Virginia Deer Season 2026-27
Virginia deer season dates start with Oct 1-Nov 30, 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.
Early Archery White-tailed Deer opens Oct 3, 2026 and closes Nov 13, 2026.
Early Muzzleloader White-tailed Deer opens Oct 31, 2026 and closes Nov 13, 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
Firearms (General)
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
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
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) - Cities and Towns
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)
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)
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
Firearms (General)
Either-sex days: November 21, 28, and November 30 through December 12.
Zone: Henry and Patrick counties
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (General)
Either-sex days: November 21 through November 28.
Zone: Bland, Russell, Scott, and Tazewell counties
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (General)
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)
Either-sex days: November 21, 28, and December 5 through January 2.
Zone: Amelia, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Nottoway counties
White-tailed Deer
Firearms (General)
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)
Either-sex day: November 28.
Zone: Dickenson and Wise counties
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed DeerEarly Antlerless-Only Firearms · 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…Antlerless deer only. Dogs may not be used to hunt deer during this season. EAB applies. | Closed | |
| White-tailed DeerUrban Archery (Antlerless Only) · Various cities and towns including Charlottesville, Chesapeake, Colonial Heights, Danville, Emporia, Franklin, Fredericksburg, Galax, Harrisonburg, Hopewell, Lexington, Lynchburg, Martinsville, Newpo…Antlerless deer only. Archery or crossbow. Blaze color required on Youth and Apprentice Deer Hunting Weekend. See Urban Archery Season page for local restrictions. | Closed | |
| White-tailed DeerEarly Antlerless-Only Firearms · Private lands in Bedford CountyAntlerless deer only. Dogs may not be used to hunt deer during this season. EAB applies. | Closed | |
| White-tailed DeerYouth and Apprentice Weekend · StatewideYouth 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. | Closed | |
| White-tailed DeerFirearms (General) · Caroline, King & Queen, and King William countiesEither-sex days: November 21, 28, and December 21 through January 2. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerFirearms (General) · Accomack, Albemarle, Amherst, Arlington, Bedford, Campbell, Carroll, Charles City, Chesterfield, Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Floyd, Fluvanna, Franklin, Frederick, Goochland, Greene, Greensvi…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. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerLate Archery · 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…Either-sex full season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerLate Archery · Cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of Dismal Swamp line), and Virginia BeachEither-sex full season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerLate Muzzleloader · 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…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. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerLate Muzzleloader · 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…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. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerLate Archery · 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…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. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerUrban Archery (Antlerless Only) · Various cities and towns including Charlottesville, Chesapeake (except Dept-owned lands), Colonial Heights, Danville, Emporia, Franklin, Fredericksburg, Galax, Harrisonburg, Hopewell, Lexington, Lync…Antlerless deer only. Archery or crossbow. See Urban Archery Season page for local restrictions. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerLate Antlerless-Only Firearms · Private lands in Bedford CountyAntlerless deer only. Dogs may not be used to hunt deer during this season. EAB applies. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerLate Antlerless-Only Firearms · 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…Antlerless deer only. Dogs may not be used to hunt deer during this season. EAB applies. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerNOVA Late Archery (Antlerless Only) · Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William (except Dept-owned lands) counties including cities and towns withinAntlerless deer only. | Upcoming |
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Nearby deer seasons
Virginia Deer Season FAQ
When does deer season open in Virginia?
September 5, 2026 is the earliest listed deer opener in Virginia — early antlerless-only firearms white-tailed deer runs Sep 5-Oct 2, 2026. Confirm zone and permit details with Virginia DWR.
What are the 2026-27 deer season dates in Virginia?
Virginia lists 27 deer season windows: Early Antlerless-Only Firearms White-tailed Deer (Sep 5-Oct 2, 2026); Urban Archery (Antlerless Only) White-tailed Deer (Sep 5-Oct 2, 2026); Early Antlerless-Only Firearms White-tailed Deer (Sep 5-Oct 2, 2026); Youth and Apprentice Weekend White-tailed Deer (Sep 26-27, 2026); Firearms (General) White-tailed Deer (Oct 1-Nov 30, 2026); Early Archery White-tailed Deer (Oct 3-Nov 13, 2026); Early Muzzleloader White-tailed Deer (Oct 31-Nov 13, 2026); Firearms (General) - Cities and Towns White-tailed Deer (Nov 14, 2026-Jan 2, 2027); and more. Always verify against Virginia DWR before hunting.
Are there different deer seasons in Virginia?
Yes — Virginia lists separate deer seasons for Early Antlerless-Only Firearms White-tailed Deer, Urban Archery (Antlerless Only) White-tailed Deer, Youth and Apprentice Weekend White-tailed Deer, Firearms (General) White-tailed Deer, Early Archery White-tailed Deer, Early Muzzleloader White-tailed Deer. Each can carry its own dates, zones, and weapon rules; see the table above and Virginia DWR.
Do I need a license to hunt deer in Virginia?
Yes. Virginia generally requires the appropriate hunting license, and deer hunting may also require tags, permits, stamps, or zone authorizations. Confirm requirements with Virginia DWR.