James City County, Virginia: deer and bear hunting, harvest and public land
DWR counted 637 deer killed in James City County in the 2025-26 season: 274 antlered bucks, 50 button bucks and 313 does. In 2026-27 the firearms deer season on private land runs November 14 to January 2. 5% of the county is public land, the largest share state parks and natural areas (DCR) (2,939 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 parks and natural areas (DCR)National Park ServiceOther state landMilitary (closed unless the base allows)James City CountyNeighboring countiesHighway
| Size | 179 square miles |
|---|---|
| Public land | 5% (5,732 acres) |
| Wildlife management areas | Greensprings WMA, Ware Creek WMA |
| Deer killed, 2025-26 | 637 (274 antlered, 313 does) |
| Deer killed per square mile | 3.6 (worked out from DWR's count) |
| Firearms deer season, private lands, 2026-27 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Earn a Buck | Yes: an antlerless deer must be taken before a second antlered deer (DWR) |
How many deer are killed in James City County?
DWR counted 637 deer in James City County in 2025-26, down from 804. DWR's table for the county runs back to 1947; the most it shows is 1,228 in 1993. The last 20 seasons:
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 274 | 50 | 313 | 637 |
| 2024-25 | 337 | 51 | 416 | 804 |
| 2023-24 | 320 | 60 | 384 | 764 |
| 2022-23 | 283 | 49 | 378 | 710 |
| 2021-22 | 341 | 75 | 504 | 920 |
| 2020-21 | 350 | 66 | 465 | 881 |
| 2019-20 | 467 | 97 | 662 | 1,226 |
| 2018-19 | 385 | 74 | 461 | 920 |
| 2017-18 | 416 | 85 | 506 | 1,007 |
| 2016-17 | 309 | 65 | 301 | 675 |
| 2015-16 | 403 | 59 | 381 | 843 |
| 2014-15 | 330 | 73 | 401 | 804 |
| 2013-14 | 495 | 78 | 495 | 1,068 |
| 2012-13 | 384 | 76 | 404 | 864 |
| 2011-12 | 417 | 77 | 520 | 1,014 |
| 2010-11 | 367 | 91 | 478 | 936 |
| 2009-10 | 489 | 127 | 608 | 1,224 |
| 2008-09 | 490 | 91 | 349 | 930 |
| 2007-08 | 505 | 102 | 412 | 1,019 |
| 2006-07 | 423 | 106 | 398 | 927 |
Source: DWR Deer Kill Data, James City. DWR's figure for the latest season is preliminary and leaves out the late urban archery and late antlerless-only seasons.
When are the 2026-27 seasons in James 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 James City County?
5% of James City County is public land: 5,732 of its 114,604 acres. The largest share is state parks and natural areas (DCR), 2,939 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of James City County |
|---|---|---|
| State parks and natural areas (DCR) | 2,939 | 2.6% |
| National Park Service | 2,741 | 2.4% |
| Military (closed unless the base allows) | 1,004 | 0.9% |
| DWR land (WMAs) | 47 | under 0.1% |
| Other state land | 5 | 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 James City County
| WMA | Acres in James City County | Firearms deer season on the WMA |
|---|---|---|
| Greensprings WMA | 40 | Follows the private land season |
| Ware Creek WMA | 7 | November 14 to January 2 |
Which counties border James City County?
| County or city | Public land | Deer, 2025 | Antlered, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles City County | 4.6% | 1,235 | 503 | 1 |
| Gloucester County | 1.2% | 1,045 | 389 | 0 |
| Isle of Wight County | 1.7% | 2,206 | 869 | 9 |
| King and Queen County | 4.7% | 2,082 | 779 | 0 |
| New Kent County | 3% | 1,055 | 504 | 0 |
| Surry County | 2.2% | 2,295 | 926 | 13 |
| York County | 3.5% | 516 | 265 |
Highways crossing James City County: US 60 (32 miles), I-64 (22 miles), VA 199 (21 miles), VA 30 (12 miles), VA 5 (9 miles) and VA 603 (8 miles).
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are killed in James City County?
DWR counted 637 deer in James City County in 2025-26, against 804 the season before. The five-season average to 2025 is 767 a year, and the most in DWR's table was 1,228 in 1993, worked out from DWR's figures.
When is deer season in James 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 James 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 James 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).
How much public land is in James City County?
5,732 acres, 5% of the county, by PAD-US 4.1. DWR's wildlife management areas here: Greensprings (40 acres) and Ware Creek (7 acres).
Is James City County an Earn a Buck county?
Yes. DWR marks James City 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.
Virginia hunting Charles City County Gloucester County Isle of Wight County King and Queen County New Kent County Surry County York County