Hunters carrying tree stands through the woods

Our annual hunt program is one tool used to manage wildlife populations at a level compatible with the habitat. It also provides for wildlife-oriented recreational opportunities. Hunting is available to those with a valid, signed brochure/permit.  Hunting is allowed following all State seasons and regulations and further Refuge restrictions contained in the brochure/permit.

2023-2024 Hunt Season Information 

We allow hunting of the following species during State seasons from September 16, 2023 through March 14, 2024. Consult State regulations for State seasons.

  • White-tailed Deer
  • Raccoon
  • Opossum
  • Fox
  • Coyote
  • Rabbit
  • Squirrel
  • Crow
  • Dove
  • Woodcock
  • Snipe
  • Rail
  • Gallinule/Moorhen
  • Coot
  • Canada Goose
  • Light Goose
  • Atlantic Brant
  • Tundra Swan
  • Ducks (including mergansers & sea ducks)

Hunt Hours

You may access the refuge from two hours before sunrise until two hours after sunset. Legal hunting hours are in accordance with state law. Night hunting is prohibited.

Bag Limits

In accordance with state law.

General Hunt Regulations

We allow hunting of the above species in designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State law subject to the following federal regulations

  1. All hunters must possess a refuge hunt permit and be actively engaged in hunting.
  2. A person possessing a valid state-issued Commonwealth of Virginia Disabled Resident Lifetime License or Commonwealth of Virginia Resident Disabled Veteran’s Lifetime License, may have a non-hunting assistant with them.
  3. You may not hunt, discharge a weapon, or nock an arrow or crossbow bolt within 100 feet (30.5 meters) of any building or any road or trail, whether improved or unimproved.
  4. You must park your vehicle in designated areas.
  5. Areas of the refuge may be closed for management purposes, or other hazardous conditions that pose a threat to human health and safety. Such closures will be posted at the Hunt Information Kiosk (see map).
  6. We prohibit the use of permanent blinds and tree stands. We allow the use of portable blinds and tree stands but you must remove them at the end of each day’s hunt.
  7. Stands and blinds attached by nails, wire, screws, or in any other damaging way to trees are prohibited.
  8. We allow the use of dogs for migratory game bird hunting but we prohibit the use of dogs for upland and big game hunting.
  9. We prohibit organized deer drives. We define a “deer drive” as an organized or planned effort to pursue, drive, chase, or otherwise frighten or cause deer to move in the direction of any person(s) who is part of the organized or planned hunt and known to be waiting for the deer. 
*The Refuge encourages all hunters to use nontoxic ammunition for all game species

Extra Information

Related Documents
Wallops Island 2023-24 Hunt Brochure/Permit

Wallops Island NWR 2023-24 Hunt Brochure  -Printable