New Kent County, Virginia: deer and bear hunting, harvest and public land
DWR counted 1,055 deer killed in New Kent County in the 2025-26 season: 504 antlered bucks, 91 button bucks and 460 does, along with no bears. In 2026-27 the firearms deer season on private land runs November 14 to January 2. 3% of the county is public land, the largest share DWR land (WMAs) (3,317 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 landNew Kent CountyNeighboring countiesHighway
| Size | 224 square miles |
|---|---|
| Public land | 3% (4,359 acres) |
| Wildlife management areas | Ware Creek WMA, Game Farm Marsh WMA |
| Deer killed, 2025-26 | 1,055 (504 antlered, 460 does) |
| Deer killed per square mile | 4.7 (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 New Kent County?
DWR counted 1,055 deer in New Kent County in 2025-26, down from 1,159. DWR's table for the county runs back to 1947; the most it shows is 2,377 in 2009. The last 20 seasons:
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 504 | 91 | 460 | 1,055 |
| 2024-25 | 529 | 116 | 514 | 1,159 |
| 2023-24 | 557 | 134 | 495 | 1,186 |
| 2022-23 | 516 | 98 | 525 | 1,139 |
| 2021-22 | 604 | 126 | 640 | 1,370 |
| 2020-21 | 689 | 102 | 629 | 1,420 |
| 2019-20 | 822 | 120 | 730 | 1,672 |
| 2018-19 | 614 | 71 | 470 | 1,155 |
| 2017-18 | 699 | 93 | 518 | 1,310 |
| 2016-17 | 569 | 116 | 546 | 1,231 |
| 2015-16 | 722 | 137 | 625 | 1,484 |
| 2014-15 | 497 | 92 | 497 | 1,088 |
| 2013-14 | 819 | 200 | 1,074 | 2,093 |
| 2012-13 | 703 | 161 | 780 | 1,645 |
| 2011-12 | 708 | 207 | 937 | 1,853 |
| 2010-11 | 716 | 206 | 952 | 1,874 |
| 2009-10 | 931 | 266 | 1,180 | 2,377 |
| 2008-09 | 931 | 240 | 1,025 | 2,196 |
| 2007-08 | 793 | 175 | 810 | 1,778 |
| 2006-07 | 828 | 195 | 839 | 1,862 |
Source: DWR Deer Kill Data, New Kent. 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 New Kent County?
DWR counted no bears in New Kent County in 2025.
| Year | Bears |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
Source: DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
When are the 2026-27 seasons in New Kent 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 New Kent County?
3% of New Kent County is public land: 4,359 of its 143,288 acres. The largest share is DWR land (WMAs), 3,317 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of New Kent County |
|---|---|---|
| DWR land (WMAs) | 3,317 | 2.3% |
| Other state land | 778 | 0.5% |
| State forest | 264 | 0.2% |
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 New Kent County
| WMA | Acres in New Kent County | Firearms deer season on the WMA |
|---|---|---|
| Ware Creek WMA | 2,646 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Game Farm Marsh WMA | 673 | November 14 to January 2 |
Which counties border New Kent County?
| County or city | Public land | Deer, 2025 | Antlered, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles City County | 4.6% | 1,235 | 503 | 1 |
| Hanover County | 0.6% | 2,615 | 1,025 | 7 |
| Henrico County | 1.5% | 649 | 304 | |
| James City County | 5% | 637 | 274 | |
| King William County | 1.6% | 1,694 | 688 | |
| King and Queen County | 4.7% | 2,082 | 779 | 0 |
Highways crossing New Kent County: VA 33 (46 miles), I-64 (40 miles), US 60 (38 miles), VA 249 (20 miles), VA 30 (11 miles) and VA 106 (7 miles).
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are killed in New Kent County?
DWR counted 1,055 deer in New Kent County in 2025-26, against 1,159 the season before. The five-season average to 2025 is 1,182 a year, and the most in DWR's table was 2,377 in 2009, worked out from DWR's figures.
When is deer season in New Kent 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 New Kent 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 New Kent 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 New Kent County in 2025.
How much public land is in New Kent County?
4,359 acres, 3% of the county, by PAD-US 4.1. DWR's wildlife management areas here: Ware Creek (2,646 acres) and Game Farm Marsh (673 acres).
Is New Kent County an Earn a Buck county?
No. DWR's 2026-27 regulations do not mark New Kent 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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