Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

It's #WhitetailWednesday! 🦌🌿 Ever wondered how DWR maintains a balanced deer population in Virginia? In this exclusive interview, Deer Project Leader Justin Folks reveals the secrets behind Virginia’s deer management strategies. Discover how habitat management, controlled hunting practices, and deer hunting regulations work together to achieve sustainable population levels. Why is harvesting female deer essential to maintaining ecological balance? What innovative techniques does DWR use to track deer populations effectively? Find out here! 🎥: https://lnkd.in/eHJe2s_4 #DeerConservation #SustainableHunting #VirginiaWildlife #WildlifeManagement

From July 4-6, our Virginia Conservation Police Officers (CPOs) took part in Operation Dry Water, led by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. This initiative aims to detect and prevent boating under the influence (BUI) violations. Here are the results: 👮♂️ 110 CPOs on duty 🛥️ 1,357 vessels contacted 👥 3,197 boaters engaged ⚠️ 283 boating safety warnings issued 📄 216 boating citations issued 🚨 3 BUI alcohol arrests/citations 🚫 0 BUI drug arrests/citations Let's continue to make our waters safer for everyone! 🚤 #OperationDryWater #BoatingSafety #VirginiaConservation #StaySafeBoaters 📷: DWR

PRESS RELEASE: DWR Receives Grant to Enhance and Restore Critical Marsh Habitat at Ragged Island Wildlife Management Area RICHMOND, VA — Yesterday the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is being awarded an $8M grant for Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Projects under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. The grant will fund the DWR Ragged Island Oyster Restoration and Shoreline Protection Project, designed to protect and enhance the fast-eroding 1,537-acre marsh ecosystem at Ragged Island Wildlife Management Area (WMA) on the James River. This project will create 56 low breakwaters with oyster reef habitats and living shoreline plantings, protecting over 1,500 acres of marsh and creating 2.5 acres of new marshland. It will also restore 2 acres of oyster habitat, improving fisheries and providing crucial habitats for fish. Partnerships with Ducks Unlimited and Christopher Newport University will ensure community engagement, efficient construction, and ongoing scientific monitoring. The project is set to start in late fall and aims for completion by the end of 2025. Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/ehXc3KqR. #Conservation #HabitatRestoration #NOAA #RaggedIslandWMA 📷: DWR

Exciting News, Hunters! 🦌🎫 The 2024 Virginia Elk Conservation License Raffle is here! Don’t miss your chance to win our 6th Virginia Elk Tag courtesy of the Virginia Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF). Each raffle ticket purchase supports crucial elk habitat improvements, calf survival, and overall wildlife health and is available to residents, nonresidents, and youth hunters. The grand prize winner will receive the 2024 Virginia Elk Conservation License plus the Elk Hunter's Essential Package! There will also be prizes for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place. The drawing takes place on Saturday, August 17 at 5 p.m., at the Noah Horn Well Drilling Main Office in Vansant, VA. Help us ensure a thriving future for Virginia's wildlife! Purchase your tickets here: https://lnkd.in/gmGwnwHR. #VirginiaElkRaffle #Conservation #WildlifeHabitat #Hunting

It looks like this majestic elk has spotted our lucky winners from miles away! 🦌👀 The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and SWVA Sportsmen are thrilled to announce the Elk Sweepstakes winners! Congratulations to our first prize package winner, Susan Bodin, and our second prize package winner, Chad Rigney. Thank you to everyone who participated in this exciting contest. Together, we raised $83,490 for elk conservation! #vawildlife #elk #hunting 📷: DWR

DWR ENCOURAGES THE FISHING & BOATING COMMUNITY TO HEED VDH ADVISORIES FOR SEVERAL WATERWAYS IN MECKLENBURG, BRUNSWICK, & GREENSVILLE COUNTIES RICHMOND, VA — After a recent fire at an agricultural products storage facility in South Hill, Va., water used to fight the fire was contaminated with chemicals from the facility and washed into two local watersheds. This water entered Dockery and Mountain creeks and is flowing downstream, ultimately to the Meherrin and Roanoke (Lake Gaston) rivers. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has issued recreational water and fish consumption advisories (https://lnkd.in/ewGJdPnP) that include the waterways mentioned. VDH emphasizes that recreational water activities, such as swimming, wading, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, and boating should be avoided, and not to consume any fish harvested from the waterways until further notice. VDH has placed advisory signage at all public boat launches on the affected waterways and encourages residents and visitors to: - Avoid contact with the waterbodies noted and observe advisory signage posted at waterbody access points. - Avoid any area of the waterbody where there is water with a foul or chemical odor, dead or dying fish, or discolored water. - Promptly wash skin with soap and water if you cannot avoid contact with water in the vicinity. - Rinse or wash items that come into contact with the water, including clothing, fishing gear, life vests, ropes, and paddles. - Seek medical care and notify your practitioner of the waterbody exposure if you experience adverse health effects after contact with the waterbody. To stay up to date with the effects of this incident and cleanup efforts, visit the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s South Hill Warehouse Fire incident webpage (https://lnkd.in/ep7iQJUu). DWR encourages all fishing, boating, and recreation enthusiasts to avoid Dockery and Mountain creeks as well as the Meherrin River from its confluence with Mountain Creek above the Chaptico Rd. (Rt. 637) bridge to the North Carolina state line and the Roanoke River (Lake Gaston) from its confluence with Miles Creek at the Route 1 bridge to the North Carolina state line. For Full Press Release: https://lnkd.in/e9-JFcEN

Virginia DWR is offering virtual hunting workshops this summer! Whether you're a beginner or just want to brush up on your skills, these FREE online sessions are perfect for you. Learn how to hunt from the comfort of your home and gain the confidence to join our in-person workshops later. Don't miss out – register today and start your hunting journey with us! 🔗 Find Virtual Classroom events here: https://lnkd.in/eVDUNpmW #VirginiaHunting

Thanks to everyone who joined us at Outdoor Afro Field Day at Lake Frederick! We had an incredible time with the Outdoor Afro DMV chapter, introducing everyone to archery, hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. From birdwatching and nature trails🐦🌿to catching fish🎣 and practicing archery🎯, the day was filled with fun and new experiences. Let’s keep enjoying the great outdoors together! Swipe through to relive the adventure! ➡️ . . . 📷: DWR #OutdoorAfro #LakeFrederick #VirginiaOutdoors #Archery #Fishing #Hiking #WildlifeViewing

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