Giles County, Virginia: deer and bear hunting, harvest and public land
DWR counted 2,412 deer killed in Giles County in the 2025-26 season: 1,147 antlered bucks, 96 button bucks and 1,169 does, along with 63 bears. In 2026-27 the firearms deer season on private land runs November 14 to December 12. 29.9% of the county is public land, the largest share national forest (65,175 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 forestState forestState parks and natural areas (DCR)Army Corps of EngineersOther state landMilitary (closed unless the base allows)Giles CountyNeighboring countiesHighway
| Size | 361 square miles |
|---|---|
| Public land | 29.9% (69,187 acres) |
| Deer killed, 2025-26 | 2,412 (1,147 antlered, 1,169 does) |
| Deer killed per square mile | 6.7 (worked out from DWR's count) |
| Bears killed, 2025 | 63 |
| 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 Giles County?
DWR counted 2,412 deer in Giles County in 2025-26, up from 1,972. DWR's table for the county runs back to 1947; the most it shows is 3,885 in 2003. The last 20 seasons:
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,147 | 96 | 1,169 | 2,412 |
| 2024-25 | 1,035 | 93 | 844 | 1,972 |
| 2023-24 | 1,181 | 98 | 881 | 2,160 |
| 2022-23 | 1,036 | 94 | 689 | 1,819 |
| 2021-22 | 1,000 | 94 | 683 | 1,777 |
| 2020-21 | 1,117 | 131 | 942 | 2,190 |
| 2019-20 | 1,003 | 109 | 796 | 1,908 |
| 2018-19 | 946 | 135 | 827 | 1,908 |
| 2017-18 | 1,090 | 155 | 845 | 2,090 |
| 2016-17 | 891 | 96 | 703 | 1,690 |
| 2015-16 | 1,187 | 175 | 1,055 | 2,417 |
| 2014-15 | 944 | 155 | 848 | 1,949 |
| 2013-14 | 1,067 | 237 | 1,272 | 2,578 |
| 2012-13 | 1,034 | 207 | 961 | 2,203 |
| 2011-12 | 940 | 226 | 1,061 | 2,228 |
| 2010-11 | 957 | 179 | 1,018 | 2,154 |
| 2009-10 | 1,382 | 361 | 1,932 | 3,675 |
| 2008-09 | 1,314 | 250 | 1,443 | 3,007 |
| 2007-08 | 1,359 | 319 | 1,666 | 3,344 |
| 2006-07 | 1,298 | 216 | 1,308 | 2,822 |
Source: DWR Deer Kill Data, Giles. 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 Giles County?
DWR counted 63 bears in Giles County in 2025.
| Year | Bears |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 63 |
| 2024 | 79 |
| 2023 | 87 |
Source: DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
When are the 2026-27 seasons in Giles 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 21, November 27, and November 28 |
| Bear, archery | October 3 to November 13 |
| Bear, muzzleloader | November 7 to 13 |
| Bear, firearms | November 23 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 Giles County?
29.9% of Giles County is public land: 69,187 of its 231,395 acres. The largest share is national forest, 65,175 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Giles County |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 65,175 | 28.2% |
| Army Corps of Engineers | 2,562 | 1.1% |
| State parks and natural areas (DCR) | 844 | 0.4% |
| Other state land | 535 | 0.2% |
| National Park Service | 64 | under 0.1% |
| State forest | 7 | 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.
Which counties border Giles County?
| County or city | Public land | Deer, 2025 | Antlered, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bland County | 33.5% | 1,519 | 931 | 35 |
| Craig County | 55.3% | 1,726 | 910 | 70 |
| Montgomery County | 8.7% | 2,765 | 1,323 | 29 |
| Pulaski County | 9.6% | 2,324 | 1,115 | 26 |
Highways crossing Giles County: US 460 (54 miles), VA 100 (25 miles), VA 61 (13 miles) and VA 42 (12 miles). Towns inside: Pearisburg, Narrows, Pembroke and Rich Creek.
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are killed in Giles County?
DWR counted 2,412 deer in Giles County in 2025-26, against 1,972 the season before. The five-season average to 2025 is 2,028 a year, and the most in DWR's table was 3,885 in 2003, worked out from DWR's figures.
When is deer season in Giles 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 Giles 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 Giles County?
In 2026-27: archery October 3 to November 13; muzzleloader November 7 to 13; firearms November 23 to January 2 (DWR Bear Hunting Regulations and Seasons). DWR counted 63 bears in Giles County in 2025.
How much public land is in Giles County?
69,187 acres, 29.9% of the county, by PAD-US 4.1. National forest: 65,175 acres.
Is Giles County an Earn a Buck county?
Yes. DWR marks Giles 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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