Virginia · Turkey · 2026–27 Edition
Virginia Turkey Season 2026–27: Fall & Spring Dates, Bag Limits
Oct 3 — mark it
Mark it.
2026–27 Edition
01 — Fall turkey
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Archery Turkey | Statewide except areas closed to firearm turkey season | Oct 3 – Nov 13 |
| Youth & Apprentice Fall Weekend | Statewide in areas with a fall turkey season | Oct 10 – Oct 11 |
| Fall Firearms · Group A | Albemarle, Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Greene, Highland, Madison, Page, Rockingham | Oct 17 – Oct 30 |
| Fall Firearms · Group A (1 day) | Albemarle, Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Greene, Highland, Madison, Page, Rockingham | Nov 26 – Nov 26 |
| Fall Firearms · Groups B/C/D · Segment 1 | All other open counties (see agency for the full county lists) | Oct 17 – Oct 30 |
| Fall Firearms · Groups B/C/D · Segment 2 | All other open counties | Nov 25 – Nov 26 |
| Fall Firearms · Group B · Segment 3 | Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Caroline, Carroll, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Dickenson, Essex, Fairfax, Fauquier, Franklin, Giles, Grayson, King & Queen, King George, King William, Lancaster, Lee, Loudoun, Montgomery, Nelson, Northumberland, Prince William, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Richmond, Roanoke, Rockbridge, Russell, Scott, Smyth, Stafford, Washington, Westmoreland, Wise, Wythe + Camp Peary, Hampton, Newport News | Nov 30 – Dec 26 |
| Fall Firearms · Group B · Segment 4 | Same as Group B Segment 3 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 |
| Fall Firearms · Group C · Segment 3 | Accomack, Amelia, Dinwiddie, Gloucester, Greensville, Isle of Wight, James City, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, Northampton, Powhatan, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, York (except Camp Peary), City of Suffolk | Nov 30 – Dec 12 |
| Fall Firearms · Group D · Segment 3 | Amherst, Appomattox, Brunswick, Buchanan, Buckingham, Campbell, Charles City, Charlotte, Chesterfield, Cumberland, Floyd, Fluvanna, Frederick, Goochland, Halifax, Hanover, Henrico, Henry, Louisa, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Orange, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Prince Edward, Shenandoah, Spotsylvania, Tazewell, Warren | Nov 30 – Dec 12 |
| Fall Firearms · Group D · Segment 4 | Same as Group D Segment 3 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 |
02 — Spring gobbler
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Youth & Apprentice Spring Weekend | Statewide | Apr 3 – Apr 4 |
| Spring Turkey · to noon | Statewide | Apr 10 – Apr 25 |
| Spring Turkey · all day | Statewide | Apr 26 – May 15 |
03 — Bag limits
| General | 1 per day, no more than 3 per license year, only one of which may be beardless (fall only) |
|---|---|
| Spring | 1 bearded bird per day, no more than 3 per year (how many depends on the fall harvest) |
| Youth & Apprentice weekends | 1 turkey per weekend (spring: bearded bird only) |
| Closed areas | No fall firearms turkey season in Arlington County or the cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach |
04 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (October 3, 2026) 06:43 — 19:24
Rule: Fall: one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Spring: to NOON only April 10-25, 2027, then to sunset April 26-May 15, 2027 (per VA DWR).. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Virginia sun times for any other date.
05 — License
A Virginia hunting license and turkey permit are required. Spring and fall permits are often sold separately, and some states cap the number of gobblers per hunter per year across both seasons.
Virginia licenses & permits — Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources →
06 — FAQ
When does turkey season start in Virginia?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is October 3, 2026. Fall and spring seasons run separately — see the tables above.
When does turkey season end in Virginia?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is May 15, 2027. Individual segments and zones close on their own dates.
When does spring turkey season start in Virginia?
Youth & Apprentice Spring Weekend opens April 3, 2027 (Statewide).
When does fall turkey season start in Virginia?
Archery Turkey opens October 3, 2026 (Statewide except areas closed to firearm turkey season).
Verified · Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources · Last verified 2026-08-01
Publisher's note. Fall firearms turkey runs on FOUR different county schedules — the rows below name each group's counties. CLOSED entirely in Arlington County and the cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach. Spring hours change mid-season: to NOON only April 10-25, then to sunset April 26-May 15. Spring shotgun shot may not exceed No. 2 fine shot. Electronic calls unlawful in all turkey seasons; dogs allowed in fall firearms but not in archery or spring.