Virginia · Deer · 2026–27 Edition
Virginia Deer Season 2026–27: Dates, Zones & Bag Limits
Oct 3 — mark it
Mark it.
2026–27 Edition
01 — Seasons by method
| Method | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Youth & Apprentice weekend | Statewide | Sep 26 – Sep 27 |
| Early archery | Statewide | Oct 3 – Nov 13 |
| Early muzzleloader | Where permitted | Oct 31 – Nov 13 |
| Firearms | Piedmont & eastern counties | Nov 14 – Jan 2 |
| Firearms | Western / mountain counties | Nov 14 – Dec 12 |
| Firearms | Chesapeake, Suffolk (E) & Virginia Beach | Oct 1 – Nov 30 |
| Late archery | W of Blue Ridge & designated areas | Dec 13 – Jan 2 |
| Late muzzleloader | Designated areas | Dec 12 – Jan 2 |
| Antlerless-only firearms | NoVA + listed counties | Sep 5 – Oct 2 |
02 — Bag limits
| East of the Blue Ridge | 6 per license year (≤3 antlered, ≥3 antlerless); 2/day. Unlimited daily in some NoVA counties/cities. |
|---|---|
| West of the Blue Ridge | 5 per license year (≤2 antlered, ≥3 antlerless); 2/day. Antler-point rule in Alleghany/Bath/Highland/Rockbridge. |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (October 3, 2026) 06:43 — 19:24
Rule: Confirm legal deer hours with VA DWR. (Shooting-hours rule not yet independently verified against the agency.) Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Virginia sun times for any other date.
04 — License
A Virginia hunting license and deer permit are required. A dedicated Virginia license page — costs, age rules and where to buy — is coming; for now, buy and read the rules straight from the agency.
Virginia licenses & permits — Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources →
05 — FAQ
When does deer season start in Virginia?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is October 3, 2026 (archery). Gun and muzzleloader dates differ — see the table above.
When does deer season end in Virginia?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is January 2, 2027. Individual methods and zones close on their own dates.
Verified · Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources · Last verified 2026-08-01
Publisher's note. Virginia's deer seasons vary heavily by county, land type (private / National Forest / State Forest / WMA) and by designated either-sex days; urban-archery and Northern-Virginia late seasons run into spring 2027. The rows give statewide-representative ranges — confirm the exact dates, either-sex days and bag rules for your county and land in the DWR regulations.