The Guide To Deer Season Virginia 2024

No matter the county, hunters can expect an exciting and rewarding deer hunt with opportunities to hunt diverse and stunning geographic locations, including coastal plains, the Appalachian plateau, the Blue Ridge mountains, and more. 

This guide looks at deer season Virginia 2024 dates, must-know regulations, hunting insights, permits, and more. 

2024 Deer Season Virginia Dates and Regulations 

The deer seasons and season regulations are set and enforced by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. The seasons are based on firearm type or hunter classification and are imposed to protect deer population numbers and ecological balance. 

Archery Season

The archery season typically runs from October to mid-November. In the 2024 deer season in Virginia, there will be two archery seasons. 

• Early: The early archery season runs from October 5 – November 15.
• Late: December 1 – January 4 and December 15 – January 4

Please note that these late seasons are dependent on the county or location. 

Muzzleloader Season

If you've never hunted with a muzzleloader, give it a try this season! The late opportunity to get out for a hunt could be worth it.

• Early muzzleloader season: November 2 - November 15
• Late muzzleloader season: December 14 through January 4

Note that during the early muzzleloader dates, there is no muzzleloader season in Chesapeake, Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp line), or Virginia Beach, as it overlaps with the rifle season. For the late-season dates, hunting takes place anywhere east of the Blue Ridge. 

Firearms 

The firearm season runs across specified counties and cities, and some restrictions are in place, so ensure you check the Virginia DWR website.

• General Firearms: November 16 – November 30 
• Extended Firearms: November 16 – January 4 
• Early and Late Antlerless Only: September 7 – October 4, January 5, 2025 – March 30, 2025
• Combined Cities and Towns: November 16 – January 4 (either-sex)

Licensing and Permits

All hunters must have a valid Virginia hunting license. All licenses, whether resident or nonresident, are valid for one year after purchase.

To purchase a resident license, applicants must have lived in the city, county, or state for six months before purchase. 

If you are a first-time hunter or between the ages of 12 and 15, you will also need a hunter education course before applying for a hunting license. 

Tagging

Deer fall under the big game classification and must be tagged after being harvested.

Deer tags come with your license. They're used to report each deer you harvest. Virginia uses a mandatory electronic checking system where you check your deer online, via phone, or with the GoOutdoorsVA mobile app (paper tag options are also available). 

Special tags may also be available, such as bonus deer permits, urban archery season permits, and county deer management permits. 

Bag Limits and Regulations

The bag limit typically calls for 1-2 a day and 5 in a license year. However, there are some exceptions, as there may be further restrictions on the number of antlered deer.

Note that the 2024 bag limit is a reduction of the previous season's limits. 

Unfortunately, Virginia has been impacted by Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), and the Virginia DWR has established 4 CWD management zones, providing testing, voluntary drop sites, and mandatory sampling, which will occur in some regions. 

Hunting Zones and Public Land Access 

Where can you hunt in Virginia? Hunters have plenty of options for tagging out on either public or private land.

Public Land Hunting 

Virginia's diverse landscape offers hunters a rich array of public hunting opportunities across national forests, state forests, and wildlife management areas. 

Popular locations include the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests (with a combined 1.8 million acres of forest), the Amelia Wildlife Management Area (WMA) due to its mixed environment, and the Rapidan Wildlife Management Area (WMA) thanks to its mixed river and hardwood environment.

Some honorable mentions include the Crooked Run Wildlife Management Area and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. 

Of course, because these areas are popular, there's a fair chance they may experience more hunting pressure. Consider overlooked or harder-to-access areas that may provide stronger hunting opportunities.

To find these areas, use your HuntWise map and explore locations outside of the most popular places to hunt in Virginia. You can also consider privately owned hunting areas.

Private Land Hunting 

A large proportion of prime Virginia hunting zones are privately owned land. This can mean less pressured hunting locations, fewer skittish deer, and a more controlled hunt–if you can secure permission! 

To find these spots (and landowner contact information), download the HuntWise app and use the landowner detail feature to gain their contact details.

When you have that information, prepare an honest, open, and friendly request for access to their land. Explain your approach to hunting and give examples of respect for wildlife and taking care of hunting land.

If the landowner doesn't permit you to hunt this season, it can be a good idea to ask them if they know of any opportunities nearby. 

Hunting Gear and Preparation

While it may depend somewhat on your chosen terrain and hunting environment, a few must-have items will keep you comfortable and ready for whatever the Virginia deer season throws at you.

These include:

• A solid pair of boots, thermoregulating clothing, and outer-layer camo
• Your chosen firearm or bow, cleaned, tested, and with additional equipment such as scopes or a bow sling
• Binoculars and/or rangefinder
• GPS and mapping tools
• Calls, tree stands
• Radio or other communicative tools 
• Knife
• Water, first aid equipment, and caloric-dense foods 

While preparing your gear, getting some additional pre-season prep can also be worthwhile. This could involve sharpening your shooting skills, setting up tree stands, or placing trail cameras in your intended hunting zone for further insights. 

Pre-season is also a great time to brush up on essential skills such as hunter education, first aid courses, and training in a different firearm type to extend your season and access deer hunting opportunities. 

Start Scouting Now

Finally, have some fun with the HuntWise mapping features, exploring potential scouting locations near mixed environments, agricultural zones, potential bedding areas, and water access points. E-scouting before opening day and exploring various HuntWise app features — like RutCast and WindCast — can give you a head start on the season and other hunters.

When you're ready, scout your intended hunting area in person, noting how the deer use the land and any patterns that emerge. 

A Successful Virginia Deer Season Starts With HuntWise

Hopefully, with the information we've shared today, you're one step closer to preparing for your Virginia deer hunt!

While preparation is key, many things are out of your control, such as last-minute changes to regulations, weather, CWD impacts, and much more. To mitigate these unforeseen circumstances and gather insights on everything from season insights to mapping and even private land owner contact details, download the HuntWise app today. 

WindCast helps you plan the best days (and times of day) to get into your stand or approach your hunting area based on wind direction — so deer don't smell you coming. HuntCast also helps you choose the best days to hunt based on animal movements in your chosen hunting locations.

With these insights plus multiple map layers — including the latest LiDAR app update — you can maximize your time in the field and improve your chances of tagging out for the deer season Virginia 2024.

So, if you don't yet have the app, it's time to get it and explore! We'll give you your first week free to try it out.