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.
November 18 through December 2
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 18 through December 2 (full season):
In all areas unless otherwise noted below.
- November 25 and December 1 and 2: On National Forest and Department-owned lands in Craig, and Wythe counties and on National Forest lands in Giles County.
- November 25 and December 2: On private land west of Rts. 613 and 731 in Rockingham County.
- December 2: 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 18 through December 2
In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Bland, Lee, Rockbridge, Russell, and Tazewell.
Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:
November 25 and December 1 and 2
In all areas unless otherwise noted below.
- December 2: 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 18 through January 6
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).
- 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 18 through December 2:
On C.F. Phelps WMA and National Forest lands in Frederick County.
Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:
November 18 through
January 6 (full season):
In all areas unless otherwise noted below.
- November 25 and December 2, and December 25 through January 6: On G.R. Thompson, Oakley Forest, Powhatan, and Rapidan WMAs.
- November 25: On C.F. Phelps WMA.
- December 2: 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 18 through January 6
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 25 and December 2 and January 1 through January 6:
In all areas unless otherwise noted below.
- November 25 and December 2, and December 9 through January 6: On Featherfin WMA.
- November 25 and December 2: On Appomattox-Buckingham and Prince Edward State Forests.
November 18 through January 6
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 25 and December 2, and December 25 through January 6:
In all areas unless otherwise noted below.
- November 25 and December 2, and January 1 through January 6: On Amelia WMA.
- November 25 and December 2: On Cumberland State Forest.
November 18 through December 2:
In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Scott and Washington.
Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:
November 25 and November 27 through December 2:
In all areas unless otherwise noted below.
- December 2: 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 18 through December 16
In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Henry and Patrick.
Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:
November 25 and December 2, and December 4 through December 16:
In all areas unless otherwise noted below.
- November 25 and December 11 through 16: 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 18 through December 2
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 18 through December 16
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 18 through December 2: 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 18 through December 16 (full season):
In all areas unless otherwise noted below.
- December 2: On National Forest lands in Amherst, Bedford, and Nelson counties.
- November 25 and December 2: On National Forest lands in Montgomery and Pulaski counties and on National Forest and Department-owned lands in Carroll County.
- November 25 and December 11 through 16: On Philpott Reservoir and Turkeycock Mountain WMA.
November 18 through January 6
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 25 and December 2, and
December 11 through January 6:
In all areas unless otherwise noted below.
- November 25 and December 2, and December 25 through January 6: On Hardware River WMA.
- November 25 and January 1 through January 6: On James River and Tye River WMAs.
- November 25, and January 4, 5 and 6: On White Oak Mountain WMA.
November 18 through December 2
In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Alleghany, Bath, and Highland.
Either-sex Deer Hunting Days:
- November 25 and December 2: On all private lands in the counties listed above and on the Highland WMA.
- December 2: 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 2 through October 6 and January 7, 2024 through March 31, 2024
® 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 2 through October 6 and January 7, 2024 through January 31, 2024
® 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.).
