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Virginia

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Hunting

Deer Hunting Firearms Seasons

Firearms Deer Seasons

Antlered deer may be taken every day of the season. Antlerless deer may only be taken on designated either-sex deer hunting days. Special Youth and Apprentice Deer Regulation applies statewide.

*Denotes Earn a Buck (EAB) County.

Virginia Firearms Deer Seasons Map


November 16 through November 30

In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Augusta*, Botetourt*, Craig, Giles, Grayson*, Page*, Rockingham*, Shenandoah*, Smyth, Warren*, and Wythe*.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 16 through November 30 (full season):

In all areas unless otherwise noted below.

  • November 23 and November 29 and 30: On National Forest and Department-owned lands in Craig, and Wythe counties and on National Forest lands in Giles County.
  • November 23 and November 30: On private land west of Rts. 613 and 731 in Rockingham County.
  • November 30: On National Forest and Department-owned lands in Augusta, Botetourt, and Smyth counties and on National Forest lands in Grayson, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren counties, Hungry Mother State Park, and on portions of Grayson Highlands State Park.


November 16 through November 30

In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Bland, Lee, Rockbridge, Russell, and Tazewell.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 23 and November 29 and 30

In all areas unless otherwise noted below.

  • November 30: On Department-owned lands in Russell County and on National Forest and Department-owned lands in Rockbridge and Tazewell counties and on the Channels State Forest.
  • Antlered deer only–no either-sex deer hunting days: On National Forest lands in Lee County. Special Youth and Apprentice Antlerless Deer Regulation applies.


November 16 through January 4

In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Accomack*, Albemarle*, Arlington*, Campbell (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Charles City, Chesterfield, Clarke*, Culpeper* (see season exception for C. F. Phelps WMA below), Fairfax*, Fauquier* (see season exception for C. F. Phelps WMA below), Frederick* (see season exception for National Forest lands below), Greene*, Goochland, Hanover*, Henrico*, Isle of Wight, James City*, Loudoun*, Madison*, New Kent, Northampton, Orange*, Pittsylvania (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Powhatan, Prince George*, Prince William*, Rappahannock*, Southampton, Spotsylvania, Stafford*, Suffolk (west of the Dismal Swamp line), Surry, Sussex, and York*.

  • In Arlington County*, City of Hampton*, and City of Richmond* (in the City of Richmond: archery only, no special permit is required for archery deer hunting). Note: Local Ordinances prohibit the discharge of firearms in these three areas (see Local Firearms Ordinances, Local Firearms Ordinances).
  • In the City of Lynchburg* (on private lands for which a special permit has been issued by the Chief of Police).
  • In the City of Newport News*: archery only, no special permit is required for archery deer hunting.
  • In Fairfax County*, firearm hunting is restricted by location and parcel size. Contact the Div. of Animal Control, 4500 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 for details. No parcel size restrictions exist for archery deer hunting.

Season Exception:

November 16 through November 30:

On C.F. Phelps WMA and National Forest lands in Frederick County.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 16 through
January 4 (full season):

In all areas unless otherwise noted below.

  • November 23 and 30, and December 23 through January 4: On G.R. Thompson, Oakley Forest, Powhatan, and Rapidan WMAs.
  • November 23: On C.F. Phelps WMA.
  • November 30: On National Forest lands in Frederick County.
  • Antlered deer only–no either-sex deer hunting days: On the Carlisle and Stewart tracts of the Hog Island WMA, and on the Ragged Island and Chickahominy WMAs. Special Youth and Apprentice Antlerless Deer Regulation applies.


November 16 through January 4

In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Appomattox, Brunswick, Buckingham, Caroline, Charlotte, Dinwiddie, Essex, Greensville, Lunenburg, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, and Prince Edward.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 23 and 30, and December 30 through January 4:

In all areas unless otherwise noted below.

  • November 23 and 30, and December 7 through January 4: On Featherfin WMA.
  • November 23 and 30: On Appomattox-Buckingham and Prince Edward State Forests.


November 16 through January 4

In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Amelia, Cumberland, Gloucester, Halifax, King and Queen, King William and Nottoway.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 23 and 30, and December 23 through January 4:

In all areas unless otherwise noted below.

