bear season area · Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
Bear season area E (Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach: firearms Oct 1 - 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 E (Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach: firearms Oct 1 - Jan 2)
Bear season area E (Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach: firearms Oct 1 - Jan 2) is a bear season area in Virginia, United States, set by Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. It covers about 2,782 km² (1,074 mi²). Towns inside it include Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Suffolk.
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
- E
- Area
- 2,782 km²
- Area (miles)
- 1,074 mi²
- Boundaries
- 2026
Public and protected land mapped inside it
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 612 km² of public or protected land inside it, 22% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge | 350 | 13% |
| GREAT DISMAL SWAMP NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE | 349 | 13% |
| Other or unnamed managers | 119 | 4% |
| VA Dept of Conservation and Recreation | 63 | 2% |
| The Nature Conservancy | 46 | 2% |
| Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge | 35 | 1% |
| BACK BAY NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE | 35 | 1% |
| City of Virginia Beach | 32 | 1% |
| Other or unnamed managers | 95 | 3% |
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 1, 2026 to Jan 2, 2027 | firearm source |
| American black bear | Oct 3, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026 | archery 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
- 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
- Atlantic Population Zone (goose zone)
- Fall turkey area C (Oct 17-30, Nov 25-26, Nov 30 - Dec 12) (fall turkey season area)
- Chesapeake city (locality)
- Fall firearms turkey season closed (fall turkey season area)
- East of the Blue Ridge (deer region)
- Outside the elk lottery area: any elk during open deer seasons (elk zone)
- Resident Population Zone (goose zone)
- Suffolk city (locality)
- Virginia Beach city (locality)
What HuntGrid shows for Bear season area E (Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach: firearms Oct 1 - 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 E (Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach: firearms Oct 1 - Jan 2)?
About 2,782 km² (1,074 mi²), as HuntGrid maps Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources's boundary.
How much public or protected land is in Bear season area E (Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach: firearms Oct 1 - Jan 2)?
HuntGrid's public land layers map about 612 km² of public or protected land, 22% of the unit; the largest share is managed by Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. Public land doesn't always mean you can hunt there.
Where are the season dates for Bear season area E (Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach: firearms Oct 1 - Jan 2)?
This page lists 2 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 E (Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach: firearms Oct 1 - Jan 2)?
In the same unit system: 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.