VA hunting season dates · 2026-27
Virginia hunting seasons
Season dates for 2026-27, straight from the Virginia DWR regulations — starting with what you actually want to know.
Open right now in
Virginia
Deer Opens Sep 5 11 days away Turkey Opens Oct 3 39 days away Duck Opens Sep 19 25 days away Dove Opens Sep 5 11 days away
Dates checked against the Virginia DWR regulations Aug 25, 2026.
Deer season
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Early & Late Antlerless-Only Firearms Antlerless deer only, no dogs. Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William, and private land in a named list of counties. Private land in Bedford County runs the same first segment but ends Jan. 31. | Antlerless-only firearms areas | Sep 5 – Oct 2; Jan 3 – Mar 28 |
| General Firearms Either sex full season. The Suffolk part is east of the Dismal Swamp line. | Chesapeake, Suffolk (east) & Virginia Beach | Oct 1 – Nov 30 |
| General Firearms Most of the state, plus any city or town that allows firearms deer hunting. Either-sex days vary by county; in many of them Earn a Buck applies. | Eastern & central counties (full season) | Nov 14, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027 |
| General Firearms Buchanan, Dickenson, Wise, Alleghany, Bath, Highland, Lee, Rockingham west of routes 613 and 731, Henry, Patrick, Bland, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, Augusta, Botetourt, Craig, Giles, Grayson, Rockbridge, Smyth and Washington. Either-sex days vary by county. | Western counties (four-week season) | Nov 14 – Dec 12 |
| Early Archery Statewide. Either sex full season. In Chesapeake, Suffolk east of the Dismal Swamp line and Virginia Beach the firearms season overlaps it. | Statewide | Oct 3 – Nov 13 |
| Late Archery The Suffolk part is east of the Dismal Swamp line. | Chesapeake, Suffolk (east) & Virginia Beach | Dec 1, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027 |
| Late Archery Alleghany, Bath, Bland, Buchanan, Dickenson, Highland, Lee, Rockingham west of routes 613 and 731, Russell, Scott, Tazewell and Wise; all national forest and Department-owned land west of the Blue Ridge; C.F. Phelps WMA; national forest land in Amherst, Bedford and Nelson. | Far west & national forest | Nov 29, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027 |
| Late Archery No late archery season in Clarke or Floyd counties, or on private lands in Carroll, Frederick, Montgomery, Page, Pulaski, Roanoke, Rockingham east of routes 613 and 731, Shenandoah, Warren and Wythe. | West of the Blue Ridge, Henry & Patrick | Dec 13, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027 |
| NOVA Late Archery Antlerless deer only. Not on Department-owned land. | Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun & Prince William | Mar 29 – Apr 25 |
| Urban Archery Antlerless deer only. Runs in named cities, towns and counties — the DWR urban archery page lists every one. | Urban archery cities & towns | Sep 5 – Oct 2; Jan 3 – Mar 28 |
| Early Muzzleloader Antlered deer every day; antlerless only on the either-sex days, which are set county by county. No early muzzleloader season in Chesapeake, Suffolk east of the Dismal Swamp line or Virginia Beach, where the general firearms season is already running. | Statewide | Oct 31 – Nov 13 |
| Late Muzzleloader East of the Blue Ridge: Henry and Patrick, federal and Department land in Franklin, national forest in Amherst, Bedford and Nelson, and the three southeast cities. West of the Blue Ridge: everywhere except Clarke County and private land in a list of twelve counties where the general firearms season is running instead. | Late muzzleloader areas | Dec 12, 2026 – Jan 2, 2027 |
| Youth & Apprentice Weekend Statewide, either sex, any legal deer weapon. Hunters 15 and under or apprentice-license holders, with a supervising adult over 18 who carries no weapon. | Statewide | Sep 26 – Sep 27 |
Turkey season
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Firearms Amherst, Appomattox, Brunswick, Buchanan, Buckingham, Campbell and on through a list of 29 counties. Closed in Arlington County and the cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach. | Central & southern counties | Oct 17 – Oct 30; Nov 25 – Nov 26; Nov 30 – Dec 12; Jan 9 – Jan 23 |
| Fall Firearms Bedford, Bland, Botetourt, Caroline, Carroll, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper and on down a list of 37 counties, plus Camp Peary and the cities of Hampton and Newport News. | Long-season counties | Oct 17 – Oct 30; Nov 25 – Nov 26; Nov 30 – Dec 26; Jan 9 – Jan 23 |
