Grayson County, Virginia: deer and bear hunting, harvest and public land
DWR counted 3,605 deer killed in Grayson County in the 2025-26 season: 1,707 antlered bucks, 160 button bucks and 1,738 does, along with 24 bears. In 2026-27 the firearms deer season on private land runs November 14 to December 12. 14.2% of the county is public land, the largest share national forest (33,933 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 ServiceGrayson CountyNeighboring countiesHighway
| Size | 445 square miles |
|---|---|
| Public land | 14.2% (40,426 acres) |
| Deer killed, 2025-26 | 3,605 (1,707 antlered, 1,738 does) |
| Deer killed per square mile | 8.1 (worked out from DWR's count) |
| Bears killed, 2025 | 24 |
| 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 Grayson County?
DWR counted 3,605 deer in Grayson County in 2025-26, up from 3,039. DWR's table for the county runs back to 1947; the most it shows is 4,939 in 2009. The last 20 seasons:
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,707 | 160 | 1,738 | 3,605 |
| 2024-25 | 1,477 | 127 | 1,435 | 3,039 |
| 2023-24 | 1,489 | 119 | 1,396 | 3,004 |
| 2022-23 | 1,326 | 121 | 1,370 | 2,817 |
| 2021-22 | 1,412 | 111 | 1,410 | 2,933 |
| 2020-21 | 1,556 | 164 | 1,627 | 3,347 |
| 2019-20 | 1,461 | 134 | 1,594 | 3,189 |
| 2018-19 | 1,508 | 147 | 1,357 | 3,012 |
| 2017-18 | 1,720 | 196 | 1,464 | 3,380 |
| 2016-17 | 1,560 | 156 | 1,331 | 3,047 |
| 2015-16 | 1,806 | 214 | 1,623 | 3,643 |
| 2014-15 | 1,424 | 221 | 1,559 | 3,210 |
| 2013-14 | 1,473 | 243 | 1,710 | 3,432 |
| 2012-13 | 1,354 | 264 | 1,505 | 3,123 |
| 2011-12 | 1,541 | 281 | 1,772 | 3,594 |
| 2010-11 | 1,479 | 248 | 1,531 | 3,258 |
| 2009-10 | 1,987 | 424 | 2,528 | 4,939 |
| 2008-09 | 1,902 | 393 | 2,075 | 4,370 |
| 2007-08 | 1,613 | 274 | 1,692 | 3,579 |
| 2006-07 | 1,583 | 296 | 1,534 | 3,413 |
Source: DWR Deer Kill Data, Grayson. 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 Grayson County?
DWR counted 24 bears in Grayson County in 2025.
| Year | Bears |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 24 |
| 2024 | 32 |
| 2023 | 43 |
Source: DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
When are the 2026-27 seasons in Grayson 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 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 Grayson County?
14.2% of Grayson County is public land: 40,426 of its 285,016 acres. The largest share is national forest, 33,933 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Grayson County |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 33,933 | 11.9% |
| State parks and natural areas (DCR) | 4,586 | 1.6% |
| State forest | 887 | 0.3% |
| National Park Service | 826 | 0.3% |
| DWR land (WMAs) | 194 | 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 Grayson County?
| County or city | Public land | Deer, 2025 | Antlered, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll County | 4.6% | 3,429 | 1,661 | 26 |
| Smyth County | 31.2% | 1,949 | 1,123 | 53 |
| Washington County | 10.4% | 2,888 | 1,769 | 44 |
| Wythe County | 22.2% | 3,202 | 1,457 | 36 |
Highways crossing Grayson County: US 58 (56 miles), US 221 (27 miles), US 21 (17 miles), VA 16 (17 miles), VA 94 (10 miles) and VA 274 (7 miles). Towns inside: Troutdale, Independence and Fries.
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are killed in Grayson County?
DWR counted 3,605 deer in Grayson County in 2025-26, against 3,039 the season before. The five-season average to 2025 is 3,080 a year, and the most in DWR's table was 4,939 in 2009, worked out from DWR's figures.
When is deer season in Grayson 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 Grayson 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 Grayson 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 24 bears in Grayson County in 2025.
How much public land is in Grayson County?
40,426 acres, 14.2% of the county, by PAD-US 4.1. National forest: 33,933 acres.
Is Grayson County an Earn a Buck county?
Yes. DWR marks Grayson 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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