Smyth County, Virginia: deer and bear hunting, harvest and public land
DWR counted 1,949 deer killed in Smyth County in the 2025-26 season: 1,123 antlered bucks, 78 button bucks and 748 does, along with 53 bears. In 2026-27 the firearms deer season on private land runs November 14 to December 12. 31.2% of the county is public land, the largest share national forest (75,598 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)Smyth CountyNeighboring countiesHighway
| Size | 453 square miles |
|---|---|
| Public land | 31.2% (90,285 acres) |
| Wildlife management areas | Buller WMA |
| Deer killed, 2025-26 | 1,949 (1,123 antlered, 748 does) |
| Deer killed per square mile | 4.3 (worked out from DWR's count) |
| Bears killed, 2025 | 53 |
| Firearms deer season, private lands, 2026-27 | November 14 to December 12 |
| Earn a Buck | No |
| National forest firearms season | November 14 to November 28 |
How many deer are killed in Smyth County?
DWR counted 1,949 deer in Smyth County in 2025-26, up from 1,721. DWR's table for the county runs back to 1947; the most it shows is 2,406 in 1991. The last 20 seasons:
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,123 | 78 | 748 | 1,949 |
| 2024-25 | 1,067 | 64 | 590 | 1,721 |
| 2023-24 | 1,214 | 84 | 749 | 2,047 |
| 2022-23 | 1,165 | 75 | 649 | 1,889 |
| 2021-22 | 1,145 | 94 | 668 | 1,907 |
| 2020-21 | 1,147 | 97 | 745 | 1,989 |
| 2019-20 | 1,154 | 106 | 802 | 2,062 |
| 2018-19 | 1,126 | 91 | 640 | 1,857 |
| 2017-18 | 1,215 | 74 | 612 | 1,901 |
| 2016-17 | 1,046 | 91 | 547 | 1,684 |
| 2015-16 | 1,124 | 141 | 753 | 2,018 |
| 2014-15 | 910 | 89 | 526 | 1,525 |
| 2013-14 | 939 | 110 | 720 | 1,769 |
| 2012-13 | 969 | 110 | 547 | 1,626 |
| 2011-12 | 1,006 | 147 | 781 | 1,934 |
| 2010-11 | 982 | 98 | 586 | 1,666 |
| 2009-10 | 1,072 | 194 | 981 | 2,247 |
| 2008-09 | 1,154 | 185 | 824 | 2,163 |
| 2007-08 | 1,020 | 198 | 857 | 2,075 |
| 2006-07 | 1,073 | 153 | 765 | 1,991 |
Source: DWR Deer Kill Data, Smyth. 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 Smyth County?
DWR counted 53 bears in Smyth County in 2025.
| Year | Bears |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 53 |
| 2024 | 61 |
| 2023 | 44 |
Source: DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
When are the 2026-27 seasons in Smyth 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 December 12 |
| Deer, either-sex days | November 14 through December 12 (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 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 Smyth County?
31.2% of Smyth County is public land: 90,285 of its 289,734 acres. The largest share is national forest, 75,598 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Smyth County |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 75,598 | 26.1% |
| DWR land (WMAs) | 10,392 | 3.6% |
| State parks and natural areas (DCR) | 4,243 | 1.5% |
| National Park Service | 52 | 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 Smyth County
| WMA | Acres in Smyth County | Firearms deer season on the WMA |
|---|---|---|
| Buller WMA | 108 | Follows the private land season |
Which counties border Smyth County?
| County or city | Public land | Deer, 2025 | Antlered, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bland County | 33.5% | 1,519 | 931 | 35 |
| Grayson County | 14.2% | 3,605 | 1,707 | 24 |
| Russell County | 2.8% | 2,174 | 1,366 | 43 |
| Tazewell County | 4.3% | 2,472 | 1,561 | 52 |
| Washington County | 10.4% | 2,888 | 1,769 | 44 |
| Wythe County | 22.2% | 3,202 | 1,457 | 36 |
Highways crossing Smyth County: I-81 (46 miles), VA 16 (34 miles), US 11 (26 miles), VA 42 (18 miles), VA 91 (9 miles) and VA 107 (8 miles). Towns inside: Saltville, Marion and Chilhowie.
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are killed in Smyth County?
DWR counted 1,949 deer in Smyth County in 2025-26, against 1,721 the season before. The five-season average to 2025 is 1,903 a year, and the most in DWR's table was 2,406 in 1991, worked out from DWR's figures.
When is deer season in Smyth 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 Smyth County runs November 14 to December 12, with either-sex days November 14 through December 12 (full season) (DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons).
When is bear season in Smyth 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 53 bears in Smyth County in 2025.
How much public land is in Smyth County?
90,285 acres, 31.2% of the county, by PAD-US 4.1. DWR's wildlife management areas here: Buller (108 acres). National forest: 75,598 acres.
Is Smyth County an Earn a Buck county?
No. DWR's 2026-27 regulations do not mark Smyth 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.
Virginia hunting Bland County Grayson County Russell County Tazewell County Washington County Wythe County