Checking

Both licensed hunters and those who are exempt from the license requirements must meet state requirements for checking in animals.

Licensed hunters must check in all bears, deer, elk, or turkeys without unnecessary delay upon transporting the harvested animal in a vehicle or at the end of the legal shooting hours, whichever comes first.

• Bears must be checked in at an official black bear check station.
• For deer, these are the requirements.
• Deer must be checked in by phone, on the Internet, or at a check station.
• Deer killed after the first Saturday in January must be checked in by phone or on the Internet.
• Elk must be checked in at a check station.
• For turkeys, these are the requirements.
• Unless killed in January, fall turkeys must be checked in by phone, on the Internet, or at a check station.
• Fall turkeys killed in January must be checked in by phone or on the Internet.
• Spring turkeys must be checked in by phone or on the Internet.

Hunters who are exempt from the hunting license requirements must:

• Check in all bears, deer, elk, or turkeys without unnecessary delay upon transporting the harvested animal in a vehicle or at the end of the legal shooting hours, whichever comes first.
• Check in the animal using the same procedures required for licensed hunters.

To check in game online or to find telephone numbers and addresses for check stations, visit the DWR website. You can also download the GoOoutdoorsVA app to check in game using a mobile device/tablet.