| Fall Firearms Albemarle, Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Greene, Highland, Madison, Page and Rockingham — the shortest fall season in the state. | Nine mountain & piedmont counties | Oct 17 – Oct 30; Nov 26 |
| Fall Firearms Accomack, Amelia, Dinwiddie, Gloucester, Greensville, Isle of Wight, James City, Mathews, Middlesex, New Kent, Northampton, Powhatan, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, Sussex, York outside Camp Peary, and the City of Suffolk. | Tidewater & southside counties | Oct 17 – Oct 30; Nov 25 – Nov 26; Nov 30 – Dec 12 |
| Spring Season — all day Statewide, bearded turkeys only. Half an hour before sunrise to sunset. | Statewide | Apr 26 – May 15 |
| Spring Season — mornings only Statewide, bearded turkeys only. Half an hour before sunrise until noon each day. | Statewide | Apr 10 – Apr 25 |
| Archery Season Statewide except where the firearms turkey season is closed. Archery tackle only. | Statewide | Oct 3 – Nov 13 |
| Spring Youth & Apprentice Weekend Statewide, one bearded bird. Half an hour before sunrise to sunset. | Statewide | Apr 3 – Apr 4 |
| Youth & Apprentice Fall Weekend In counties, cities and areas with a fall turkey season. One turkey for the weekend. | Statewide | Oct 10 – Oct 11 |
Duck season
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Season Black duck is closed for the October segment. Half an hour before sunrise until sunset. | Statewide | Oct 9 – Oct 12; Nov 18 – Nov 29; Dec 19, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 |
| September Teal Blue-winged and green-winged teal only. Needs HIP registration, a federal duck stamp and a Virginia migratory waterfowl conservation stamp. | East of I-95 | Sep 19 – Sep 27 |
| September Teal Blue-winged and green-winged teal only. | West of I-95 | Sep 22 – Sep 27 |
| Youth & Veterans Waterfowl Days Statewide. Hunters 15 and under, military veterans, and members of the armed forces on active duty. | Statewide | Oct 24; Feb 6 |
Dove season
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Season Opening day is noon until sunset; every other day is half an hour before sunrise until sunset. Open on every WMA except Hog Island and Princess Anne. | Statewide | Sep 5 – Oct 24; Nov 21 – Nov 29; Dec 19, 2026 – Jan 18, 2027 |
Youth seasons in Virginia
Virginia runs 4 youth seasons for deer, turkey and duck in 2026-27. Here they are, in one table, with the Virginia DWR rule on who may hunt them. The next opens Sep 26, 2026: Youth & Apprentice Weekend.
| Season | For | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth & Apprentice Weekend Statewide, either sex, any legal deer weapon. Hunters 15 and under or apprentice-license holders, with a supervising adult over 18 who carries no weapon. | Deer | Statewide | Sep 26 – Sep 27 |
| Youth & Apprentice Fall Weekend In counties, cities and areas with a fall turkey season. One turkey for the weekend. | Turkey | Statewide | Oct 10 – Oct 11 |
| Spring Youth & Apprentice Weekend Statewide, one bearded bird. Half an hour before sunrise to sunset. | Turkey | Statewide | Apr 3 – Apr 4 |
| Youth & Veterans Waterfowl Days Statewide. Hunters 15 and under, military veterans, and members of the armed forces on active duty. | Duck | Statewide | Oct 24; Feb 6 |
Who counts as a youth in Virginia
Youth and Apprentice Deer Hunting Weekend:
“Resident and nonresident youth hunters 15 years of age and under or holders of a valid apprentice hunting license, when in compliance with all applicable laws and licenses, may hunt when accompanied and directly supervised by an adult over the age of 18 who has a valid Virginia hunting license or is exempt from purchasing a hunting license.”
— Virginia DWR — Deer Hunting Regulations, Youth and Apprentice Deer Hunting Weekend, checked Aug 25, 2026
Who has to be with them
The adult who goes with them:
“Adult hunters accompanying youth or apprentice deer hunters: do not need a deer/turkey license on this weekend. shall not carry or discharge a weapon. shall maintain close visual and verbal contact with, provide adequate direction to, and can immediately assume control of the firearm.”
— Virginia DWR — Deer Hunting Regulations, Youth and Apprentice Deer Hunting Weekend, checked Aug 25, 2026
Age limits, license rules and mentor requirements differ by species and by hunt in most states — the Virginia DWR rules linked above are the ones that count. Read them before you take a young hunter out.
Draw & application deadlines
No draw deadlines to track in Virginia for deer, turkey, duck, or dove — licenses are sold over the counter.