Virginia Deer Season 2026-27: Dates and Bag Limits by Area

Main deer seasons

Firearms dates on National Forest, state forest, state park, Army Corps and WMA lands differ. Most National Forest lands in western counties are open Nov. 14 to 28.

Antlerless-only and urban seasons

In Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William, archery hunting for antlerless deer runs until April 25, 2027, the latest deer season date in Virginia.

Bag limits: east and west of the Blue Ridge

• At least three of the yearly deer must be antlerless.
• No daily limit in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and most cities and towns, but the antlered limit still applies.
• One deer per day on National Forest and Department-owned lands.
• In Alleghany, Bath, Highland and Rockbridge counties, a hunter who takes two bucks must have at least one with four or more points, 1 inch or longer, on one side.
• Bonus antlerless permits (DCAP, DMAP and DPOP) do not count toward daily or yearly limits and are not valid on National Forest or Department-owned lands.

Earn a Buck counties

Before a second antlered deer, you must take at least one antlerless deer in the same county, city or town. Where a third antlered deer is legal, east of the Blue Ridge, you must take two antlerless deer first. Earn a Buck applies on private lands in:

Accomack, Albemarle, Amherst (west of Rt. 29), Augusta, Bedford, Botetourt, Carroll, Chesterfield, Clarke, Craig, Culpeper, Fauquier, Floyd, Franklin, Frederick, Giles, Grayson, Greene, Hanover, Henrico, James City, Madison, Montgomery, Orange, Page, Prince George, Pulaski, Rappahannock, Roanoke, Rockingham (east of Rts. 613 and 731), Shenandoah, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Warren, Wythe and York, plus Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William (except Department of Defense lands) and all cities and towns except Chesapeake, Suffolk and Virginia Beach.

Either-sex days

Antlerless deer may be taken only on designated either-sex days during the archery, muzzleloader and firearms seasons. East of the Blue Ridge, most areas allow either sex for the whole early muzzleloader season, Oct. 31, 2026 to Nov. 13, 2026. West of the Blue Ridge, some private lands allow it for the whole early muzzleloader season and others only on Nov. 7. Firearms either-sex days vary by county and land type; check the DWR tables for your county.

Firearms season by area

• Most counties, private land: Nov. 14, 2026 to Jan. 2, 2027.
• Buchanan, Dickenson, Wise and other listed western counties: Nov. 14, 2026 to Dec. 12, 2026.
• Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp line) and Virginia Beach: Oct. 1, 2026 to Nov. 30, 2026, with no early muzzleloader season.
• The late muzzleloader season, Dec. 12, 2026 to Jan. 2, 2027 in most areas, does not run in some western counties where it would overlap the firearms season.

Youth and apprentice weekend

Sept. 26, 2026 to Sept. 27, 2026, statewide. Youth 15 and under and apprentice license holders must be accompanied and directly supervised by an adult over 18. Any legal deer weapon may be used, and deer of either sex may be taken.

Blaze color

• During firearms deer seasons, hunters and anyone with them must wear a solid blaze orange or blaze pink hat or upper-body clothing visible from 360 degrees, or display at least 100 square inches of solid blaze material at shoulder level.
• Hunters in an enclosed ground blind must also display at least 100 square inches of solid blaze material on or above the blind.
• Archery hunters must follow the rule during firearms season, except where firearm discharge is prohibited.

Tagging and reporting

• Validate the tag before moving the deer in any way: with eNotch in the GoOutdoorsVA app, or by removing the notch from a paper tag.
• Report the deer when the carcass is transported by vehicle or at the end of legal hunting hours, whichever comes first: online at GoOutdoorsVirginia.com, in the GoOutdoorsVA app or by phone at (866) 468-4263.
• Keep the 8-digit confirmation number with the carcass.

Hours and Sunday hunting

Legal hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Hunting is allowed on Sundays, except within 200 yards of a house of worship, and hunting deer with dogs is prohibited on Sunday.

Frequently asked questions

When does deer season open in Virginia?

Early archery opens Oct. 3, 2026, early muzzleloader Oct. 31, 2026 and the general firearms season Nov. 14, 2026 in most counties. In Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp line) and Virginia Beach, firearms season runs Oct. 1, 2026 to Nov. 30, 2026.

How many deer can you kill in Virginia?

East of the Blue Ridge, six a year, no more than three antlered. West of the Blue Ridge and on National Forest lands in Amherst, Bedford and Nelson counties, five a year, no more than two antlered. At least three must be antlerless, and the daily limit is two in most places.

What is Earn a Buck in Virginia?

In Earn a Buck counties, cities and towns, you must take at least one antlerless deer there before a second antlered deer, and at least two antlerless deer before a third where a third buck is legal. Each county, city or town counts separately.

What are either-sex days in Virginia?

Antlerless deer may be taken during the archery, muzzleloader and firearms seasons only on designated either-sex days, which vary by county and by public or private land.

When is the Virginia youth deer weekend?

Sept. 26, 2026 to Sept. 27, 2026, statewide, for youth 15 and under and apprentice license holders with an adult over 18. Deer of either sex may be taken with any legal weapon.

Can you hunt deer with dogs on Sunday in Virginia?

No. Using dogs to hunt deer on Sunday while carrying a firearm, bow, crossbow or other deer weapon is prohibited.

Deer season in other states

Texas · Pennsylvania · Michigan · Wisconsin · Ohio · Georgia · New York · Missouri · Minnesota · Indiana · North Carolina · Kentucky · Tennessee · Alabama. Compare every state on the deer season dates by state page.

Duck seasons are on the Virginia duck season page, and turkey seasons on the Virginia turkey season page.

Virginia dates and either-sex days change by county and by public or private land. Always check the DWR tables for where you hunt.