Virginia · Public Land · 2026 Edition
Virginia Public Hunting Land 2026: WMAs & Access Rules
2 wildlife management areas tracked here, from 4,539 to 14,283 acres. A hunting license covers you on Virginia WMA land the same as anywhere else in the state — but read the access rules below before you assume that's all you need.
01 — Wildlife management areas
| Area | County | Acres | Species |
|---|---|---|---|
| C.F. Phelps Wildlife Management Area | Fauquier, Culpeper | 4,539 | Deer, Turkey, Dove, Waterfowl, Small game |
| Highland Wildlife Management Area | Highland | 14,283 | Deer, Bear, Turkey, Ruffed grouse, Small game |
C.F. Phelps, along the Rappahannock River in Fauquier and Culpeper counties, is one of Virginia's more intensively managed WMAs — turkey numbers have climbed on the back of active habitat work, and a sighting-in range near Sumerduck adds a facility most WMAs in this silo don't have. Highland, spread across three mountain tracts in Highland County, splits its identity by elevation: Bullpasture Mountain for deer and turkey, the higher and more rugged Jack Mountain for bear. Neither area has camping facilities beyond primitive dispersed sites requiring advance DWR registration. This list is a starting point, not Virginia DWR's full inventory of more than 40 wildlife management areas statewide.
02 — Access rules beyond your hunting license
Virginia runs the most flexible access system in this silo: any one of five things gets you onto a WMA — a valid hunting or trapping license, a fishing license, a current Virginia boat registration, an access permit, or a 'Restore the Wild' membership. You don't need a hunting license specifically if you hold one of the others, though you still need the right hunting license to actually hunt once you're there.
03 — Where to go next
Verified · Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources · Last verified 2026-08-08
Publisher's note. WMA list and access rules read from Virginia DWR, retrieved 2026-08-08. Review due 2027-08-01. This is a starting list, not the agency's full WMA inventory — confirm current rules for a specific area before you hunt it.