Hunting Information

News Notes

Fort A.P. Hill Hunters Must Pass Criminal Background Check

Hunters age 18 and older wanting to hunt on Fort A.P. Hill will have to first pass a criminal background investigation under a new policy recently approved at the military training installation in Caroline County.
  “The required background checks are, primarily, a force protection issue,” said Fort A.P. Hill Game Warden Rick Klink. “Anything we can do to enhance the safety of Fort A.P. Hill’s employees, contractors, family members, Soldiers, sportsmen and guests will be done. We need to be sure all individuals who are carrying sporting firearms onto this installation are, in fact, authorized to possess them,” Klink said.
  The checks will be required for all adult hunters with no exceptions for military members, military retirees, or federal employees, Klink added.
  The following prior criminal convictions are among those that could exclude a person from hunting on Fort A.P. Hill: firearms and weapons violations; robberies; larcenies; prior fish and game violations; and domestic violence convictions under the Lautenberg Amendment.
  “If an individual has a prior conviction which falls within the criteria for denial, it is incumbent upon them to clear up the matter. Or, with appropriate justification, have the information expunged from their criminal records.
  “Ultimately, though, the installation commander has the authority to determine whether an applicant is allowed post hunting privileges,” Klink explained.
  A State Police Form 167 must be completed in duplicate, notarized and submitted to the Virginia State Police, according to Klink. These forms are available at the Fort A.P. Hill Game Check station, the Community Activities Center, and Game Enforcement Office. The form is also available in the “Forms” section on the Virginia State Police website www.vsp.state.va.us.
  Klink said it is important for hunters to request that the results be provided directly back to the hunter and not sent to the game enforcement office. Hunters can then deliver them, either in person or by mail, to the game enforcement office.
  Hunters are responsible for the criminal history record processing fee charged by the state police and must provide their results to the installation game warden before applying for a post hunting permit. Results may take up to two weeks to obtain.
  Once a favorable background check is received at the Fort A.P. Hill Game Enforcement Office, the hunter will be eligible to complete the purchase of an installation hunting permit.
  In addition to a criminal background check, Fort A.P. Hill hunters must possess a valid Virginia hunting license, state- or National Rifle Association-certified hunter safety course, register their firearms with the installation Provost Marshals Office, and pay for the $50 installation permit fee for training area hunting, or $60 permit fee for controlled access area hunting. The fees represent a $10 increase over previous year costs and are designed to help the installation hunting program be self-sustaining.
  For more information, call FAPH Game Enforcement office at (804) 633-8454 or 8288. Game Check Station at 633-8219 or 633-8244.

You must register your vehicle and your firearms at the Visitor Control Center in the Department of Emergency Services. Firearms registration remains solely within Fort A.P. Hill�s system and is not provided to other federal agencies.

Attention: DOD Decals and Weapons Registration

To Register your vehicle you will need the following:

• Current/valid driver’s license
• Copy of current insurance
(Insurance will need future expiration date, policy number, and company displayed on the card/paperwork)
• Current/valid registration card for all vehicles you would like to register
• Military/Government I.D. or point of contact

Vehicle Registration Card

To Register your weapons you will need the following:

• Serial number for all weapons to be registered
• Make/Model/Type/Caliber of weapons

You do not have to physically bring the firearm in for it to be registered.

Weapon Registration Card

PLEASE NOTE

The Game Check Station uses a telephone reservation system line last year. This system allows hunters to reserve an area a day in advance. Up to two (2) guests may be checked in during a single call. The automated reservation telephone number is 804-633-4014.

People wishing to scout hunting areas must sign in and out.

The Hunting Regulations are posted in Adobe Portable Document Format at the end of this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Game Check
Natural Resources
Hunting
Telephone Reservation System
Scouting
HuntingRegulations

Game Check
Fort A.P. Hill Game Check is located at Outdoor Recreation. Hunting and Fishing permits are sold here, as well as hunting check-in/out. For more information, call Game Check Station at 633-8219 or 633-8244.

NATURAL RESOURCES

Fort A.P. Hill has a cooperative agreement for management of fish and wildlife resources with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the United States and Wildlife Service. Wildlife viewing and recreational opportunities abound. Yearly, up to 3,000 hunters and 800 anglers have benefited greatly from the 43,000 acres that are available for recreational use at Fort A.P. Hill. An active conversation volunteer program provides assistance for many fish and wildlife activities. To find out more about opportunities in the conservations volunteer program call (804) 633-8750.

Long-term habitat improvement efforts are underway to benefit both game and non-game species. Controlled burns are conducted to maintain habitat and area long in fescue are being transitioned to Native Warm Season Grasses that will benefit quail, songbirds, and many other species. Shoreline and offshore habitat is being modified to improve fish habitat and angler catch rates. Dove fields, fruit trees, lespedezas, clover and wheat are planted. Nest boxes have been erected for American kestrel and wood ducks. Other nest boxes that dot the landscape provide additional habitat for species beneficial in natural inspect control; big and little brown bats, purple martins, blue birds and tree swallows.

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Hunting

The installation offers deer, fall and spring turkey, dove duck, rabbit, squirrel, bobwhite quail and crow seasons. Archery tackle, muzzleloaders during the special muzzleloader season only, and shotguns with wheelchair accessible stands that is set-aside for disabled hunters as well as three separate archery-only areas.

All hunting is on a first-come first serve basis. All permanent state and federal hunting licenses are required. Additionally, a hunter education certificate (Original only copies are unacceptable) is required for all hunters age 12 and older. Most seasons are concurrent with the federal and state hunting seasons, but there are exceptions.

You must register your vehicle and your firearms at the Visitor Control Center in the Department of Emergency Services. Firearms registration remains solely within Fort A.P. Hill’s system and is not provided to other federal agencies.

To register your vehicle you will need the following:

Current/valid driver's license

Copy of current insurance

Insurance will need future expiration date, policy number, and company displayed on the card/ paperwork

Current/valid registration card for all vehicles you would like to register

Military/ Government I.D. or point of contact

Vehicle Registration Card

To register your weapons you will need the following:

Serial number for all weapons to be registered

Make/Model/Type/Caliber of weapons

You do not have to physically bring the firearm in for it to be registered.

Weapon Registration Card

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Telephone Reservation System
The Game Check Station uses a telephone reservation system line each year. This system allows hunters to reserve an area a day in advance. Up to two guests may be checked in during a single call. The automated reservation telephone number is not toll free
(804)633-4014.

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Scouting
All patrons wishing to scout hunting areas must check in and out through the Game Check Station.

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Hunting Regulations
The hunting regulations are contained in the following documents, which are in Portable Document Format (PDF) and can only be opened and read using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Training Area Hunting Regulation 2010-2011