Charted Waters
Hampton Roads · Waterfowl Guide
Waterfowl GuideA distinct section of Charted Waters, for hunting rather than fishing. Looking for fishing instead? →

Public hunting areas

A boat ramp or public-land status never by itself means hunting is legal there — every area below states its own explicitly sourced access status. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is included deliberately as a clear, sourced example of a well-known public property where waterfowl hunting is completely prohibited, not as a huntable destination.

This is an individually-researched set (9 areas) spanning wildlife management areas, national wildlife refuges, and one state park across Virginia Beach, Isle of Wight County, Surry County, Poquoson, Suffolk, and Northampton County — not a complete directory of every Hampton Roads-area public hunting property. Great Dismal Swamp NWR, Mackay Island NWR, and Chippokes State Park were all researched and deliberately left out (real hunting program without waterfowl, unresolved cross-jurisdiction complexity, and inconclusive research respectively) — see the source code's own notes for the full reasoning behind each.

Access status
Land type
City / county
Access type

Showing 9 of 9 researched areas.

Princess Anne Wildlife Management AreaPublic Wildlife Management Area · Virginia BeachLottery / Quota SystemVerified
Ragged Island Wildlife Management AreaPublic Wildlife Management Area · Isle of Wight CountyOpen to Public HuntingVerified
Hog Island Wildlife Management AreaPublic Wildlife Management Area · Surry CountyLottery / Quota SystemVerified
Sunset over the water at the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge entrance, with the refuge's own sign visible
Back Bay National Wildlife RefugeClosed / Sanctuary Area · Virginia BeachClosed to HuntingVerified
A weathered dock at Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge
Plum Tree Island National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge · PoquosonPermit RequiredUnverified
A meadow with wild turkeys and water in the background at Nansemond National Wildlife Refuge
Nansemond National Wildlife RefugeClosed / Sanctuary Area · SuffolkClosed to HuntingVerified
A wide, undeveloped sandy beach and dune line at False Cape State Park
False Cape State ParkClosed / Sanctuary Area · Virginia BeachClosed to HuntingVerified
A salt marsh with winding tidal channels at the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge, backed by a stand of pines
Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge · Northampton CountyPermit RequiredUnverified
Shallow water and an old wooden dock at Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge, with shorebirds perched on the pilings and a pelican nearby
Fisherman Island National Wildlife RefugeClosed / Sanctuary Area · Northampton CountyClosed to HuntingVerified