bear season area · Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
Bear season area D (firearms Nov 30 - Jan 2)
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 D (firearms Nov 30 - Jan 2)
Bear season area D (firearms Nov 30 - Jan 2) is a bear season area in Virginia, United States, set by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. It covers about 31,556 km² (12,184 mi²). Towns inside it include Smithfield, Rocky Mount, Colonial Beach, West Point, Blackstone and Altavista.
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
- D
- Area
- 31,556 km²
- Area (miles)
- 12,184 mi²
- Boundaries
- 2026
Public and protected land mapped inside it
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 1,112 km² of public or protected land inside it, 4% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Other or unnamed managers | 702 | 2% |
| VA Army National Guard | 167 | under 1% |
| Forest Service Region 08 Southern | 166 | under 1% |
| VA Department of Wildlife Resources | 144 | under 1% |
| VA Dept of Forestry | 138 | under 1% |
| VA Dept of Conservation and Recreation | 132 | under 1% |
| National Park Service | 107 | under 1% |
| The Nature Conservancy | 50 | under 1% |
| Other or unnamed managers | 258 | 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 30, 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 A (Southwest: early firearms Sep 28-30)
- Bear season area B (firearms Nov 23 - Jan 2)
- Bear season area C (firearms Nov 27-29 and Dec 21 - Jan 2)
- Other independent cities (where local ordinances allow: Oct 3 - Jan 2)
- Bear season area E (Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach: firearms Oct 1 - Jan 2)
Other hunting units that cover part of it
- CWD Disease Management Area 3
- Atlantic Population Zone (goose zone)
- Fall turkey area B (Oct 17-30, Nov 25-26, Nov 30 - Dec 26, Jan 9-23) (fall turkey season area)
- Fall turkey area C (Oct 17-30, Nov 25-26, Nov 30 - Dec 12) (fall turkey season area)
- Fall turkey area D (Oct 17-30, Nov 25-26, Nov 30 - Dec 12, Jan 9-23) (fall turkey season area)
- East of the Blue Ridge (deer region)
- Franklin County (locality)
- Outside the elk lottery area: any elk during open deer seasons (elk zone)
- Pittsylvania County (locality)
- Resident Population Zone (goose zone)
- West of the Blue Ridge (deer region)
What HuntGrid shows for Bear season area D (firearms Nov 30 - Jan 2)
- 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 D (firearms Nov 30 - Jan 2)?
About 31,556 km² (12,184 mi²), as HuntGrid maps Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources's boundary.
How much public or protected land is in Bear season area D (firearms Nov 30 - Jan 2)?
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 1,112 km² of public or protected land, 4% of the unit; the largest share is managed by Other or unnamed managers. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there.
Where are the season dates for Bear season area D (firearms Nov 30 - Jan 2)?
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 D (firearms Nov 30 - Jan 2)?
In the same unit system: Bear season area A (Southwest: early firearms Sep 28-30), Bear season area B (firearms Nov 23 - Jan 2), Bear season area C (firearms Nov 27-29 and Dec 21 - Jan 2), Other independent cities (where local ordinances allow: Oct 3 - Jan 2) and Bear season area E (Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach: firearms Oct 1 - 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.