Hunting Opportunities Open at Virginia State Parks , Including Machicomoco State Park

RICHMOND — The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation announced a new hunting opportunity this year at Machicomoco State Park in Gloucester County.

The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation manages Virginia State Parks, which offers the hunting opportunities each year to help control the park’s overall deer population. DCR asks participating hunters to support this effort by following harvest guidelines associated with each hunt.

All terms and conditions must be followed as safety is a key factor in hunting, especially at a Virginia State Park, it added. Terms and conditions in certain cases go above the law requirements and address weapon types that can be used, the clothes worn by hunters and a required safety course. Find more information and hunt maps at reservevaparks.com/Web

Virginia State Parks Hunting Terms and Conditions:  

• Hunting and camping are permitted only in designated areas.
• Virginia game laws apply in all designated hunting areas.
• All state park hunts require proof of completion of a hunter safety course. This is beyond the requirements of State Hunting Regulations.
• Hunters are required to wear a Blaze Color (Blaze Orange or Blaze Pink) hat and vest while hunting in any state park. This is beyond the requirements of State Hunting Regulations.

All hunts have special terms and conditions, so DCR cautions to be sure to read all the information on the hunt chart page.

Across select state parks, including Machicomoco State Park, hunting opportunities range from open hunting in designated areas to managed deer hunts. Hunters can also reserve stands or zones on a first-come, first-served basis using the online system.

To make a reservation, visit reservevaparks.com/Web to participate. All reservation hunts have a $15 reservation fee. Hunters must have an email to create an account in order to reserve a hunting date and location, according to DCR. It is encouraged to set up this account well in advance, as it can take some time for the information to process.

The reservation period begins at 9 a.m. and interested participants can view a grid  on the website for more details on hunt locations and dates. For more information, visit here  for more details on hunt locations and dates.

For those interested in applying for a hunting opportunity who do not have access to the internet, call 1-800-933-7275 and select option 5. Please be advised that customer service representatives may not have access to all the hunt details.  DCR strongly encourages hunters to apply online for the best experience.

For more information about hunting opportunities and programs in Virginia State Parks, visit dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/hunting.