Is deer season open in Virginia?

Pick your zone above to see its 9 zone seasons.

• Early and Late Antlerless Only Firearms Deer SeasonsAntlerless

  Sep 5 to Oct 2 · Jan 3 to Mar 28

  Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and 19 more counties only

  Virginia's wording

  "Early and Late Antlerless Only Firearms Deer Seasons | During these seasons only antlerless deer may be taken. Dogs may not be used to hunt deer during these seasons. | (◆ Black Diamond) September 5 through October 2 and January 3, 2027 through March 28, 2027 | In the counties (including the cities and towns within) of Arlington*, Fairfax*, Loudoun*, Prince William* (except on Department-owned lands), and on private lands in Carroll*, Culpeper*, Clarke*, Fauquier*, Floyd*, Frederick*, Greene*, Hanover*, Henrico*, James City*, Madison*, Montgomery*, Orange*, Page*, Pulaski*, Rappahannock*, Shenandoah*, Warren*, and York* counties."

• Youth and Apprentice Deer Hunting WeekendYouth

  Sep 26 to Sep 27

  Youth and apprentice hunters only

  Virginia's wording

  "Youth and Apprentice Deer Hunting Weekend | September 26 and 27 | Statewide."

• Early Archery SeasonArcheryOpen

  Oct 3 to Nov 13

  Virginia's wording

  "Early Archery Season | October 3 through November 13: | Statewide. | Firearm season in Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp line), and Virginia Beach overlaps early archery season."

• Early Muzzleloader SeasonMuzzleloaderOpen

  Oct 31 to Nov 13

  Virginia's wording

  "Early Muzzleloader Season | October 31 through November 13: | There is no early muzzleloader season in the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp line), or Virginia Beach since it occurs during the general firearms season."

• Firearms Deer SeasonFirearm

  Nov 14 to Dec 12

  Alleghany, Augusta, Bath and 19 more counties only

  Virginia's wording

  "Private Lands Firearms Deer Seasons | (red horizontal lines) November 14 through December 12 | In Buchanan County. | November 14 through December 12 | In the counties of Dickenson and Wise. | November 14 through December 12 | In the counties of Alleghany, Bath, Highland, Lee, and Rockingham (west of Routes 613 and 731). | November 14 through December 12 | In the counties of Henry and Patrick. | November 14 through December 12 | In the counties of Bland, Russell, Scott, and Tazewell. | November 14 through December 12 | In the counties of Augusta*, Botetourt*, Craig*, Giles*, Grayson*, Rockbridge, Smyth, and Washington."

• Firearms Deer SeasonFirearm

  Nov 14 to Jan 2, 2027

  Accomack, Albemarle, Amelia and 72 more counties, plus cities and towns that allow it only

  Virginia's wording

  "Private Lands Firearms Deer Seasons | November 14 through January 2 | In the counties of Caroline, King & Queen and King William | November 14 through January 2 | In the counties of Amelia, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Nottoway. | November 14 through January 2 | In the counties of Appomattox, Brunswick, Buckingham, Charlotte, Dinwiddie, Essex, Lunenburg, Mathews, Mecklenburg, Middlesex, and Prince Edward. | November 14 through January 2 | In the counties of Accomack*, Albemarle*, Amherst*, Arlington*, Bedford*, Campbell, Carroll*, Charles City, Chesterfield*, Clarke*, Culpeper*, Fairfax*, Fauquier*, Floyd*, Fluvanna, Franklin*, Frederick*, Goochland, Greene*, Greensville, Halifax, Hanover*, Henrico*, Isle of Wight, James City*, King George, Lancaster, Loudoun, Louisa, Madison*, Montgomery*, Nelson, New Kent, Northampton, Northumberland, Orange*, Page*, Pittsylvania, Powhatan, Prince George*, Prince William*, Pulaski*, Rappahannock*, Richmond, Roanoke*, Rockingham (east of Routes 613 and 731)*, Shenandoah*, Southampton, Spotsylvania*, Stafford*, Suffolk (west of the Dismal Swamp line), Surry, Sussex, Warren*, Westmoreland, Wythe* and York*. | November 14 through January 2 | Within the incorporated limits of any city or town in Virginia that allows firearms deer hunting (except in the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach), but only with the specific weapons authorized by each individual city or town."

• Late Muzzleloader SeasonMuzzleloader

  Dec 12 to Jan 2, 2027

  Henry and Patrick counties, Chesapeake, Suffolk (east), Virginia Beach and listed federal lands only

  Virginia's wording

  "Late Muzzleloader Season East of the Blue Ridge | December 12 through January 2: | In the counties of Henry and Patrick, on federal and department-owned lands in Franklin county, on national forest lands in Amherst, Bedford, and Nelson counties, and in the cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp line), and Virginia Beach."

Source: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons: Virginia DWR, checked November 2026.