The VBA has enjoyed more than 70 years of success and has effectively represented the interests of bowhunters to the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF).

Provided below are examples of hunting-related milestones the VBA helped achieve:

1. 1949 – North River area (16 square miles) in Rockingham County was the first area opened to bowhunting in Virginia.

2. 1953 – “Big Levels” in Augusta County was opened to bowhunting.

3. 1956 – A statewide bowhunting season was enacted.

4. 1985 – A separate archery license for bowhunters was established, allowing two additional deer to be harvested.

5. 1994 – An additional week of bow season was added when the opening date of archery season moved from the second Saturday in October to the first Saturday in October.

6. 1994 – It was made legal to harvest turkey with a bow during the early archery season.

7. 2003 – It was made legal to harvest a black bear during the early archery season statewide.

8. 2005 – The VBA opposed the effort to legalize the use of crossbows in the regular archery season and in the process many valuable messages about hunting safety and ethics were reinforced with all involved.

9. 2007 – New “Urban Archery” regulations expanded the archery season by months in many locations and included harvest incentives such as “earn a buck.”

10. 2009 - Resumed responsibility to coordinate the After School Archery Program (ASAP) in Virginia.

11. 2010 – Supported a successful VDGIF plan to reintroduce elk to Virginia; Sponsored state-wide charity shoots to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; Revitalized the International Bowhunter Education Program in Virginia in conjunction with the VDGIF & National Bowhunter Education Foundation.

The VBA will continue its efforts to preserve and expand hunting privileges for Virginia bowhunters.