  • November 23 and 30, and December 30 through January 4: On Amelia WMA.
  • November 23 and 30: On Cumberland State Forest.


November 16 through November 30:

In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Scott and Washington.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 23 and November 25 through November 30:

In all areas unless otherwise noted below.

  • November 30: On National Forest and Department-owned lands in Washington County and on Channels State Forest.
  • Antlered deer only–no either-sex deer hunting days: On National Forest lands in Scott County. Special Youth and Apprentice Antlerless Deer Regulation applies.


November 16 through December 14

In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Henry and Patrick.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 23 and 30, and December 2 through December 14:

In all areas unless otherwise noted below.

  • November 23 and December 9 through 14: On Fairystone Farms and Turkeycock Mountain WMAs, designated areas of Fairystone State Park, and Philpott Reservoir.


October 1 through November 30

In the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp line), and Virginia Beach.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

October 1 through November 30 (full season): In all areas.


November 16 through November 30

In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Buchanan, Dickenson, and Wise.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

Antlered deer only–no either-sex deer hunting days in all areas.

Special Youth and Apprentice Antlerless Deer Regulation applies.


November 16 through December 14

In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Amherst* (west of Route 29 except on National Forest lands), Bedford* (except on National Forest lands), Carroll* (except on National Forest and Department-owned lands), Floyd*, Franklin*, Montgomery* (except on National Forest lands), Nelson (west of Route 151, except on National Forest lands), Pulaski* (except on National Forest lands), and Roanoke* (except on National Forest and Department-owned lands).

Season Exception

  • November 16 through November 30: On National Forest lands in Amherst, Bedford, Montgomery, Nelson, and Pulaski counties and on National Forest and Department-owned lands in Carroll and Roanoke counties.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 16 through December 14 (full season):

In all areas unless otherwise noted below.

  • November 30: On National Forest lands in Amherst, Bedford, and Nelson counties and on National Forest and Department-owned lands in Roanoke County.
  • November 23 and 30: On National Forest lands in Montgomery and Pulaski counties and on National Forest and Department-owned lands in Carroll County.
  • November 23 and December 9 through 14: On Philpott Reservoir and Turkeycock Mountain WMA.


November 16 through January 4

In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Amherst (east of Rt. 29), Campbell (east of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Fluvanna, King George, Lancaster, Louisa, Nelson (east of Rt. 151), Northumberland, Pittsylvania (east of Norfolk Southern Railroad) Richmond, and Westmoreland. Note: Dogs may not be used for deer hunting in Campbell County (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad) and in Pittsylvania County (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad).

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 23 and 30, and
December 9 through January 4:

In all areas unless otherwise noted below.

  • November 23 and 30, and December 23 through January 4: On Hardware River WMA.
  • November 23 and December 30 through January 4: On James River and Tye River WMAs.
  • November 23, and January 2, 3 and 4: On White Oak Mountain WMA.


November 16 through November 30

In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Alleghany, Bath, and Highland.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

  • November 23 and 30: On all private lands in the counties listed above and on the Highland WMA.
  • November 30: On National Forest and Department-owned lands in Bath County and on National Forest lands in Alleghany and Highland counties.

Early and Late Antlerless Only Firearms Deer Seasons

During these seasons only antlerless deer may be taken.

September 7 through October 4 and January 5, 2025 through March 30, 2025


In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Arlington*, Fairfax*, Loudoun*, Prince William* (except on Department-owned lands), and on private lands in Carroll*, Culpeper*, Clarke*, Fauquier*, Floyd*, Frederick*, Madison*, Montgomery*, Orange*, Page*, Pulaski*, Rappahannock*, Shenandoah*, Warren*, and York* counties

September 7 through October 4 and January 5, 2025 through January 31, 2025


On private lands only in Bedford County

Local firearm ordinances prohibit the discharge of firearms in Arlington County. In Fairfax County*, firearm hunting is restricted by location and parcel size. Contact the Div. of Animal Control, 4500 West Ox Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 for details. No parcel size restrictions exist for archery deer hunting.

All legal deer hunting weapons including bows, crossbows, muzzleloaders, pistols, shotguns, and rifles are legal. Local firearm ordinances still apply.

All other normal deer regulations apply (e.g., daily and season bag limits, tagging and reporting, DCAP, DMAP, EAB, etc.).