Deer Hunting Firearms Seasons

Firearms Deer Seasons

For private lands and public lands unless otherwise noted in tables below.

November 15 through December 13

In Buchanan County.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

Antlered deer only—no either-sex deer hunting days. Special Youth and Apprentice Antlerless Deer Regulation Applies.

November 15 through December 13

In the counties of Dickenson and Wise.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 29

November 15 through December 13

In the counties of Alleghany, Bath, Highland, Rockingham (west of Routes 613 and 731), and Lee.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 22, 28, and 29.

November 15 through December 13

In the counties of Henry and Patrick.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 22, 29, and December 1 through December 13.

November 15 through December 13

In the counties of Bland, Russell, Scott, and Tazewell.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 22 through November 29.

November 15 through December 13

In the counties of Augusta*, Botetourt*, Craig*, Giles*, Grayson*, Rockbridge, Smyth, and Washington.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 15 through December 13 (full season)

November 15 through January 3

In the counties of Caroline, King & Queen and King William

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 22, 29, and December 22 through January 3.

November 15 through January 3

In the counties of Amelia, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Nottoway.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 22, 29, and December 6 through January 3.

November 15 through January 3

In the counties of Appomattox, Brunswick, Buckingham, Charlotte, Dinwiddie, Essex, Lunenburg, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, and Prince Edward.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 22, 29, and December 29 through January 3.

November 15 through January 3

In the counties of Accomack*, Albemarle*, Amherst*, Arlington*, Bedford*, Campbell, Carroll*, Charles City, Chesterfield*, Clarke*, Culpeper*, Fairfax*, Fauquier*, Floyd*, Fluvanna, Franklin*, Frederick*, Goochland, Greene*, Greensville, Halifax, Hanover*, Henrico*, Isle of Wight, James City*, King George, Lancaster, Loudoun, Louisa, Madison*, Montgomery*, Nelson, New Kent, Northampton, Northumberland, Orange*, Page*, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince George*, Prince William*, Pulaski*, Rappahannock*, Richmond, Roanoke*, Rockingham (east of Routes 613 and 731)*, Shenandoah*, Southampton, Spotsylvania*, Stafford*, Suffolk (west of the Dismal Swamp line), Surry, Sussex, Warren*, Westmoreland, Wythe* 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).
• 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*, firearms 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.

Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:

November 15 through January 3 (full season).

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).

November 15 through January 3

• Within the incorporated limits of any city or town in Virginia that allows firearms deer hunting (except in the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach), but only with the specific weapons authorized by each individual city or town.
• Deer of either sex may be taken full season.
• Earn a Buck applies to all cities and towns except Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.

*Denotes Earn a Buck (EAB) County

NOTE: Seasons shown in the map above apply to all public lands unless otherwise noted in the tables below.

It is illegal to possess or use deer scents or lures that contain natural deer urine or other bodily fluids while taking, attempting to take, attracting, or scouting wildlife in Virginia.

Legal Methods and Restrictions During Firearms Deer Seasons

Special restrictions apply to specific firearms use during this season. See Legal Use of Firearms and Local Firearms Ordinances for details.

• Modern firearms
• Pneumatic arrowguns are allowed
• Air rifles must be .35 caliber or larger
• Hunters are allowed to use archery tackle or muzzleloading firearms to deer hunt during the firearms deer season with the following conditions:
  • all hunters are required to comply with the either-sex deer hunting days for the firearms deer season.
  • use of muzzleloading firearms is allowed only if not otherwise restricted.
  • muzzleloader deer hunters must wear blaze color during the firearms deer season.
  • archery deer hunters must wear blaze color during the firearms deer season except when hunting in areas where the discharge of firearms is prohibited.

Dogs May Not Be Used For Deer Hunting

• West of the Blue Ridge.
• East of the Blue Ridge in Bedford, Fairfax, Franklin, Henry, Loudoun, Northampton, and Patrick counties, and Amherst (west of Rt. 29), Campbell (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad), Nelson (west of Rt. 151), Pittsylvania (west of Norfolk Southern Railroad), and the City of Lynchburg.
• On Sunday while hunting with any firearm, bow, crossbow, or any weapon capable of taking a deer.
• When hunting during archery and muzzle­loading seasons and on the Youth and Apprentice Deer Hunting Weekend.
• On many military areas. Check individual Post regulations.
• On Amelia, Cavalier, Doe Creek, Featherfin, Mattaponi, Mattaponi Bluffs, Merrimac Farm, Oakley Forest, Flippo-Gentry, Pettigrew, C. F. Phelps, G. Richard Thompson, Robert W. Duncan, Tye River, and Ware Creek Wildlife Management Areas.
• November 15 through November 28 in Madison and Greene counties.
• During an early or late antlerless-only firearms deer season.

East & West of the Blue Ridge

Tracking Dogs

Allowed.