Purpose:  The purpose of the hunt is to maintain the deer population at a level compatible with the habitat while minimizing disturbance to wildlife and other visitors.

Dates to Remember

Please check these dates carefully: January 19, 20, and 21. If you are unable or unwilling to hunt on each of these dates, please do not apply.  

Applications for the hunt will be accepted electronically at JReffit@blm.gov (Please put "Hunt" in the subject line) and by postcard (click here to download). Or pick up a postcard at the BLM Eastern States office in Springfield, Va at 7450 Boston Blvd. or 10406 Gunston Road, Lorton, Va.  

• The last possible date to receive email applications: December 19, 2011.  Your email or postcard must be postmarked by this date. You may also drop the postcard by the Lower Potomac Office during  business days and hours.
• All hunters must possess a valid Virginia hunting license, big game tags, a hunt area permit, and a range qualification certification card for ANY weapon. 
• One hunter is drawn for each section. 
• Hunters may only hunt from a stand.
• Each hunter is asked to carry a cell phone for safety reasons and to help in tracking.
• This is a shotgun, archery, or muzzle loader hunt only.
• This is an antler-less hunt only.
• Each hunter will be issued a permit to hunt by the BLM Lower Potomac Field Station (LPFS) on the mornining of January 19, 2012, when they check in. 

Definitions

Assigned--An Assigned Hunter is one that holds a permit.

Boundary--Perimeter of assigned hunt section is marked by flagging or trails or natural features. No hunter shall cross outside his or her section unless notifying the hunter in that section or being escorted by BLM Lower Potomac staff and/or volunteers

Certification--Applicants must certify on a range.  Permits will not be issued to anyone that has not previously qualified on a range. The list of certified shotgun qualification ranges is at this link.

Tracking--If a hunter needs to track a deer and walk outside their permitted hunt section, they must contact the hunter in that section before entering, or contact the LPFS staff for assistance.  If a hunter wounds a deer, they must make every effort to locate the deer.

Scouting--We strongly urge each hunter to scout his or her assigned hunt sectoin before Hunt Day as any hunter found hunting outside their assigned section will be ejected from the hunt.   Friends and family may accompany hunters only during scouting.  All hunters must put their hunting permit on the dash of their vehicle and are encouraged to ride share.  Weapons are not permitted on scout day.  Parking guidelines will be provided with your map. GPS units are recommended for marking your desired location within your assigned section.  Hunters are strongly encouraged to remove reflectors, ribbons or any other materials that are used to mark your desired path within your assigned section.  Hunters within designated areas that fail to remove reflector’s, ribbons, markers or other materials  will not be given an opportunity to apply for the next year’s hunt.

Hunt area--Hunting is allowed only within designated hunt boundaries shown on the map within your assigned section. If a hunter must track a deer within another permitted hunt area, they must contact the assigned hunter for that area or the Lower Potomac BLM staff.

Check in/out--All hunters must check in at the hunter check station located off of Belmont Road by 5:30 AM.   Any selected hunter that has not checked in by 7 AM may potentially forfeit their assigned area to an alternate hunter.  All hunters must return their hunt permit and check out at the deek check station when leaving the hunt area for any reason.  Only hunters with permits will be allowed into the hunt area.  The need for a driver or aide must be approved in advance and listed on the permit.  Hunters must vacate the area at 4 PM, end of hunt day, unless tracking an animal with LPFS staff. 

Deer Check--White-tailed deer are the only legal species that may be hunted.  Hunters must make a reasonable effort to retrieve a deer and must report a wounded deer to LPFS staff.  All deer must be removed from the field whole and field dressed and checked at the deer check station. Deer may not be cut-up in the field.  Out of courtesy to other in the area, entrails (guts) must be buried or removed away from a trail or road.  All deer must be brought to the check station so that a check card/Deer Management Assistance Program DMAP card can be issued.  DMAP tags are for antlerless deer only and do not count against your daily or annual bay limit.  You may take unlimited DMAP deer per day. 

Tagging Deer--An antlerless deer may include a doe, a button buck or a buck that has already shed its antlers.

Regulations