(RICHMOND) – Virginia State Parks, managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, offer the outdoorsman a variety of hunting opportunities, including reservation only hunts and open hunting throughout the season. Hunters can reserve stands or zones on a first come, first served basis at the following hunts:
Muzzleloading and archery hunts will be held at Smith Mountain Lake State Park in Bedford County, Nov. 4-5, and Nov. 11-12, the reservation 
period begins Sept. 12; and York River State Park in James City County, Nov. 4-5, the reservation period begins Sept. 19; Kiptopeke State Park in Northampton County, Nov. 13-14, the reservation period begins Sept. 25; Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County, Nov. 4-9, the reservation period begins Sept. 27..
Muzzleloading only hunts will be held at Caledon State Park in King George County, Nov. 6-7, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 6; Grayson Highlands State Park in Grayson County, Nov. 4-5, with a reservation period beginning Sept. 5; James River State Park in Buckingham County, Nov. 4-5, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 13; Belle Isle State Park in Lancaster County, Nov. 13-14, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 20; Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania County, Nov. 6, with a reservation period beginning Sept.26; and Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County, Nov. 11-12 and Dec. 16-17, with the reservation period beginning Oct. 4.
Special youth muzzleloading hunts will be held at Grayson Highlands State Park in Grayson County on Nov. 2 with the reservation period beginning Sept. 5; and at Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County on Dec. 14 with the reservation period beginning Oct. 4.
Muzzleloading and shotgun hunts will be held at James River State Park in Buckingham County, Nov. 18-19, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 13; Lake Anna State Park in Spotsylvania County Nov. 19-20 with a reservation period beginningSept. 26; Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County Dec. 2-4 and Dec. 12-14 with a reservation period beginning Sept. 27; Natural Tunnel State Park in Scott County, Jan. 10-11, with the reservation period beginning Oct. 4; Claytor Lake State Park in Pulaski County Jan. 10-11 with the reservation period beginning Oct. 10.
A muzzleloading-shotgun and archery hunt will be held at Kiptopeke State Park in Northampton County, Dec. 4-5, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 25.
Shotgun hunts will be held at James River State Park, Dec. 2-3, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 13; York River State Park, Dec. 2-3, the reservation period beginning Sept. 19 and Leesylvania State Park in Prince William County, Jan. 14-15, with the reservation period beginning Oct. 11.
General firearms hunts will be held at Grayson Highlands State Park in Grayson County Nov. 18-19, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 5 and Belle Isle State Park in Lancaster County Dec. 16-17, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 20. A special youth general firearms hunt will be held at Shenandoah River State Park in Warren County on Nov. 18, with the reservation period beginning Sept. 18.
Hunters may reserve preferred days and stands or zones for an advanced fee of $15 a day by calling the Virginia State Parks Reservation Center, 1 800 933 7275 (PARK). Reservations will be accepted until all slots are taken at each hunt, up to two days prior to the hunt, provided that the hunter can complete the payment before the day of the hunt.
Douthat State Park in Bath County will hold special hunts: a muzzleloader hunt Nov. 11-15 and general firearms hunt Nov. 16. Interested hunters may reserve a hunting slot for unlimited opportunities during the designated hunts. There is a $5 non-refundable administrative fee for a hunting slot reservation and registered hunters must then attend one of two mandatory safety and hunt orientation sessions to obtain a hunter card that is required to participate during the hunts. Reservations for a hunting slot at Douthat State Park will begin Oct. 3 and end Nov. 1.
Open hunting is offered in designated areas of five state parks: Fairy Stone in Patrick and Henry counties; Grayson Highlands in Grayson County; Hungry Mother in Smyth County; Occoneechee in Mecklenburg County; and Pocahontas in Chesterfield County.
All hunting laws and regulations apply in Virginia State Parks. Additional rules may apply in individual parks, and all lottery and reservation hunts have special regulations.
Several state parks are in or near state forests, national forests or wildlife management areas that allow hunting. State parks with overnight accommodations are convenient and economical base camps for hunting anywhere in the area. These parks offer maps and affordable camping or cabin accommodations only minutes from the field. Campsites are available through early December, and cabins are open year round.
For information on hunting licenses, hunter safety education and hunting regulations, call the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries at 804-367 1000 or visit www.dgif.virginia.gov.
For more information about hunting opportunities and programs in Virginia State Parks, or camping or cabin reservations, call 1 800 933 7275(PARK), or visit www.virginiastateparks.gov.
Virginia State Parks that allow hunting:
Belle Isle State Park, Lancaster County, 804-462 5030
Caledon State Park, King George County, 540-663 3861
Chippokes Plantation State Park, Surry County, 757-294 3728
Claytor Lake State Park, Pulaski County, 540-643 2500
Douthat State Park, Bath County, 540-862 8100
Fairy Stone State Park, Patrick County, 276-930 2424
False Cape State Park, Virginia Beach 757-426 7128
Grayson Highlands State Park, Grayson County, 276-579 7092
Hungry Mother State Park, Smyth County, 276-781 7400
James River State Park, Buckingham County, 434-933 4355
Kiptopeke State Park, Northampton County, 757-331 2267
Lake Anna State Park, Spotsylvania County, 540-854-5503
Leesylvania State Park, Prince William County, 703-730-8205
Mason Neck State Park, Fairfax County, 703-490 4979
Natural Tunnel State Park, Scott County, 276-940-2674
Occoneechee State Park, Mecklenburg County, 434-374 2210
Pocahontas State Park, Chesterfield County, 804-796 4255
Shenandoah River State Park, Warren County, 540-622 6840
Smith Mountain Lake State Park, Bedford County, 540-297 6066
Staunton River State Park, Halifax County, 434-572-4623
York River State Park, James City County, 757-566 3036
Source: Virginia State Parks / Baret News Wire