Charles City County, Virginia: deer and bear hunting, harvest and public land
DWR counted 1,235 deer killed in Charles City County in the 2025-26 season: 503 antlered bucks, 122 button bucks and 610 does, along with 1 bears. In 2026-27 the firearms deer season on private land runs November 14 to January 2. 4.6% of the county is public land, the largest share DWR land (WMAs) (5,369 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 forestState parks and natural areas (DCR)National wildlife refugeNational Park ServiceOther state landCharles City CountyNeighboring countiesHighway
| Size | 204 square miles |
|---|---|
| Public land | 4.6% (6,010 acres) |
| Wildlife management areas | Chickahominy WMA, Game Farm Marsh WMA |
| Deer killed, 2025-26 | 1,235 (503 antlered, 610 does) |
| Deer killed per square mile | 6.1 (worked out from DWR's count) |
| Bears killed, 2025 | 1 |
| Firearms deer season, private lands, 2026-27 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Earn a Buck | No |
How many deer are killed in Charles City County?
DWR counted 1,235 deer in Charles City County in 2025-26, up from 1,190. DWR's table for the county runs back to 1947; the most it shows is 2,561 in 2009. The last 20 seasons:
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 503 | 122 | 610 | 1,235 |
| 2024-25 | 521 | 112 | 557 | 1,190 |
| 2023-24 | 585 | 127 | 607 | 1,319 |
| 2022-23 | 515 | 111 | 630 | 1,256 |
| 2021-22 | 563 | 125 | 628 | 1,316 |
| 2020-21 | 680 | 144 | 739 | 1,563 |
| 2019-20 | 725 | 114 | 791 | 1,630 |
| 2018-19 | 677 | 119 | 536 | 1,332 |
| 2017-18 | 590 | 95 | 624 | 1,309 |
| 2016-17 | 520 | 125 | 525 | 1,170 |
| 2015-16 | 667 | 106 | 619 | 1,392 |
| 2014-15 | 549 | 146 | 727 | 1,426 |
| 2013-14 | 777 | 173 | 911 | 1,864 |
| 2012-13 | 692 | 144 | 745 | 1,581 |
| 2011-12 | 797 | 245 | 1,058 | 2,102 |
| 2010-11 | 870 | 297 | 1,290 | 2,457 |
| 2009-10 | 999 | 292 | 1,270 | 2,561 |
| 2008-09 | 961 | 229 | 1,023 | 2,213 |
| 2007-08 | 932 | 259 | 959 | 2,150 |
| 2006-07 | 859 | 253 | 1,044 | 2,156 |
Source: DWR Deer Kill Data, Charles City. 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 Charles City County?
DWR counted 1 bears in Charles City County in 2025.
| Year | Bears |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
Source: DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
When are the 2026-27 seasons in Charles City 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 | November 30 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 Charles City County?
4.6% of Charles City County is public land: 6,010 of its 130,932 acres. The largest share is DWR land (WMAs), 5,369 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Charles City County |
|---|---|---|
| DWR land (WMAs) | 5,369 | 4.1% |
| National wildlife refuge | 421 | 0.3% |
| Other state land | 219 | 0.2% |
| 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 Charles City County
| WMA | Acres in Charles City County | Firearms deer season on the WMA |
|---|---|---|
| Chickahominy WMA | 4,963 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Game Farm Marsh WMA | 113 | November 14 to January 2 |
Which counties border Charles City County?
| County or city | Public land | Deer, 2025 | Antlered, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chesterfield County | 3.4% | 1,771 | 808 | 2 |
| Henrico County | 1.5% | 649 | 304 | |
| James City County | 5% | 637 | 274 | |
| New Kent County | 3% | 1,055 | 504 | 0 |
| Prince George County | 3% | 2,058 | 771 | 1 |
| Surry County | 2.2% | 2,295 | 926 | 13 |
Highways crossing Charles City County: VA 5 (27 miles), VA 106 (12 miles), VA 155 (6 miles) and VA 156 (6 miles).
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are killed in Charles City County?
DWR counted 1,235 deer in Charles City County in 2025-26, against 1,190 the season before. The five-season average to 2025 is 1,263 a year, and the most in DWR's table was 2,561 in 2009, worked out from DWR's figures.
When is deer season in Charles City 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 Charles City 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 Charles City County?
In 2026-27: archery October 3 to November 13; muzzleloader November 7 to 13; firearms November 30 to January 2 (DWR Bear Hunting Regulations and Seasons). DWR counted 1 bears in Charles City County in 2025.
How much public land is in Charles City County?
6,010 acres, 4.6% of the county, by PAD-US 4.1. DWR's wildlife management areas here: Chickahominy (4,963 acres) and Game Farm Marsh (113 acres).
Is Charles City County an Earn a Buck county?
No. DWR's 2026-27 regulations do not mark Charles City County as an Earn a Buck county.
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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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