Virginia Deer Season 2026-27
Virginia deer season dates start with Sep 5-Oct 2, 2026. The table below keeps every listed deer row together with zones and notes where available.
Quick answer
Virginia's listed 2026-27 firearm deer season runs Oct 1-Nov 30, 2026.
Urban Archery (Antlerless Only) White-tailed Deer opens Sep 5, 2026 and closes Oct 2, 2026.
Early Antlerless-Only Firearms White-tailed Deer opens Sep 5, 2026 and closes Oct 2, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to Virginia DWR.
Deer
27 listed rowsWhite-tailed Deer
Urban Archery (Antlerless Only)
Sep 5-Oct 2, 2026
Antlerless deer only. Archery or crossbow. Blaze color required on Youth and Apprentice Deer Hunting Weekend. See Urban Archery Season page for local restrictions.
Zone: Various cities and towns including Charlottesville, Chesapeake, Colonial Heights, Danville, Emporia, Franklin, Fredericksburg, Galax, Harrisonburg, Hopewell, Lexington, Lynchburg, Martinsville, Newpo…
White-tailed Deer
Early Antlerless-Only Firearms
Sep 5-Oct 2, 2026
Antlerless deer only. Dogs may not be used to hunt deer during this season. EAB applies.
Zone: Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William (except Dept-owned lands) counties and private lands in Carroll, Culpeper, Clarke, Fauquier, Floyd, Frederick, Greene, Hanover, Henrico, James City, Madiso…
White-tailed Deer
Early Antlerless-Only Firearms
Sep 5-Oct 2, 2026
Antlerless deer only. Dogs may not be used to hunt deer during this season. EAB applies.
Zone: Private lands in Bedford County
White-tailed Deer
Youth and Apprentice Weekend
Sep 26-27, 2026
Youth 15 and under or apprentice license holders. Any legal deer hunting weapon. Either-sex. Must be accompanied by adult 18+ with valid VA hunting license.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (General)
Oct 1-Nov 30, 2026
Either-sex full season October 1 through November 30.
Zone: Cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of Dismal Swamp line), and Virginia Beach
White-tailed Deer
Early Archery
Oct 3-Nov 13, 2026
Firearm season in Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of Dismal Swamp line), and Virginia Beach overlaps early archery season. Either-sex full season.
Zone: Statewide
White-tailed Deer
Early Muzzleloader
Oct 31-Nov 13, 2026
No early muzzleloader season in Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of Dismal Swamp line), or Virginia Beach as it occurs during general firearms season. Antlered deer every day. Antlerless only on designated either-sex days. Blaze color required except in stationary elevated stand.
Zone: Statewide (except Chesapeake, Suffolk east of Dismal Swamp line, Virginia Beach)
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (General)
Nov 14-Dec 12, 2026
Either-sex full season November 14 through December 12. EAB applies in Augusta, Botetourt, Craig, Giles, Grayson counties.
Zone: Augusta, Botetourt, Craig, Giles, Grayson, Rockbridge, Smyth, and Washington counties
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (General)
Nov 14-Dec 12, 2026
Either-sex days: November 21, 28, and November 30 through December 12.
Zone: Henry and Patrick counties
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (General)
Nov 14-Dec 12, 2026
Either-sex days: November 21 through November 28.
Zone: Bland, Russell, Scott, and Tazewell counties
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (General)
Nov 14, 2026-Jan 2, 2027
Either-sex days: November 21, 28, and December 21 through January 2.
Zone: Caroline, King & Queen, and King William counties
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (General)
Nov 14, 2026-Jan 2, 2027
Either-sex days: November 21, 28, and December 5 through January 2.
Zone: Amelia, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Nottoway counties
Show 15 more deer rows
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (General)
Nov 14, 2026-Jan 2, 2027
Either-sex days: November 21, 28, and December 28 through January 2.
Zone: Appomattox, Brunswick, Buckingham, Charlotte, Dinwiddie, Essex, Lunenburg, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, and Prince Edward counties
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (General)
Nov 14, 2026-Jan 2, 2027
Either-sex full season November 14 through January 2. EAB applies in many counties. Arlington County, City of Hampton, City of Richmond: archery only due to local ordinances prohibiting discharge of firearms. City of Newport News: archery only. Fairfax County: firearms restricted by location and parcel size.
Zone: Accomack, Albemarle, Amherst, Arlington, Bedford, Campbell, Carroll, Charles City, Chesterfield, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Floyd, Fluvanna, Franklin, Frederick, Goochland, Greene, Greensvi…
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (General)
Nov 14-Dec 12, 2026
Antlered deer only - no either-sex deer hunting days. Special Youth and Apprentice Antlerless Deer Regulation applies.
