Augusta County, Virginia: deer and bear hunting, harvest and public land
DWR counted 6,207 deer killed in Augusta County in the 2025-26 season: 2,964 antlered bucks, 318 button bucks and 2,925 does, along with 25 bears. In 2026-27 the firearms deer season on private land runs November 14 to December 12. 35.8% of the county is public land, the largest share national forest (193,131 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.
National forestDWR land (WMAs)State forestState parks and natural areas (DCR)National Park ServiceOther state landAugusta CountyNeighboring countiesHighway
| Size | 970 square miles |
|---|---|
| Public land | 35.8% (222,615 acres) |
| Wildlife management areas | Little North Mountain WMA |
| Deer killed, 2025-26 | 6,207 (2,964 antlered, 2,925 does) |
| Deer killed per square mile | 6.4 (worked out from DWR's count) |
| Bears killed, 2025 | 25 |
| Firearms deer season, private lands, 2026-27 | November 14 to December 12 |
| Earn a Buck | Yes: an antlerless deer must be taken before a second antlered deer (DWR) |
| National forest firearms season | November 14 to November 28 |
How many deer are killed in Augusta County?
DWR counted 6,207 deer in Augusta County in 2025-26, up from 5,728. DWR's table for the county runs back to 1947; the most it shows is 6,207 in 2025. The last 20 seasons:
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,964 | 318 | 2,925 | 6,207 |
| 2024-25 | 2,911 | 270 | 2,547 | 5,728 |
| 2023-24 | 2,655 | 265 | 2,324 | 5,244 |
| 2022-23 | 2,442 | 238 | 2,019 | 4,699 |
| 2021-22 | 2,338 | 264 | 1,974 | 4,576 |
| 2020-21 | 2,674 | 275 | 2,069 | 5,018 |
| 2019-20 | 2,491 | 262 | 2,059 | 4,812 |
| 2018-19 | 2,367 | 209 | 1,687 | 4,263 |
| 2017-18 | 2,330 | 188 | 1,449 | 3,967 |
| 2016-17 | 2,145 | 205 | 1,437 | 3,787 |
| 2015-16 | 2,420 | 290 | 1,910 | 4,620 |
| 2014-15 | 2,023 | 223 | 1,655 | 3,902 |
| 2013-14 | 2,099 | 302 | 1,938 | 4,341 |
| 2012-13 | 2,225 | 250 | 1,569 | 4,046 |
| 2011-12 | 2,002 | 221 | 1,406 | 3,630 |
| 2010-11 | 1,833 | 241 | 1,517 | 3,591 |
| 2009-10 | 2,252 | 327 | 2,218 | 4,797 |
| 2008-09 | 2,226 | 326 | 2,168 | 4,720 |
| 2007-08 | 2,340 | 378 | 1,890 | 4,608 |
| 2006-07 | 2,132 | 257 | 1,509 | 3,898 |
Source: DWR Deer Kill Data, Augusta. DWR's figure for the latest season is preliminary and leaves out the late urban archery and late antlerless-only seasons.
How many bears are killed in Augusta County?
DWR counted 25 bears in Augusta County in 2025.
| Year | Bears |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 |
| 2024 | 52 |
| 2023 | 92 |
Source: DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
When are the 2026-27 seasons in Augusta 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 December 12 |
| Deer, either-sex days | November 14 through December 12 (full season) |
| Deer, firearms, George Washington and Jefferson National Forest | November 14 to November 28 |
| Deer, either-sex days on the national forest | November 28 |
| Bear, archery | October 17 to November 13 |
| Bear, muzzleloader | November 10 to 13 |
| Bear, firearms | November 27 to 29, and December 21 to January 2 |
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 Augusta County?
35.8% of Augusta County is public land: 222,615 of its 621,274 acres. The largest share is national forest, 193,131 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Augusta County |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 193,131 | 31.1% |
| National Park Service | 16,293 | 2.6% |
| DWR land (WMAs) | 11,863 | 1.9% |
| State parks and natural areas (DCR) | 803 | 0.1% |
| State forest | 497 | 0.1% |
| Other state land | 28 | under 0.1% |
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 Augusta County
| WMA | Acres in Augusta County | Firearms deer season on the WMA |
|---|---|---|
| Little North Mountain WMA | 11,878 | November 14 to November 28 |
Which counties border Augusta County?
| County or city | Public land | Deer, 2025 | Antlered, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albemarle County | 3.5% | 4,739 | 2,054 | 13 |
| Bath County | 56% | 1,545 | 1,070 | 60 |
| Highland County | 27.9% | 1,471 | 961 | 45 |
| Nelson County | 9.7% | 2,486 | 1,476 | 42 |
| Rockbridge County | 25.4% | 3,639 | 1,888 | 33 |
| Rockingham County | 32.9% | 4,574 | 2,476 | 22 |
Highways crossing Augusta County: I-81 (63 miles), I-64 (53 miles), VA 42 (35 miles), US 250 (32 miles), US 340 (27 miles) and US 11 (27 miles). Towns inside: Craigsville.
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are killed in Augusta County?
DWR counted 6,207 deer in Augusta County in 2025-26, against 5,728 the season before. The five-season average to 2025 is 5,291 a year, and the most in DWR's table was 6,207 in 2025, worked out from DWR's figures.
When is deer season in Augusta 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 Augusta County runs November 14 to December 12, with either-sex days November 14 through December 12 (full season) (DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons).
When is bear season in Augusta County?
In 2026-27: archery October 17 to November 13; muzzleloader November 10 to 13; firearms November 27 to 29, and December 21 to January 2 (DWR Bear Hunting Regulations and Seasons). DWR counted 25 bears in Augusta County in 2025.
How much public land is in Augusta County?
222,615 acres, 35.8% of the county, by PAD-US 4.1. DWR's wildlife management areas here: Little North Mountain (11,878 acres). National forest: 193,131 acres.
Is Augusta County an Earn a Buck county?
Yes. DWR marks Augusta 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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