King and Queen County, Virginia: deer and bear hunting, harvest and public land
DWR counted 2,082 deer killed in King and Queen County in the 2025-26 season: 779 antlered bucks, 272 button bucks and 1,031 does, along with no bears. In 2026-27 the firearms deer season on private land runs November 14 to January 2. 4.7% of the county is public land, the largest share state forest (9,565 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 landKing and Queen CountyNeighboring countiesHighway
| Size | 326 square miles |
|---|---|
| Public land | 4.7% (9,730 acres) |
| Wildlife management areas | King and Queen WMA |
| Deer killed, 2025-26 | 2,082 (779 antlered, 1,031 does) |
| Deer killed per square mile | 6.4 (worked out from DWR's count) |
| Bears killed, 2025 | None |
| Firearms deer season, private lands, 2026-27 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Earn a Buck | No |
How many deer are killed in King and Queen County?
DWR counted 2,082 deer in King and Queen County in 2025-26, down from 2,214. DWR's table for the county runs back to 1947; the most it shows is 3,316 in 2008. The last 20 seasons:
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 779 | 272 | 1,031 | 2,082 |
| 2024-25 | 798 | 289 | 1,127 | 2,214 |
| 2023-24 | 809 | 269 | 1,110 | 2,188 |
| 2022-23 | 832 | 211 | 1,009 | 2,052 |
| 2021-22 | 752 | 270 | 993 | 2,015 |
| 2020-21 | 940 | 230 | 1,037 | 2,207 |
| 2019-20 | 1,015 | 279 | 1,093 | 2,387 |
| 2018-19 | 885 | 181 | 742 | 1,808 |
| 2017-18 | 806 | 192 | 761 | 1,759 |
| 2016-17 | 784 | 187 | 679 | 1,650 |
| 2015-16 | 819 | 219 | 704 | 1,742 |
| 2014-15 | 789 | 288 | 1,040 | 2,118 |
| 2013-14 | 986 | 327 | 1,229 | 2,546 |
| 2012-13 | 953 | 361 | 1,153 | 2,469 |
| 2011-12 | 1,066 | 372 | 1,448 | 2,887 |
| 2010-11 | 979 | 393 | 1,496 | 2,868 |
| 2009-10 | 1,091 | 425 | 1,562 | 3,078 |
| 2008-09 | 1,235 | 452 | 1,629 | 3,316 |
| 2007-08 | 1,242 | 384 | 1,415 | 3,041 |
| 2006-07 | 999 | 297 | 1,147 | 2,443 |
Source: DWR Deer Kill Data, King and Queen. 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 King and Queen County?
DWR counted no bears in King and Queen County in 2025.
| Year | Bears |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2023 | 0 |
Source: DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
When are the 2026-27 seasons in King and Queen 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 21, 28, and December 21 through January 2 |
| 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 King and Queen County?
4.7% of King and Queen County is public land: 9,730 of its 208,879 acres. The largest share is state forest, 9,565 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of King and Queen County |
|---|---|---|
| State forest | 9,565 | 4.6% |
| Other state land | 120 | 0.1% |
| DWR land (WMAs) | 45 | 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 King and Queen County
| WMA | Acres in King and Queen County | Firearms deer season on the WMA |
|---|---|---|
| King and Queen WMA | 52 | Follows the private land season |
Which counties border King and Queen County?
| County or city | Public land | Deer, 2025 | Antlered, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline County | 1.6% | 2,851 | 1,259 | 3 |
| Essex County | 0.6% | 1,386 | 524 | 1 |
| Gloucester County | 1.2% | 1,045 | 389 | 0 |
| James City County | 5% | 637 | 274 | |
| King William County | 1.6% | 1,694 | 688 | |
| Middlesex County | 0% | 674 | 267 | |
| New Kent County | 3% | 1,055 | 504 | 0 |
Highways crossing King and Queen County: VA 14 (37 miles), US 360 (18 miles) and VA 33 (14 miles).
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are killed in King and Queen County?
DWR counted 2,082 deer in King and Queen County in 2025-26, against 2,214 the season before. The five-season average to 2025 is 2,110 a year, and the most in DWR's table was 3,316 in 2008, worked out from DWR's figures.
When is deer season in King and Queen 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 King and Queen County runs November 14 to January 2, with either-sex days November 21, 28, and December 21 through January 2 (DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons).
When is bear season in King and Queen 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 no bears in King and Queen County in 2025.
How much public land is in King and Queen County?
9,730 acres, 4.7% of the county, by PAD-US 4.1. DWR's wildlife management areas here: King and Queen (52 acres).
Is King and Queen County an Earn a Buck county?
No. DWR's 2026-27 regulations do not mark King and Queen 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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