Zone: Buchanan County
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (General) - Cities and Towns
Nov 14, 2026-Jan 2, 2027
Deer of either sex full season. Only weapons authorized by each individual city or town. EAB applies to all cities and towns except Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach.
Zone: All cities and towns in Virginia that allow firearms deer hunting (except Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach)
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (General)
Nov 14-Dec 12, 2026
Either-sex day: November 28.
Zone: Dickenson and Wise counties
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (General)
Nov 14-Dec 12, 2026
Either-sex days: November 21, 27, and 28.
Zone: Alleghany, Bath, Highland, Lee, and Rockingham (west of Routes 613 and 731) counties
White-tailed Deer
Late Archery
Nov 29, 2026-Jan 2, 2027
Either-sex full season.
Zone: Alleghany, Bath, Bland, Buchanan, Dickenson, Highland, Lee, Rockingham (west of Rts 613 and 731), Russell, Scott, Tazewell, Wise counties (including cities and towns within); all National Forest and…
White-tailed Deer
Late Archery
Dec 1, 2026-Jan 2, 2027
Either-sex full season.
Zone: Cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of Dismal Swamp line), and Virginia Beach
White-tailed Deer
Late Muzzleloader
Dec 12, 2026-Jan 2, 2027
West of Blue Ridge. No late muzzleloader season in Clarke County and on private lands in Carroll, Floyd, Franklin, Frederick, Montgomery, Page, Pulaski, Roanoke, Rockingham (east of 613/731), Shenandoah, Warren, Wythe counties as it occurs during general firearms season. Either-sex days vary by county: full season in Augusta, Botetourt, Craig, Giles, Grayson, Scott, Smyth; Dec 28-Jan 2 in Bland, Dickenson, Rockbridge, Washington; Jan 2 only in Alleghany, Bath, Buchanan, Highland, Lee, Rockingham (west of 613/731), Russell, Tazewell, Wise and all NF/Dept-owned lands.
Zone: All areas west of the Blue Ridge (except Clarke County and private lands in Carroll, Floyd, Franklin, Frederick, Montgomery, Page, Pulaski, Roanoke, Rockingham east of 613/731, Shenandoah, Warren, Wy…
White-tailed Deer
Late Muzzleloader
Dec 12, 2026-Jan 2, 2027
East of Blue Ridge. Either-sex days: full season in Henry and Patrick counties and federal/Dept-owned lands in Franklin County; December 28-January 2 in Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach; January 2 only on NF lands in Amherst, Bedford, Nelson counties.
Zone: Henry and Patrick counties; federal and department-owned lands in Franklin county; national forest lands in Amherst, Bedford, and Nelson counties; cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of Dismal Swamp…
White-tailed Deer
Late Archery
Dec 13, 2026-Jan 2, 2027
No late archery season in Clarke and Floyd counties and on private lands in Carroll, Frederick, Montgomery, Page, Pulaski, Roanoke, Rockingham (east of 613/731), Shenandoah, Warren, Wythe counties. Either-sex full season.
Zone: Henry and Patrick counties; all areas west of the Blue Ridge (except Clarke, Floyd counties and private lands in Carroll, Frederick, Montgomery, Page, Pulaski, Roanoke, Rockingham east of 613/731, Sh…
White-tailed Deer
Urban Archery (Antlerless Only)
Jan 3-Mar 28, 2027
Antlerless deer only. Archery or crossbow. See Urban Archery Season page for local restrictions.
Zone: Various cities and towns including Charlottesville, Chesapeake (except Dept-owned lands), Colonial Heights, Danville, Emporia, Franklin, Fredericksburg, Galax, Harrisonburg, Hopewell, Lexington, Lync…
White-tailed Deer
Late Antlerless-Only Firearms
Jan 3-Mar 28, 2027
Antlerless deer only. Dogs may not be used to hunt deer during this season. EAB applies.
Zone: Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William (except Dept-owned lands) counties and private lands in Carroll, Culpeper, Clarke, Fauquier, Floyd, Frederick, Greene, Hanover, Henrico, James City, Madiso…
White-tailed Deer
Late Antlerless-Only Firearms
Jan 3-31, 2027
Antlerless deer only. Dogs may not be used to hunt deer during this season. EAB applies.
Zone: Private lands in Bedford County
White-tailed Deer
NOVA Late Archery (Antlerless Only)
Mar 29-Apr 25, 2027
Antlerless deer only.
Zone: Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William (except Dept-owned lands) counties including cities and towns within
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