Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

Hey all you Virginia hunters and trappers 🦃 Gobble up the latest regulations! The 2024-2025 Hunting & Trapping Regulations Digest is now available on DWR's website and mobile app! Find a summary of all changes in the “What’s New” section. Printed copies will be available mid-July at over 500 license agent retailers across Virginia. Get informed and gear up for the season! https://lnkd.in/ePSKuWXU. #VirginiaHunting #HuntingRegulations

Water temperatures matter! Here's a few summer fishing tips if you are braving this heat 🥵 🎣Check your destination for possible fishing suspensions before you head out. 🎣Use a thermometer when targeting cold-water species like trout, musky, and striped bass in Virginia. 🎣Early mornings offer cooler water; temperatures over 70°F can be lethal to trout. 🎣Focus on tailwaters and spring creeks when targeting trout for cooler, more stable conditions. 🎣Handle these fish carefully to reduce mortality risk. Let's ensure our aquatic friends stay healthy as temperatures rise. Dive into this article for more essential tips: https://lnkd.in/ekzURcXb #SummerFishing #CatchAndRelease #Conservation

🛥️ Stay Safe on Virginia's Waterways this Fourth of July! Hear from these Virginia Conservation Police Officers as they highlight the importance of sober boating and wearing life jackets. Learn about the legal consequences of boating under the influence and see firsthand why life jackets are essential for every boater. As you gear up for the 4th of July weekend, remember Operation Dry Water is July 4-6. Always boat responsibly and never under the influence. Watch our quick guide and let's work together to promote a safe boating environment for all! WATCH NOW: https://lnkd.in/eW9zFWcu #SafeBoating #LifeJackets #SoberBoating #OperationDryWater

DWR is celebrating Pollinator Week! 🌼🐝 Pollinators, such as bees and butterflies, are essential links in the food webs that support healthy habitats and wildlife. By pollinating plants, they ensure the growth of fruits and seeds, which helps maintain thriving ecosystems. Pollinators and other native insects are also vital food sources for wildlife. Did you know that 96% of songbirds feed insects to their young? Bugs are the original bird food! As part of our Wildlife Action Plan, we work with partners across Virginia to conserve wildlife and their habitats. Learn more about our efforts and how you can help: https://lnkd.in/eXeHkYAC. #PollinatorWeek #Conservation #Wildlife

Is your dad as fierce as a Peregrine Falcon, as majestic as an Elk, as graceful as a Deer, or as strong as a Bear? Find out which Virginia wildlife best matches your dad's personality in our latest Reel! 🦅🦌🐻 And remember, while you're out celebrating, be Bearwise! Bears are always on the hunt for food, so ensure your Father’s Day feast leftovers are securely stored to avoid attracting any uninvited guests. Have a wild and wonderful Father’s Day! #FathersDay #BearWise #peregrinefalcon #elk #deer #bear

Introducing K9 Blaze and K9 Atlas: The Newest K9s of the Virginia DWR Conservation Police K9 Force 🐶🚨 Last month, two Virginia Conservation Police Officers and their canine partners graduated from their nine-week training course to join the DWR Conservation Police K9 Program. Senior Officer Bruce Young and K9 Blaze will be working in Henry County and Master Officer Cameron Dobyns and K9 Atlas will be assigned to Essex County. “They all did really well. It’s a lot of work for each handler and dog,” said DWR Conservation Police Sergeant Richard Howald, who is a veteran of the DWR K9 force and leads the K9 training program. “You’re trying to train a dog to do a task. But you’re also training the handler how to train the dog to do the task. And then you’re trying to combine them to work together,” Howald noted of the training process that began in February. “It’s quite a bit of work to make all that happen. But you can see huge progression even on one day. This group progressed really well.” The DWR K9 teams are valuable statewide assets helping to track missing persons and uncovering evidence. Their expertise has helped bring criminals to justice and reunited families. And, their talents are sought out by other law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth. “The K9 handlers and their dogs are a tremendous asset to the agency and support not only the mission of DWR, but the public safety mission of our partner agencies across the commonwealth; they are a true force multiplier,” said Major Ryan Shuler, deputy chief of law enforcement of the Virginia Conservation Police. “Their abilities to locate articles and evidence and track suspects and missing persons enhance our ability to protect Virginia’s wildlife resources and citizens. We’re excited to have Senior Officer Bruce Young with K9 Blaze and Master Officer Cameron Dobyns with K9 Atlas joining the DWR K9 program.” DWR added the new K9 teams after the retirement of K9 Bailey when former CPO Jim Patrillo took another position at DWR and Howald was promoted to Sergeant, limiting his time for work in the field. The K9 program now has nine teams working statewide. Want to learn about their journey? Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eak8s2pg. #conservationpoliceofficers #K9 #caninegraduation 📸= DWR/Image One: "K9 Atlas, with Senior Officer Bruce Young, and K9 Blaze, with Master Officer Cameron Dobyns, alongside a K9 and officer from West Virginia DNR"

