Nelson County, Virginia: deer and bear hunting, harvest and public land
DWR counted 2,486 deer killed in Nelson County in the 2025-26 season: 1,476 antlered bucks, 128 button bucks and 882 does, along with 42 bears. In 2026-27 the firearms deer season on private land runs November 14 to January 2. 9.7% of the county is public land, the largest share national forest (20,596 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 ServiceOther state landNelson CountyNeighboring countiesHighway
| Size | 474 square miles |
|---|---|
| Public land | 9.7% (29,582 acres) |
| Wildlife management areas | James River WMA, Tye River WMA, Montebello Fish Cultural Center WMA |
| Deer killed, 2025-26 | 2,486 (1,476 antlered, 882 does) |
| Deer killed per square mile | 5.2 (worked out from DWR's count) |
| Bears killed, 2025 | 42 |
| Firearms deer season, private lands, 2026-27 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Earn a Buck | No |
| National forest firearms season | November 14 to November 28 |
How many deer are killed in Nelson County?
DWR counted 2,486 deer in Nelson County in 2025-26, up from 2,166. DWR's table for the county runs back to 1947; the most it shows is 2,828 in 2001. The last 20 seasons:
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,476 | 128 | 882 | 2,486 |
| 2024-25 | 1,432 | 95 | 639 | 2,166 |
| 2023-24 | 1,396 | 72 | 548 | 2,016 |
| 2022-23 | 1,082 | 79 | 596 | 1,757 |
| 2021-22 | 1,207 | 91 | 657 | 1,955 |
| 2020-21 | 1,333 | 109 | 776 | 2,218 |
| 2019-20 | 1,352 | 119 | 747 | 2,218 |
| 2018-19 | 1,271 | 128 | 840 | 2,239 |
| 2017-18 | 1,200 | 106 | 657 | 1,963 |
| 2016-17 | 1,157 | 105 | 688 | 1,950 |
| 2015-16 | 1,310 | 144 | 774 | 2,228 |
| 2014-15 | 1,033 | 89 | 695 | 1,817 |
| 2013-14 | 1,255 | 205 | 1,098 | 2,558 |
| 2012-13 | 1,147 | 140 | 795 | 2,082 |
| 2011-12 | 1,097 | 188 | 826 | 2,113 |
| 2010-11 | 1,052 | 141 | 802 | 1,995 |
| 2009-10 | 1,153 | 186 | 1,073 | 2,412 |
| 2008-09 | 1,348 | 202 | 1,050 | 2,600 |
| 2007-08 | 1,364 | 222 | 1,019 | 2,605 |
| 2006-07 | 1,256 | 143 | 884 | 2,283 |
Source: DWR Deer Kill Data, Nelson. 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 Nelson County?
DWR counted 42 bears in Nelson County in 2025.
| Year | Bears |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 42 |
| 2024 | 76 |
| 2023 | 88 |
Source: DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
When are the 2026-27 seasons in Nelson 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) |
| 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 17 to November 13 |
| Bear, muzzleloader | November 10 to 13 |
| Bear, firearms | November 27 to 29, and December 21 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 Nelson County?
9.7% of Nelson County is public land: 29,582 of its 303,503 acres. The largest share is national forest, 20,596 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Nelson County |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 20,596 | 6.8% |
| National Park Service | 4,470 | 1.5% |
| DWR land (WMAs) | 2,205 | 0.7% |
| State parks and natural areas (DCR) | 1,826 | 0.6% |
| State forest | 399 | 0.1% |
| Other state land | 86 | 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 Nelson County
| WMA | Acres in Nelson County | Firearms deer season on the WMA |
|---|---|---|
| James River WMA | 1,124 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Tye River WMA | 1,035 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Montebello Fish Cultural Center WMA | 17 | Follows the private land season |
Which counties border Nelson County?
| County or city | Public land | Deer, 2025 | Antlered, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albemarle County | 3.5% | 4,739 | 2,054 | 13 |
| Amherst County | 19.4% | 3,921 | 1,917 | 17 |
| Appomattox County | 6.1% | 1,558 | 915 | 65 |
| Augusta County | 35.8% | 6,207 | 2,964 | 25 |
| Buckingham County | 4% | 2,594 | 1,503 | 69 |
| Rockbridge County | 25.4% | 3,639 | 1,888 | 33 |
Highways crossing Nelson County: VA 56 (49 miles), US 29 (43 miles), VA 151 (31 miles), VA 6 (27 miles), US 60 (6 miles) and VA 158 (5 miles).
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are killed in Nelson County?
DWR counted 2,486 deer in Nelson County in 2025-26, against 2,166 the season before. The five-season average to 2025 is 2,076 a year, and the most in DWR's table was 2,828 in 2001, worked out from DWR's figures.
When is deer season in Nelson 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 Nelson 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 Nelson County?
In 2026-27: archery October 17 to November 13; muzzleloader November 10 to 13; firearms November 27 to 29, and December 21 to January 2 (DWR Bear Hunting Regulations and Seasons). DWR counted 42 bears in Nelson County in 2025.
How much public land is in Nelson County?
29,582 acres, 9.7% of the county, by PAD-US 4.1. DWR's wildlife management areas here: James River (1,124 acres), Tye River (1,035 acres) and Montebello Fish Cultural Center (17 acres). National forest: 20,596 acres.
Is Nelson County an Earn a Buck county?
No. DWR's 2026-27 regulations do not mark Nelson 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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