Botetourt County, Virginia: deer and bear hunting, harvest and public land
DWR counted 3,609 deer killed in Botetourt County in the 2025-26 season: 1,757 antlered bucks, 147 button bucks and 1,705 does, along with 32 bears. In 2026-27 the firearms deer season on private land runs November 14 to December 12. 25.9% of the county is public land, the largest share national forest (86,996 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 landBotetourt CountyNeighboring countiesHighway
| Size | 546 square miles |
|---|---|
| Public land | 25.9% (90,644 acres) |
| Wildlife management areas | Short Hills WMA |
| Deer killed, 2025-26 | 3,609 (1,757 antlered, 1,705 does) |
| Deer killed per square mile | 6.6 (worked out from DWR's count) |
| Bears killed, 2025 | 32 |
| 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 Botetourt County?
DWR counted 3,609 deer in Botetourt County in 2025-26, up from 3,012. DWR's table for the county runs back to 1947; the most it shows is 5,206 in 1992. The last 20 seasons:
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,757 | 147 | 1,705 | 3,609 |
| 2024-25 | 1,554 | 132 | 1,326 | 3,012 |
| 2023-24 | 1,698 | 136 | 1,428 | 3,262 |
| 2022-23 | 1,368 | 130 | 928 | 2,426 |
| 2021-22 | 1,517 | 120 | 1,078 | 2,715 |
| 2020-21 | 1,527 | 126 | 1,122 | 2,775 |
| 2019-20 | 1,467 | 142 | 1,058 | 2,667 |
| 2018-19 | 1,405 | 130 | 1,024 | 2,559 |
| 2017-18 | 1,568 | 146 | 1,120 | 2,834 |
| 2016-17 | 1,385 | 128 | 1,009 | 2,522 |
| 2015-16 | 1,673 | 224 | 1,486 | 3,383 |
| 2014-15 | 1,470 | 179 | 1,198 | 2,847 |
| 2013-14 | 1,713 | 278 | 1,796 | 3,787 |
| 2012-13 | 1,523 | 221 | 1,333 | 3,077 |
| 2011-12 | 1,497 | 215 | 1,320 | 3,034 |
| 2010-11 | 1,421 | 234 | 1,248 | 2,903 |
| 2009-10 | 1,692 | 267 | 1,716 | 3,675 |
| 2008-09 | 1,797 | 287 | 1,871 | 3,955 |
| 2007-08 | 1,880 | 314 | 1,929 | 4,123 |
| 2006-07 | 1,818 | 258 | 1,393 | 3,469 |
Source: DWR Deer Kill Data, Botetourt. 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 Botetourt County?
DWR counted 32 bears in Botetourt County in 2025.
| Year | Bears |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 32 |
| 2024 | 47 |
| 2023 | 95 |
Source: DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
When are the 2026-27 seasons in Botetourt 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 Botetourt County?
25.9% of Botetourt County is public land: 90,644 of its 349,415 acres. The largest share is national forest, 86,996 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Botetourt County |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 86,996 | 24.9% |
| National Park Service | 3,205 | 0.9% |
| DWR land (WMAs) | 442 | 0.1% |
| State forest | 1 | 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 Botetourt County
| WMA | Acres in Botetourt County | Firearms deer season on the WMA |
|---|---|---|
| Short Hills WMA | 442 | November 14 to November 28 |
Which counties border Botetourt County?
| County or city | Public land | Deer, 2025 | Antlered, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alleghany County | 49.9% | 1,253 | 971 | 39 |
| Bedford County | 6% | 8,626 | 3,793 | 13 |
| Craig County | 55.3% | 1,726 | 910 | 70 |
| Roanoke County | 12.3% | 1,631 | 789 | 37 |
| Rockbridge County | 25.4% | 3,639 | 1,888 | 33 |
Highways crossing Botetourt County: US 220 (57 miles), I-81 (54 miles), US 11 (34 miles), VA 43 (22 miles), US 221 (11 miles) and US 460 (11 miles). Towns inside: Buchanan, Fincastle and Troutville.
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are killed in Botetourt County?
DWR counted 3,609 deer in Botetourt County in 2025-26, against 3,012 the season before. The five-season average to 2025 is 3,005 a year, and the most in DWR's table was 5,206 in 1992, worked out from DWR's figures.
When is deer season in Botetourt 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 Botetourt 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 Botetourt 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 32 bears in Botetourt County in 2025.
How much public land is in Botetourt County?
90,644 acres, 25.9% of the county, by PAD-US 4.1. DWR's wildlife management areas here: Short Hills (442 acres). National forest: 86,996 acres.
Is Botetourt County an Earn a Buck county?
Yes. DWR marks Botetourt 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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