Halifax County, Virginia: deer and bear hunting, harvest and public land
DWR counted 5,058 deer killed in Halifax County in the 2025-26 season: 2,177 antlered bucks, 435 button bucks and 2,446 does, along with 77 bears. In 2026-27 the firearms deer season on private land runs November 14 to January 2. 2.1% of the county is public land, the largest share state parks and natural areas (DCR) (10,777 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)Halifax CountyNeighboring countiesHighway
| Size | 830 square miles |
|---|---|
| Public land | 2.1% (10,886 acres) |
| Deer killed, 2025-26 | 5,058 (2,177 antlered, 2,446 does) |
| Deer killed per square mile | 6.1 (worked out from DWR's count) |
| Bears killed, 2025 | 77 |
| Firearms deer season, private lands, 2026-27 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Earn a Buck | No |
How many deer are killed in Halifax County?
DWR counted 5,058 deer in Halifax County in 2025-26, up from 3,751. DWR's table for the county runs back to 1947; the most it shows is 5,058 in 2025. The last 20 seasons:
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,177 | 435 | 2,446 | 5,058 |
| 2024-25 | 1,948 | 242 | 1,561 | 3,751 |
| 2023-24 | 2,120 | 219 | 1,435 | 3,774 |
| 2022-23 | 1,579 | 242 | 1,249 | 3,070 |
| 2021-22 | 1,794 | 219 | 1,283 | 3,296 |
| 2020-21 | 1,800 | 202 | 1,371 | 3,373 |
| 2019-20 | 1,681 | 188 | 1,263 | 3,132 |
| 2018-19 | 1,582 | 196 | 1,190 | 2,968 |
| 2017-18 | 1,590 | 164 | 1,098 | 2,852 |
| 2016-17 | 1,602 | 225 | 1,360 | 3,187 |
| 2015-16 | 1,965 | 243 | 1,537 | 3,745 |
| 2014-15 | 1,474 | 287 | 1,809 | 3,573 |
| 2013-14 | 1,976 | 343 | 2,557 | 4,879 |
| 2012-13 | 1,856 | 403 | 2,365 | 4,624 |
| 2011-12 | 1,921 | 387 | 2,522 | 4,831 |
| 2010-11 | 1,982 | 351 | 2,046 | 4,379 |
| 2009-10 | 1,972 | 313 | 1,820 | 4,105 |
| 2008-09 | 1,844 | 300 | 1,795 | 3,939 |
| 2007-08 | 1,871 | 271 | 1,566 | 3,708 |
| 2006-07 | 1,732 | 237 | 1,289 | 3,258 |
Source: DWR Deer Kill Data, Halifax. 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 Halifax County?
DWR counted 77 bears in Halifax County in 2025.
| Year | Bears |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 77 |
| 2024 | 63 |
| 2023 | 52 |
Source: DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
When are the 2026-27 seasons in Halifax 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 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 Halifax County?
2.1% of Halifax County is public land: 10,886 of its 530,966 acres. The largest share is state parks and natural areas (DCR), 10,777 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Halifax County |
|---|---|---|
| State parks and natural areas (DCR) | 10,777 | 2% |
| DWR land (WMAs) | 109 | 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 Halifax County?
| County or city | Public land | Deer, 2025 | Antlered, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell County | 0.1% | 3,688 | 1,696 | 42 |
| Charlotte County | 1.7% | 2,145 | 1,193 | 107 |
| Mecklenburg County | 1% | 2,665 | 1,328 | 75 |
| Pittsylvania County | 1.1% | 5,649 | 2,960 | 79 |
Highways crossing Halifax County: US 360 (72 miles), US 58 (62 miles), US 501 (55 miles), VA 360 (22 miles), VA 57 (13 miles) and VA 832 (13 miles). Towns inside: South Boston, Halifax, Scottsburg and Virgilina.
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are killed in Halifax County?
DWR counted 5,058 deer in Halifax County in 2025-26, against 3,751 the season before. The five-season average to 2025 is 3,790 a year, and the most in DWR's table was 5,058 in 2025, worked out from DWR's figures.
When is deer season in Halifax 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 Halifax 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 Halifax 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 77 bears in Halifax County in 2025.
How much public land is in Halifax County?
10,886 acres, 2.1% of the county, by PAD-US 4.1.
Is Halifax County an Earn a Buck county?
No. DWR's 2026-27 regulations do not mark Halifax 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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