popeye:

Now you got me all excited. I haven't been able to do any kind of hunting in over 10 years--longer for deer. My last hunt was a goose hunt with my dad in the early 90's. Can't even remember my last deer hunt. Now I will be able to take my own boys out for deer. I figure the muzzleloader season will extend the season for us and maybe even provide more experience for the boys and meat for the table.

I will be living in northern VA. I will be a language student at the Foreign Service Institute for a year before we head off to Adana Turkey. My intention is to use every weekend during the season to do some kind of hunting in VA.

Do most VA hunters belong to clubs or have farmer friends that let them hunt on their land? Is there any decent hunting on public land anywhere in the state? How difficult/expensive is it to get into some good hunting in VA? Living in northern VA (probably around Falls Church), I imagine I'll have to drive a ways out to get into some deer country. Any advice to a VA hunting newbie would be appreciated.