Hunting at Smith Mountain Lake State Park

Within the Virginia State Park system, hunting opportunities range from open hunting in designated areas to managed deer hunts where individuals participate through a reservation or lottery system. Managed deer hunts are a tool in DCR's overall deer management. Hunting may change from year to year. In parks where controlled hunts are held, the deer population has exceeded the carrying capacity of that site. Managed hunts help reduce and improve the overall deer population for that site. Hunters who take part support our efforts by following the harvest guidelines for each hunt.