Bear Hunt

 

Note: For information on hunting in the Dismal Swamp Wildlife Managment Area (which is not the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge) please contact the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. CLICK HERE

 

2009 Black Bear Hunt

The 2009 Black Bear Hunt will be held on November 20 and 21, 2009. Weather make-up dates are December 4 and 5, if necessary. A scouting day will be held on November 19, 2009. New this year, the Bear Hunt will be held on the last two days of the refuge deer hunt. Registration for the quota hunt will be from July 1 through August 28, 2009.

Registration for the 2009 Black Bear Quota Hunt must be made by one the following methods:

Note: The Great Dismal Swamp Black Bear Hunt is Series #501

1. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries hunter registration website

www.dgif.virginia.gov/hunting/quotahunts

2. By mail, using the tear out form in the Game Department's Hunting & Trapping in Virginia Guide

3. By phone: Monday- Friday 9:30 am - 4:30 pm EST) Call 1-877-VAHUNTS

Other things you need to know:

• You CANNOT register for this year's Bear Hunt through the Refuge Office.
• A $7.50 fee is charged by the website to register for the quota drawing.
• Selected hunters will be allowed to designate one guest for the hunt (for a total of 100 hunters) when submitting the refuge hunt fee.
• Both the selected hunter and the guest will be required to pay a $50.00 hunt fee to the refuge to complete the registration process.
• Hunters are required to have a current Virginia Big Game hunt license in addition to the refuge permit.
• For 2009 Black Bear Hunt map click here.

Hunt maps and regulations may change slightly each year. The following are for reference only.

For 2008 Bear Hunt Summary Report click here.

For 2008 Black Bear Hunt map click here.

For 2008 Black Bear Hunt Regulations click here.

For 2007 Black Bear Hunt Regulations and Hunt map click here.

For 2007 Bear Hunt Summary Report click here.

For more information please contact the refuge office at 757/ 986-3705 during regular business hours of Monday-Friday, from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.