Sussex County, Virginia: deer and bear hunting, harvest and public land
DWR counted 3,577 deer killed in Sussex County in the 2025-26 season: 1,357 antlered bucks, 446 button bucks and 1,774 does, along with 20 bears. In 2026-27 the firearms deer season on private land runs November 14 to January 2. 2% of the county is public land, the largest share state forest (2,397 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 Park ServiceOther state landSussex CountyNeighboring countiesHighway
| Size | 493 square miles |
|---|---|
| Public land | 2% (6,393 acres) |
| Wildlife management areas | Big Woods WMA, Flippo-Gentry WMA, Arch of the Nottoway WMA |
| Deer killed, 2025-26 | 3,577 (1,357 antlered, 1,774 does) |
| Deer killed per square mile | 7.3 (worked out from DWR's count) |
| Bears killed, 2025 | 20 |
| Firearms deer season, private lands, 2026-27 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Earn a Buck | No |
How many deer are killed in Sussex County?
DWR counted 3,577 deer in Sussex County in 2025-26, down from 3,650. DWR's table for the county runs back to 1947; the most it shows is 3,677 in 2008. The last 20 seasons:
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,357 | 446 | 1,774 | 3,577 |
| 2024-25 | 1,433 | 409 | 1,808 | 3,650 |
| 2023-24 | 1,440 | 360 | 1,642 | 3,442 |
| 2022-23 | 1,315 | 367 | 1,537 | 3,219 |
| 2021-22 | 1,338 | 278 | 1,442 | 3,058 |
| 2020-21 | 1,416 | 357 | 1,668 | 3,441 |
| 2019-20 | 1,406 | 400 | 1,614 | 3,420 |
| 2018-19 | 1,434 | 369 | 1,649 | 3,452 |
| 2017-18 | 1,332 | 344 | 1,480 | 3,156 |
| 2016-17 | 1,240 | 310 | 1,357 | 2,907 |
| 2015-16 | 1,358 | 314 | 1,455 | 3,127 |
| 2014-15 | 1,213 | 363 | 1,493 | 3,069 |
| 2013-14 | 1,467 | 374 | 1,565 | 3,408 |
| 2012-13 | 1,325 | 346 | 1,535 | 3,206 |
| 2011-12 | 1,302 | 430 | 1,683 | 3,415 |
| 2010-11 | 1,486 | 372 | 1,731 | 3,589 |
| 2009-10 | 1,362 | 409 | 1,556 | 3,327 |
| 2008-09 | 1,497 | 473 | 1,707 | 3,677 |
| 2007-08 | 1,358 | 417 | 1,596 | 3,371 |
| 2006-07 | 1,327 | 386 | 1,460 | 3,173 |
Source: DWR Deer Kill Data, Sussex. 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 Sussex County?
DWR counted 20 bears in Sussex County in 2025.
| Year | Bears |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2023 | 13 |
Source: DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
When are the 2026-27 seasons in Sussex 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 Sussex County?
2% of Sussex County is public land: 6,393 of its 316,048 acres. The largest share is state forest, 2,397 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Sussex County |
|---|---|---|
| State forest | 2,397 | 0.8% |
| DWR land (WMAs) | 2,184 | 0.7% |
| State parks and natural areas (DCR) | 1,812 | 0.6% |
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 Sussex County
| WMA | Acres in Sussex County | Firearms deer season on the WMA |
|---|---|---|
| Big Woods WMA | 2,208 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Flippo-Gentry WMA | 1,965 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Arch of the Nottoway WMA | 1,578 | Follows the private land season |
Which counties border Sussex County?
| County or city | Public land | Deer, 2025 | Antlered, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinwiddie County | 4.5% | 2,594 | 1,190 | 24 |
| Greensville County | 0.2% | 2,297 | 771 | 8 |
| Prince George County | 3% | 2,058 | 771 | 1 |
| Southampton County | 0.7% | 5,129 | 1,827 | 18 |
| Surry County | 2.2% | 2,295 | 926 | 13 |
Highways crossing Sussex County: I-95 (35 miles), VA 40 (30 miles), US 301 (23 miles), VA 35 (18 miles), US 460 (17 miles) and VA 31 (4 miles). Towns inside: Waverly, Jarratt, Wakefield and Stony Creek.
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are killed in Sussex County?
DWR counted 3,577 deer in Sussex County in 2025-26, against 3,650 the season before. The five-season average to 2025 is 3,389 a year, and the most in DWR's table was 3,677 in 2008, worked out from DWR's figures.
When is deer season in Sussex 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 Sussex 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 Sussex 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 20 bears in Sussex County in 2025.
How much public land is in Sussex County?
6,393 acres, 2% of the county, by PAD-US 4.1. DWR's wildlife management areas here: Big Woods (2,208 acres), Flippo-Gentry (1,965 acres) and Arch of the Nottoway (1,578 acres).
Is Sussex County an Earn a Buck county?
No. DWR's 2026-27 regulations do not mark Sussex 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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