Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Press Releases

State Fish Hatcheries Support Recreation, Conservation, and a Connection to the Outdoors—and They Need Our Help

By Ashley Stimpson Photos by Meghan Marchetti/DWR Virginia anglers—I wanted to share an article with all of you about the fish hatchery systems that support opportunities throughout member jurisdictions of the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife …

Virginia’s 2026 Spring Gobbler Forecast

By Bruce Ingram The second biggest thrill I experienced last April was calling in and tagging a Botetourt County longbeard on opening day. But the most exciting event was hearing turkeys respond to my 10-year-old grandson Eli’s calling as he tried to …

Myth vs. Reality: Predators and Turkeys in Virginia

By Mike Dye/DWR and Leah Card/DWR Photos by Meghan Marchetti/DWR Myth: Raccoon populations have exploded across Virginia and are responsible for the decline of turkey and other gamebirds. Reality: Available data does not indicate an increase in the raccoon …

Hunt Clubs in Virginia are a Long-Lived Tradition!

By Denny Quaiff for Whitetail Times Organized hunt clubs in Virginia have a history dating back more than 150 years. Records show that fox hunters were first to coordinate competitive trials with organized clubs. Today, the deer hunters and their clubs …

I Spy Salamanders

By Andrea Naccarato/DWR In a park outside of Richmond, Virginia, a biting wind weaves through the trees and late winter sunlight beams down through a mostly leafless canopy. I’ve joined four other people here, all dressed in rugged winter attire, polarized …

First Sergeant Mike Hill Has Set an Example for Four Decades

By Molly Kirk/DWR For the last 10 years, First Sergeant Mike Hill has been spreading the word about the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources’ (DWR) Conservation Police. Hill, a 41-year veteran of DWR’s Conservation Police and currently the Supervisor …

Taking A Boating Safety Course in Virginia

By Trevor Ruble/DWR Taking a boating safety course in Virginia is an important step for anyone who plans to operate a motorboat or personal watercraft on the state’s waterways. Beyond being a smart safety decision, boating education is required by law for …

Answers to Some Common Boating Questions

By Vance Shearin/DWR Photos by Meghan Marchetti/DWR Many people are looking forward to warmer weather in the coming months. As spring approaches, the thought of getting out on the water starts to enter everyone’s mind. The Boating Safety Education section …

Top Virginia Waters for Trophy Largemouth Bass in 2025

By Alex McCrickard/DWR The Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is tasked with managing freshwater fisheries across the state of Virginia using best available science. Our biologists utilize a variety of fisheries methodology to collect information on …

Top Virginia Waters for Trophy Smallmouth Bass in 2025

By Alex McCrickard/DWR The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is tasked with managing freshwater fisheries across the state of Virginia using best available science. Our biologists utilize a variety of fisheries methodology to collect …

DWR Fishing Report: Winter Fishing in Virginia

We’re highlighting winter fishing in Virginia, including first-hand reports from our biologists in the field and what’s being caught from across the state. Our fisheries biologists spent late fall and early winter conducting gill net sampling on Virginia’s …

Scatology 101

By Dr. Leonard Lee Rue III for Whitetail Times Photos by Dr. Leonard Lee Rue III Most of us do our best not to step in our neighbor’s dog’s doo-doo on our lawn, or a cow flop when in a pasture. We usually try to avoid stepping in deer droppings, especially …

2026 Virginia Elk Lottery

2026–2027 Migratory Game Bird Seasons Recommendations

True Wildlife Crime: When State Violations Become Federal Charges

In this episode of True Wildlife Crime, Conservation Police Officer Brian Bratton takes us to Virginia’s Eastern Shore, where a phone call from a concerned landowner set off a complex, multi-agency investigation involving trespassing, baited hunting …

2026 Fishing, Boating, and Nongame & Endangered Species Regulations Scoping Period

Stephen Miklandric Makes History by Claiming Master Angler VI

By Molly Kirk/DWR “We’d better order some Master Angler VI patches. Stephen Miklandric is going for it,” said Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) Angling Education Coordinator Alex McCrickard said one day last fall as he walked into the DWR …

40 Years of Commitment

By Denny Quaiff for Whitetail Times Who would have dreamed that when our small group of deer hunters gathered in March 1985 and founded the Virginia Deer Hunters Association, it would grow to be a prominent and highly respected statewide organization? The …

Beyond Basic Safety to Becoming a Virginia Hunter

By Ron Messina A raft of mallards rocket into the cove, dark silhouettes against the brightening sky. With a whistle of wings, they tilt down, splashing into the water next to a spread of battered wooden decoys. Hidden in the reeds 30 yards off, a skiff …

Two Deer and a Stinky Guest Make for a Memorable Hunt

By Phil Czajkowski Photos by Phil Czajkowski Any day in the woods is a good day, but some are more memorable than others… The morning of the mentored population control hunt at Widewater State Park was slow, as I sat in the blind with my mentor, Derek. It …