Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area: hunting, parking and access
Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area is 24,934 acres of Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources land in Smyth County, Russell County, Washington County and Tazewell County. DWR's maps show 13 parking areas and 27 gates. The 2026-27 firearms deer season on the WMA runs November 14 to November 28.
Data updated October 2026. Boundary, parking, gates and roads: DWR's WMA maps. Seasons: DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons.
National forestDWR land (WMAs)State forestState parks and natural areas (DCR)Clinch Mountain WMADWR parkingCounty lineHighway
| Size | 24,934 acres (DWR) |
|---|---|
| County | Smyth County, Russell County, Washington County, Tazewell County |
| DWR region | Region 3 |
| Parking areas | 13 |
| Gates | 27 |
| Other facilities DWR maps | 12 kiosks, 2 restrooms, 1 archery range, 1 shooting range, 1 boat ramp and 1 fishing pier |
| Firearms deer season, 2026-27 | November 14 to November 28 |
| Nearest towns | Allison Gap (next to it), Saltville (next to it) and Emory (4 mi) |
Where do you park on Clinch Mountain WMA?
DWR maps 13 parking areas on Clinch Mountain WMA, listed north to south.
| Lot | Latitude, longitude | Kind (DWR) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36.97861, -81.66870 | Parking |
| 2 | 36.97820, -81.65491 | Parking |
| 3 | 36.97567, -81.67643 | Parking |
| 4 | 36.97137, -81.69039 | Parking |
| 5 | 36.96939, -81.69559 | Parking |
| 6 | 36.96442, -81.80667 | Parking |
| 7 | 36.95491, -81.81446 | Parking |
| 8 | 36.94713, -81.77878 | Parking |
| 9 | 36.94497, -81.73957 | Parking |
| 10 | 36.93649, -81.81676 | Parking |
| 11 | 36.92333, -81.71994 | Parking |
| 12 | 36.91590, -81.83579 | Parking |
| 13 | 36.91357, -81.84214 | Parking |
Source: DWR WMA facilities (parking, gates, boat ramps, ranges).
What roads and trails does Clinch Mountain WMA have?
DWR's road layer counts 29 miles of open road through or along it. DWR records 27 gates.
Other facilities on DWR's map: 12 kiosks, 2 restrooms, 1 archery range, 1 shooting range, 1 boat ramp and 1 fishing pier.
Sources: DWR WMA roads and trails; DWR WMA facilities (parking, gates, boat ramps, ranges). Miles measured by FilledTag from DWR's lines.
When can you hunt deer on Clinch Mountain WMA in 2026-27?
DWR's public lands table gives Clinch Mountain WMA its own firearms deer season: November 14 to November 28, with either-sex days November 28. Early archery runs October 3 to November 13 statewide.
| County | WMA acres in it | Private land firearms season | Deer killed (whole county) | Bears (whole county) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smyth County | 10,099 | November 14 to December 12 | 1,949 (2025) | 53 (2025) |
| Russell County | 6,544 | November 14 to December 12 | 2,174 (2025) | 43 (2025) |
| Washington County | 4,158 | November 14 to December 12 | 2,888 (2025) | 44 (2025) |
| Tazewell County | 4,150 | November 14 to December 12 | 2,472 (2025) | 52 (2025) |
Seasons: DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons. Harvest: DWR Deer Kill Data; DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
How do you get to Clinch Mountain WMA?
Highways within five miles: US 19, VA 80, VA 91, VA 42, I-81 and US 460. Nearest towns: Allison Gap (next to it), Saltville (next to it), Emory (4 miles) and Meadowview (4 miles).
DWR's page for the area: DWR, Clinch Mountain WMA.
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Clinch Mountain WMA?
DWR sets the 2026-27 firearms deer season on Clinch Mountain WMA at November 14 to November 28, with either-sex days November 28. Early archery runs October 3 to November 13 statewide.
Where do you park on Clinch Mountain WMA?
DWR maps 13 parking areas on Clinch Mountain WMA. The coordinates of each are in the table on this page; the first is at 36.9782, -81.6549.
How big is Clinch Mountain WMA?
24,934 acres by DWR's records, in Smyth County (10,099 acres), Russell County (6,544 acres), Washington County (4,158 acres) and Tazewell County (4,150 acres).
How many deer are killed in Smyth County, where Clinch Mountain WMA is?
DWR counted 1,949 deer in Smyth County in 2025-26: 1,123 antlered bucks and 748 does. DWR does not publish a separate count for the WMA.
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Where these facts come from
- Boundary and acres: DWR Wildlife Management Areas. Parking, gates and facilities: DWR WMA facilities (parking, gates, boat ramps, ranges). Roads: DWR WMA roads and trails.
- Seasons: DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons. County harvest: DWR Deer Kill Data; DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
- Public land around it: 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.
Virginia hunting Smyth County Russell County Washington County Tazewell County