

Looking forward to hunting on my property for the first time this year since I retired. Reading the compendium, and the local firearms ordinances pages by county; is mind numbing. Every county is different!

Compared to five other states on the East Coast that I hunt, VA is by far the most confusing.

Got my second wall hanger. Going for a shoulder mount. Deer sent off before I remembered to measure it. Any guesses on score?

Funny enough the deer was forward quartering me. I shot his front right shoulder from a climber. The shoulder blade has such impact, it didn’t allow a pass through. I found almost no blood and was concerned I made a bad shot. Found him 40 feet away. No exit hole makes for minimal blood lol.

My friends and I are new to hunting and would like to learn more. Has anyone used their service? http://www.learntohuntdeer.com/index.htm

Anyone been to this wma to hunt deer? New to the area and looking for options to get some meats. Any info appreciated

For those of you who've used Outdoor Access to lease land for a day or weekend, how's did you get around not being able to not really recon the land?

Any lessons learned? Would you stay away from small acreage?

Getting ready to take a hunt / fish / camping trip this weekend with a buddy. We went to Gathright WMA last year which was great but..

There’s a deep, sketchy mud hole on the main trail that can be difficult to get through even if you’re driving a lifted off-road vehicle.

Anyone know if DWR has addressed it since last year? Filled it with gravel or something?

We will have a medical course on Nov. 16th! This course is for everyone to learn a valuable skill set. Teenaged kids are welcome as well. We ran this course for a group of 8 last year that came from this subreddit. If you’re interested, DM us on social media or email us. I’ll leave the link in the comments.

This course will cover injuries that need to be addressed to prevent death before EMS arrives. You could see them in a vehicle accident, the workplace, at home, maybe somebody falls out of a tree stand, etc. You will gain the knowledge AND the tools to care for traumatic injuries. The course includes a trauma first aid kit (IFAK), which is comprised of a tourniquet, chest seals, gauze, etc. 

The course will be taught by veteran Navy SEAL Combat Medic Jim LaPaglia. After leaving the Navy, Jim deployed multiple times as a contractor with the CIA. He also spent the last 20 years as a lead firearms and medical instructor for Armed Forces Experimental Training Activity Department of Defense (AFETA) and law enforcement when not deployed.

The course address will be provided to those interested. If you can’t attend this course, follow us on social media for future course offerings. We also have firearms training courses.

Its not listed on that DWR https://dwr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/media/local-firearms-ordinances.pdf

Do see some basic info on Spotsylvania website that describes some regulations such as not 100 yards from occupied building, etc. but just looking to see if anyone knows if hunting would be allowed if you owned a property say on maybe 3-5 acres?

How about in Fredericksburg?

Hey, my in laws own some property on the water in Urbana, I was wondering if anyone had any experience duck hunting out there. I’ve been looking into the laws and regs but I’ve only duck hunted small ponds and swamps in central va. Depending on the feedback I’m thinking of getting a jon boat to hunt around the Urbana/Chesapeake Bay Area. Also if anyone knows much about ducks on the James or appomatox I would like to know any info as I could hunt that with the boat aswell.

I’ve seen some wma land out across the bay south of chincoteague but that’s a little too far for a jon boat to go. All the closest available by boat public land are wildlife preserves or national wildlife areas which aren’t huntable.

Most of December is both deer and turkey season. Never hunted turkey before but would imagine my .308 is a bit much! Does anyone go out with both a rifle and shotgun? I would predominately be in a ground blind anyway.

I am going hunting for quail, pheasant and chukar. What license to I need? I currently hold the Virginia Sportsman Hunting/ Fishing license. I cannot find a clear answer online. Thanks.

A while back I picked up an inexpensive thermal monocular just for kicks and grins....but recently I wondered if I could bring it out deer hunting to aid in spotting or tracking (pre and post shot).

I was coming up short on finding the legality of it for early/late hours and during the day. I understand that at night, an hour before sun up, and an hour after sundown are no-go.

Reddit collective, do you have any insight?

I know I spend a fair amount of $ on hunting. The total of all spending statewide and nationally is huge. Nice to know we hunters are contributing to jobs and the economy.

https://sportsmensalliance.org/research/2020-economic-impacts-of-hunting-and-target-shooting-report-2/

From: https://www.themeateater.com/conservation/general/new-report-details-economic-impact-of-hunting

Like the caption says new to hunting. I would love if someone could point me in the right direction as far as getting into a group that hunts waterfowl. I would like to get into deer at some point as well. Thanks in advance.

Got a bunch of huntin stuff for sale.. stands, calls, stuff if interested let me know

Anyone had much luck hunting Cumberland or buckingham wma? Im staying in the area and trying to hunt a few days on one of or try out both