Deer Hunting Earn a Buck
Earn a Buck (EAB)
Deer taken in one EAB county, city, or town do not “carry over” to any other EAB county, city, or town. Each county, city, or town is its own separate management unit with regards to EAB.
Private lands in Accomack, Albemarle, Amherst (west of Rt. 29), Augusta, Bedford, Botetourt, Carroll, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Floyd, Franklin, Frederick, Greene, Grayson, Hanover, Henrico, James City, Madison, Montgomery, Orange, Page, Prince George, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Roanoke, Rockingham (east of Rts. 613 and 731), Shenandoah, Stafford, Warren, Wythe, and York counties
Within a license year and within each individual county listed above, before you can take a second antlered deer on private lands in that county (your second buck), you must have taken at least one antlerless deer on private lands in that county. Furthermore, in those counties listed above east of the Blue Ridge Mountains where it is legal to harvest a third antlered deer, before you can take a third antlered deer on private lands in that county (your third buck), you must have taken at least two antlerless deer on private lands in that county.
Example – Within a license year, before you can take a second antlered deer on private lands in Albemarle County (your second buck), you must have taken at least one antlerless deer on private lands in Albemarle County. Furthermore, before you can take a third antlered deer on private lands in Albemarle County (your third buck), you must have taken at least two antlerless deer on private lands in Albemarle County.
Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William (except on Department of Defense lands) counties
Within a license year and within each individual county listed above, before you can take a second antlered deer in that county (your second buck), you must have taken at least one antlerless deer in that county. Furthermore, before you can take a third antlered deer in that county (your third buck), you must have taken at least two antlerless deer in that county.
Example – Within a license year, before you can take a second antlered deer in Fairfax County (your second buck), you must have taken at least one antlerless deer in Fairfax County. Furthermore, before you can take a third antlered deer in Fairfax County (your third buck), you must have taken at least two antlerless deer in Fairfax County.
Cities and Towns
EAB does not apply to the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.
Within a license year and within any city or town, before you can take a second antlered deer in that city or town (your second buck), you must have taken at least one antlerless deer in that city or town. Furthermore, in those cities and towns east of the Blue Ridge Mountains where it is legal to harvest a third antlered deer, before you can take a third antlered deer in that city or town (your third buck), you must have taken at least two antlerless deer in that city or town.
Example – Within a license year, before you can take a second antlered deer in the City of Lynchburg (your second buck), you must have taken at least one antlerless deer in the City of Lynchburg. Furthermore, before you can take a third antlered deer in the City of Lynchburg (your third buck), you must have taken at least two antlerless deer in the City of Lynchburg.
Earn a Buck questions and answers can be found at
Q: How are the opening days for deer season set in Virginia?
A: Season - Opening Day
Youth/Apprentice Weekend - Last Sat. in Sept. and the next day
Urban Archery - First Saturday in September
Early Archery - First Saturday in October
Early Muzzleloader - Saturday prior to the first Monday in November
Firearms - Saturday prior to the third Monday in November
Note: Does not apply to the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp line) or Virginia Beach.
Act Responsibly
Dispose of Your Deer Carcass!
Don’t give hunters a bad name by leaving deer parts in public locations, in parking lots, in waterways, or along roads. A recommended method of disposing of unused deer carcass parts is to double bag them and take them to a lined landfill or dumpster location which accepts deer carcasses. A second method is to simply dig a pit in which the deer carcass parts are placed, provided no other trash is placed in the pit. After the hunting season, cover the pit with at least six inches of soil. If you are caught dumping a carcass or deer parts in an unauthorized area, you may be charged with littering.
