bear season area · Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
Bear season area A (Southwest: early firearms Sep 28-30)
Virginia, United States
The map opens on this unit. Turn on Hunting units in Layers to see its boundary with public land, your pins and the forecast.
About Bear season area A (Southwest: early firearms Sep 28-30)
Bear season area A (Southwest: early firearms Sep 28-30) is a bear season area in Virginia, United States, set by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. It covers about 8,448 km² (3,262 mi²). Towns inside it include Abingdon, Big Stone Gap, Lebanon and Wise.
HuntGrid draws its boundary from Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources's data for the 2026 season. The agency uses this unit system for American black bear.
- Unit code
- A
- Area
- 8,448 km²
- Area (miles)
- 3,262 mi²
- Boundaries
- 2026
Public and protected land mapped inside it
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 1,304 km² of public or protected land inside it, 15% of the unit. Some protected land is privately owned (a conservation group's, for one). By manager, as the source names it:
| Manager | km² | Share |
|---|---|---|
| The Nature Conservancy | 641 | 8% |
| Forest Service Region 08 Southern | 458 | 5% |
| Other or unnamed managers | 124 | 1% |
| VA Department of Wildlife Resources | 69 | under 1% |
| Huntington | 44 | under 1% |
| National Park Service | 31 | under 1% |
| VA Dept of Conservation and Recreation | 25 | under 1% |
| VA Dept of Forestry | 20 | under 1% |
| Other or unnamed managers | 33 | under 1% |
Boundaries are approximate and aren't legal descriptions. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there: check your local regulations and posted signs.
Public land: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Gap Analysis Project (GAP), 2025, Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) 4.1
Seasons and regulations
Seasons for this unit that a person has checked against Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources's regulations:
| Species | Dates | Details |
|---|---|---|
| American black bear | Oct 3, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026 | archery source |
| American black bear | Nov 7, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026 | muzzleloader source |
| American black bear | Nov 23, 2026 to Jan 2, 2027 | firearm source |
The official regulations have the final word: check them before you hunt.
Official regulations: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
Units around it
Next to it in the same unit system
- Bear season area B (firearms Nov 23 - Jan 2)
- Other independent cities (where local ordinances allow: Oct 3 - Jan 2)
- Bear season area D (firearms Nov 30 - Jan 2)
Other hunting units that cover part of it
- Fall turkey area B (Oct 17-30, Nov 25-26, Nov 30 - Dec 26, Jan 9-23) (fall turkey season area)
- Buchanan County (locality)
- Fall turkey area D (Oct 17-30, Nov 25-26, Nov 30 - Dec 12, Jan 9-23) (fall turkey season area)
- Dickenson County (locality)
- Lee County (locality)
- Elk lottery area (Buchanan, Dickenson, Wise counties) (elk zone)
- Outside the elk lottery area: any elk during open deer seasons (elk zone)
- Resident Population Zone (goose zone)
- Russell County (locality)
- Scott County (locality)
- Washington County (locality)
- West of the Blue Ridge (deer region)
- Wise County (locality)
What HuntGrid shows for Bear season area A (Southwest: early firearms Sep 28-30)
- Its boundary on the map; tap inside it for the unit's card with the agency's regulations link.
- Public land and the other hunting units in the same view, each with its source.
- Season dates once a person has checked them, and legal shooting hours where the rule is checked.
- Hourly wind with a scent cone for every stand, and official weather alerts.
- Offline maps: download the area and use the map, your pins and the forecast with no signal.
Questions
How big is Bear season area A (Southwest: early firearms Sep 28-30)?
About 8,448 km² (3,262 mi²), as HuntGrid maps Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources's boundary.
How much public or protected land is in Bear season area A (Southwest: early firearms Sep 28-30)?
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 1,304 km² of public or protected land, 15% of the unit; the largest share is managed by The Nature Conservancy. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there.
Where are the season dates for Bear season area A (Southwest: early firearms Sep 28-30)?
This page lists 3 seasons a person has checked against Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources's regulations; the official regulations have the final word.
Which units are next to Bear season area A (Southwest: early firearms Sep 28-30)?
In the same unit system: Bear season area B (firearms Nov 23 - Jan 2), Other independent cities (where local ordinances allow: Oct 3 - Jan 2) and Bear season area D (firearms Nov 30 - Jan 2).
More on huntgrid.net
Sources
Unit boundary: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (area definitions); U.S. Census Bureau (county and city boundaries). Licence: Areas defined in the 2026-2027 Virginia hunting regulations; county and city boundaries public domain (U.S. Census Bureau). Boundaries for the 2026 season.
HuntGrid isn't affiliated with Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. The official regulations and maps have the final word.