Virginia · 2026-27
Deer season in Virginia
Written down as VA deer season, or Virginia whitetail season — the same dates either way, and they’re below, zone by zone.
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Virginia Deer
Dates checked against the Virginia DWR regulations Aug 25, 2026.
Every Deer season, 2026-27
| 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 |
The rest of Virginia
Turkey season · Duck season · Dove season · the whole board
Hunting deer somewhere else this year? Deer season by state puts every state’s opener and last open day in one table.