Small Game
Beginner · Squirrel and rabbit are statewide. Ruffed grouse are found primarily in the western mountain counties. Quail persist in the Piedmont and Southside. Pheasant are stocked on select Wildlife Management Areas.
Small game hunting in Virginia offers accessible, exciting opportunities for hunters of all experience levels. Squirrel and rabbit are the most popular species, found abundantly throughout the state. Ruffed grouse inhabit the western mountains, while bobwhite quail populations persist in parts of the Piedmont and Southside. Small game hunting is an excellent way to introduce new hunters to the sport, requiring less gear and offering fast-paced action in beautiful Virginia woodlands.
Seasons
Squirrel Season
Firearms/Archery
Rabbit Season
Firearms/Archery
Grouse Season
Shotgun/Archery
Quail Season
Shotgun/Archery
Pheasant (Stocked Areas)
Shotgun/Archery
Bag Limits
Squirrel: 6 per day. Rabbit: 6 per day. Grouse: 3 per day. Quail: 6 per day. Pheasant: 2 per day (stocked areas only).
Tips
- • For squirrels, hunt hardwood ridges on calm mornings. Sit quietly for 15 minutes and let the woods settle—squirrels will resume feeding.
- • Use a .22 rifle for stationary head shots on squirrels, or a 20-gauge shotgun when they are moving through the canopy.
- • For rabbits, hunt thick cover like briar patches and honeysuckle tangles with a good beagle pack—the dogs do the hard work.
- • Grouse hunters should focus on young forest with thick understory along mountain streams and old logging roads in western Virginia.
- • Quail are increasingly rare in the wild; focus efforts on WMA stocking programs or managed quail plantations in Southside Virginia.