Gathright Wildlife Management Area: hunting, parking and access
Gathright Wildlife Management Area is 13,204 acres of Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources land in Bath County. DWR's maps show 8 parking areas and 9 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 parks and natural areas (DCR)Gathright WMADWR parkingCounty lineHighway
| Size | 13,204 acres (DWR) |
|---|---|
| County | Bath County |
| DWR region | Region 4 |
| Parking areas | 8 |
| Gates | 9 |
| Other facilities DWR maps | 8 kiosks and 1 shooting range |
| Firearms deer season, 2026-27 | November 14 to November 28 |
| Nearest towns | Hot Springs (4 mi), Warm Springs (6 mi) and Clifton Forge (11 mi) |
Where do you park on Gathright WMA?
DWR maps 8 parking areas on Gathright WMA, listed north to south.
| Lot | Latitude, longitude | Kind (DWR) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 38.05601, -79.95425 | Parking |
| 2 | 38.03117, -79.94181 | Parking |
| 3 | 38.02845, -79.94597 | Parking |
| 4 | 38.01997, -79.95354 | Parking |
| 5 | 38.01661, -79.89826 | Parking |
| 6 | 38.01095, -79.95855 | Parking |
| 7 | 38.00174, -79.96314 | Parking |
| 8 | 37.98280, -79.93769 | Parking |
Source: DWR WMA facilities (parking, gates, boat ramps, ranges).
What roads and trails does Gathright WMA have?
DWR's road layer counts 6.9 miles of open road through or along it. DWR records 9 gates.
Other facilities on DWR's map: 8 kiosks and 1 shooting range.
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 Gathright WMA in 2026-27?
DWR's public lands table gives Gathright 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath County | 13,204 | November 14 to December 12 | 1,545 (2025) | 60 (2025) |
Seasons: DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons. Harvest: DWR Deer Kill Data; DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
How do you get to Gathright WMA?
Highways within five miles: VA 39 and US 220. Nearest towns: Hot Springs (4 miles), Warm Springs (6 miles), Clifton Forge (11 miles) and Low Moor (12 miles).
DWR's page for the area: DWR, Gathright WMA.
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Gathright WMA?
DWR sets the 2026-27 firearms deer season on Gathright 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 Gathright WMA?
DWR maps 8 parking areas on Gathright WMA. The coordinates of each are in the table on this page; the first is at 38.0560, -79.9543.
How big is Gathright WMA?
13,204 acres by DWR's records, in Bath County.
How many deer are killed in Bath County, where Gathright WMA is?
DWR counted 1,545 deer in Bath County in 2025-26: 1,070 antlered bucks and 446 does. DWR does not publish a separate count for the WMA.
Get a Virginia hunt plan when they open
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Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, Virginia included.
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.