Accomack County, Virginia: deer and bear hunting, harvest and public land
DWR counted 3,192 deer killed in Accomack County in the 2025-26 season: 1,140 antlered bucks, 288 button bucks and 1,764 does. In 2026-27 the firearms deer season on private land runs November 14 to January 2. 6.4% of the county is public land, the largest share other state land (19,196 acres), by the USGS Protected Areas Database.
Data updated October 2026. Deer: DWR Deer Kill Data. Bears: DWR Black Bear Harvest by County. Seasons: DWR's 2026-27 deer and bear regulations. Land: PAD-US 4.1.
DWR land (WMAs)State parks and natural areas (DCR)National wildlife refugeNational Park ServiceOther state landMilitary (closed unless the base allows)Accomack CountyNeighboring countiesHighway
| Size | 1,195 square miles |
|---|---|
| Public land | 6.4% (52,803 acres) |
| Wildlife management areas | Saxis WMA, Coastal Forest WMA, Doe Creek WMA |
| Deer killed, 2025-26 | 3,192 (1,140 antlered, 1,764 does) |
| Deer killed per square mile | 2.7 (worked out from DWR's count) |
| Firearms deer season, private lands, 2026-27 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Earn a Buck | Yes: an antlerless deer must be taken before a second antlered deer (DWR) |
How many deer are killed in Accomack County?
DWR counted 3,192 deer in Accomack County in 2025-26, down from 3,246. DWR's table for the county runs back to 1947; the most it shows is 3,707 in 2008. The last 20 seasons:
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,140 | 288 | 1,764 | 3,192 |
| 2024-25 | 1,210 | 281 | 1,755 | 3,246 |
| 2023-24 | 1,103 | 278 | 1,552 | 2,933 |
| 2022-23 | 1,027 | 317 | 1,798 | 3,142 |
| 2021-22 | 1,109 | 276 | 1,745 | 3,130 |
| 2020-21 | 1,289 | 270 | 1,818 | 3,377 |
| 2019-20 | 1,270 | 272 | 1,650 | 3,192 |
| 2018-19 | 1,191 | 233 | 1,398 | 2,822 |
| 2017-18 | 1,074 | 197 | 1,217 | 2,488 |
| 2016-17 | 987 | 202 | 1,267 | 2,456 |
| 2015-16 | 1,089 | 220 | 1,390 | 2,699 |
| 2014-15 | 1,138 | 232 | 1,391 | 2,761 |
| 2013-14 | 1,100 | 218 | 1,207 | 2,528 |
| 2012-13 | 923 | 212 | 1,249 | 2,384 |
| 2011-12 | 1,007 | 263 | 1,535 | 2,807 |
| 2010-11 | 1,246 | 307 | 1,740 | 3,293 |
| 2009-10 | 1,225 | 249 | 1,614 | 3,088 |
| 2008-09 | 1,412 | 371 | 1,924 | 3,707 |
| 2007-08 | 1,238 | 318 | 1,459 | 3,015 |
| 2006-07 | 1,143 | 289 | 1,288 | 2,720 |
Source: DWR Deer Kill Data, Accomack. DWR's figure for the latest season is preliminary and leaves out the late urban archery and late antlerless-only seasons.
When are the 2026-27 seasons in Accomack County?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Deer, early archery (either sex, statewide) | October 3 to November 13 |
| Deer, early muzzleloader (most of the state) | October 31 to November 13 |
| Deer, firearms, private lands | November 14 to January 2 |
| Deer, either-sex days | November 14 through January 2 (full season) |
| Bear, archery | October 3 to November 13 |
| Bear, muzzleloader | November 7 to 13 |
| Bear, firearms | Closed season |
Sources: DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons; DWR Bear Hunting Regulations and Seasons, read 2026-10-18. Late archery and late muzzleloader seasons differ by area; DWR's pages list them. Public land other than the national forest and DWR's WMAs follows the private land seasons.
How much public land is in Accomack County?
6.4% of Accomack County is public land: 52,803 of its 823,668 acres. The largest share is other state land, 19,196 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Accomack County |
|---|---|---|
| Other state land | 19,196 | 2.3% |
| National wildlife refuge | 12,493 | 1.5% |
| National Park Service | 11,348 | 1.4% |
| DWR land (WMAs) | 6,821 | 0.8% |
| Military (closed unless the base allows) | 6,467 | 0.8% |
| State parks and natural areas (DCR) | 2,945 | 0.4% |
Measured by FilledTag inside the county line from USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1). Hunting is allowed on most national forest and DWR land; Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway are closed to it, and state parks allow it only in places.
Wildlife management areas in Accomack County
| WMA | Acres in Accomack County | Firearms deer season on the WMA |
|---|---|---|
| Saxis WMA | 7,020 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Coastal Forest WMA | 6,169 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Doe Creek WMA | 1,555 | Follows the private land season |
Which counties border Accomack County?
| County or city | Public land | Deer, 2025 | Antlered, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster County | 0.9% | 1,115 | 428 | |
| Mathews County | 0% | 471 | 175 | |
| Middlesex County | 0% | 674 | 267 | |
| Northampton County | 4% | 1,256 | 546 | |
| Northumberland County | 0.4% | 1,318 | 469 |
Highways crossing Accomack County: US 13 (74 miles), VA 175 (14 miles), VA 180 (11 miles), VA 316 (10 miles), VA 178 (9 miles) and VA 187 (5 miles). Towns inside: Chincoteague, Belle Haven, Onancock and Onley.
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are killed in Accomack County?
DWR counted 3,192 deer in Accomack County in 2025-26, against 3,246 the season before. The five-season average to 2025 is 3,129 a year, and the most in DWR's table was 3,707 in 2008, worked out from DWR's figures.
When is deer season in Accomack County in 2026?
Early archery runs October 3 to November 13 and early muzzleloader October 31 to November 13 in most of the state. The firearms season on private land in Accomack County runs November 14 to January 2, with either-sex days November 14 through January 2 (full season) (DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons).
When is bear season in Accomack County?
In 2026-27: archery October 3 to November 13; muzzleloader November 7 to 13; firearms Closed season (DWR Bear Hunting Regulations and Seasons).
How much public land is in Accomack County?
52,803 acres, 6.4% of the county, by PAD-US 4.1. DWR's wildlife management areas here: Saxis (7,020 acres), Coastal Forest (6,169 acres) and Doe Creek (1,555 acres).
Is Accomack County an Earn a Buck county?
Yes. DWR marks Accomack County as an Earn a Buck county for 2026-27: a hunter must take an antlerless deer there before taking a second antlered deer.
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Where these numbers come from
- Deer: DWR Deer Kill Data. Bears: DWR Black Bear Harvest by County; DWR, 2025-2026 bear, deer and turkey harvest data announced.
- Seasons, either-sex days and Earn a Buck: DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons; DWR Bear Hunting Regulations and Seasons.
- Boundary: Virginia county and city boundaries (DCR, served by DWR). WMAs: DWR Wildlife Management Areas. Public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1).
- Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 primary and secondary roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer, places.
FilledTag is not part of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Numbers are copied from DWR and federal sources, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
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