June is Great Outdoors Month, which is the perfect excuse to explore Virginia's vast outdoor offerings. The Commonwealth abounds with preserved natural beauty, pristine parks, and outdoor spaces where you can experience breathtaking sights, like inspiring vistas at Shenandoah National Park or along the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our 42 state parks are replete with highlights aplenty, from the mountains to the sea. Virginia also boasts county and city parks and other natural areas that feature placid lakes perfect for a relaxing paddle and welcoming trails for a simple walk in the woods or a breezy bike ride. But do you know about the many outdoor opportunities found in Virginia’s Wildlife Management Areas? Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) provide an avenue to experience nature in a less manicured and more rustic way. Imagine the great prospects in these lesser-known natural destinations, from the Appalachian Mountains to the Atlantic Ocean; places where you can hike, boat, paddle, mountain bike, view wildlife, and even pitch your tent or van camp. Get outside this month and see for yourself why Virginia is for Outdoor Lovers! Learn more in this Guide to Virginia's Central & Northern Wildlife Management Areas: https://lnkd.in/e8eA2pFC Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

Calling all anglers! Discover the thrill of fishing without a license during Free Fishing Days this weekend. Whether you're casting for stripers, trout, or anything in between, anglers of all ages can enjoy a day of fun and relaxation by the water. Plus, with over 2,900 miles of trout streams open for fishing, there's plenty of opportunity to reel in the big one! All fishing regulations including size, season, catch limits, and gear restrictions will remain in effect. DWR fee fishing areas still require a fee for Free Fishing Days weekend. Don't miss out - learn more at https://lnkd.in/eEzMyGTj. #FreeFishingWeekend #Virginia

Celebrate the great outdoors in June! 🍃🐟💚

PRESS RELEASE: DWR AWARDS MORE THAN $150K IN GRANTS AND LAUNCHES ENHANCED PARTNERSHIPS WITH FOUR ORGANIZATIONS RICHMOND, VA — The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) in partnership with the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia (WFV) announce an exceptional year for supporting our outdoor recreation and conservation partners. This year the Virginia Wildlife Grant Program (VWGP) received a record breaking 178 grant applications. The VWGP not only funded 10 organizations that had never received a grant before, but also entered into multi-year partnerships with four additional organizations. Close to 60% of all grant applicants were new to the program which reinforces the need that exists throughout the Commonwealth to connect residents to the outdoors. The VWGP is a joint effort of DWR and WFV. It provides funding to organizations with a common mission of connecting people to the outdoors and supports activities such as archery, boating/paddling, fishing, hunting/recreational shooting, and wildlife viewing. The grant prioritizes programs that are aligned with DWR’s R3 Plan as well as the Inclusive Excellence Plan. During the 2024 grant period, a total of $150,000 was awarded to the following 10 recipients. 🏆Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge Society 🏆Bat Conservation and Rescue of Virginia 🏆Boys Home of Virginia 🏆Ferrum College (Outdoor Adventures) 🏆Henrico County Recreation and Parks 🏆Reel Connections for Kids 🏆Skyline Middle School 🏆Tidewater Council, Boy Scouts of America 🏆UVA Recreation (UVA Outdoor Adventure) 🏆Valor Ranch In addition to the 10 organizations that received grants, four became Better Together Partners. These partners have received grants multiple times and each time exceeded program expectations. The Better Together Partnership is a new collaboration where DWR and the aligned organizations will develop opportunities for storytelling, engaging new audiences, and promoting conservation through outdoor recreation over a multi-year period. This program will allow these organization to continue to expand their outreach efforts and better plan for future projects. 🏅Backwoods Warriors 🏅Beyond Boundaries RVA 🏅James River Women 🏅Shenandoah Reel Woman Check out the full release at https://lnkd.in/ePiGfXPJ. #TheOutdoorsAreBettertogether #grantrecipients #partnership 📸= DWR