Urban Hunting

Lynchburg provides an ideal habitat for white-tailed deer. City ordinances prohibit general hunting with firearms for public safety, and strict leash laws limit natural disruptions, allowing deer to adapt fully to the urban environment. As a result, residents should expect to encounter deer day and night moving through neighborhoods, parks, and roadways.

Application for Urban Hunting Permit

Urban Archery Hunting Program

This program creates recreational opportunities for residents while helping Lynchburg landowners safely manage deer on properties where discharging a rifle is unsafe or restricted.

Under city guidelines, property owners may permit bowhunting on their land in compliance with Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) hunting seasons and regulations. Landowners can apply for a Bow Permit for properties under 25 acres, or a Hunt Permit for parcels of 25 acres or more.

Permits require renewal by the property owner every two years, and landowners remain responsible for coordinating and vetting any hunters allowed on their property.

Local Urban Hunting Ordinance

Lynchburg City Code Section 27-67.3 allows you to be issued a permit to hunt in compliance with laws of the City of Lynchburg and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (VA DWR) regulations. VA DWR regulations/state code includes, but is not limited to the following:

Archery

1. All hunter education and hunting license requirements must be met and maintained.
2. All daily and seasonal bags limits as well as big game-checking requirements must be adhered to. NOTE: For more information, please see the VA DWR “Hunting and Trapping in Virginia” pamphlet or visit their website at www.huntfishva.com for specific rules and regulations. In addition, the following special regulations must be adhered to:
3. Bow and arrow may be used for taking deer and coyotes only.
4. No person shall discharge a bow from over or across any street, sidewalk, alley, roadway, or public land or public place within the city limits or toward any building or dwelling in such a manner that an arrow may strike it.
5. Hunting must be from an elevated position at least 8 feet above the ground for bow hunting.
6. Any person(s) engaging in discharging a bow and arrow at all times shall have in their possession written
   permission from the landowner and a copy of this permit to discharge such a weapon on the premises.
7. All hunting must be done in compliance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the rules and regulations of VA DWR.
8. It is unlawful to carry firearms while hunting with a bow and arrow.
9. No dogs may be used to hunt deer.
10. This permit must be renewed every two years. This authorization will be considered valid for Special Urban Archery Season for the hunting season. Lynchburg City Code Section 27-67.1, allows you to be issued a permit to hunt in compliance with laws of the City of Lynchburg and the Department of Wildlife Resources (VA DWR) regulations. VA DWR regulations /state code includes, but is not limited to the following.
11. All hunter education and hunting license requirements must be met and maintained.
12. All daily and seasonal bags limits as well as big game checking requirements must be adhered to.

Shotgun

1. Shotgun may only be used during firearms season. NOTE: For more information, please see the VA DWR “Hunting and Trapping in Virginia” pamphlet or visit their website at www.huntfishva.com for specific rules and regulations. In addition, the following special regulations must be adhered to:
2. Only 00 or #4 buckshot may be used, or if using bow and arrow, arrowhead must be at least 7/8″ wide and the bow used must be capable of propelling an arrow at least 125 yards.
3. Shotgun or bow and arrow may be used for taking deer only.
4. Hunting must be from an elevated position at least 12 feet above the ground.
5. No person shall discharge a shotgun within 100 yards of any building, dwelling, street, sidewalk, alley, roadway, public land or public place within the city limits.
6. The property must be posted with signs reading POSTED, NO HUNTING at conspicuous locations.
7. All hunting must be done in compliance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the rules and regulations of VA DWR.
8. No dogs may be used to hunt deer.
9. This permit will be renewed every two years.

Definitions

• Bow Permit – A special written hunting permit, issued by the Chief of Animal Control, that allows for an arrow to be discharged from a bow for the purposes of hunting deer and coyotes. Bow permits are issued to the Landowner only and must meet safety requirements.
• Hunt (shotgun) Permit – A special written hunting permit issued by the Chief of Animal Control, that allows for a shotgun to be discharged and/or an arrow to be discharged from a bow for the purposes of hunting deer. Hunt permits are issued to the Landowner only and must meet safety requirements and have at least 25 acres of contiguous property.
• Kill Permit – A special written hunting permit, issued by the Chief of Animal Control, that allows a hunter to cull deer under special regulations outside of the normal hunting season. This permit allows a hunter to kill deer outside of the normal state requirements for hunting, (i.e. does not normally require a state license, big game tags, or use daily bag limits.) Landowner must show deer damage to commercial crops or residential plants to have a Kill Permit issued. (Currently residential properties are not issued kill permits in Lynchburg City for bow hunting, See Bow permits)
• Cull – A term used to describe indiscriminate killing of deer, which can be due to a number of reasons.( i.e nuisance, property damage, hazard, etc.)