Hardware River Wildlife Management Area: hunting, parking and access
Hardware River Wildlife Management Area is 1,241 acres of Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources land in Fluvanna County. DWR's maps show 4 parking areas and 4 gates. The 2026-27 firearms deer season on the WMA runs November 14 to January 2.
Data updated October 2026. Boundary, parking, gates and roads: DWR's WMA maps. Seasons: DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons.
DWR land (WMAs)Hardware River WMADWR parkingCounty lineHighway
| Size | 1,241 acres (DWR) |
|---|---|
| County | Fluvanna County |
| DWR region | Region 4 |
| Parking areas | 4 |
| Gates | 4 |
| Other facilities DWR maps | 4 kiosks, 1 bridge, 1 boat ramp and 1 cemetery |
| Firearms deer season, 2026-27 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Nearest towns | Scottsville (4 mi), Esmont (9 mi) and Palmyra (11 mi) |
Where do you park on Hardware River WMA?
DWR maps 4 parking areas on Hardware River WMA, listed north to south.
| Lot | Latitude, longitude | Kind (DWR) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 37.76423, -78.43193 | Parking |
| 2 | 37.75966, -78.41062 | Parking |
| 3 | 37.75584, -78.43924 | Parking |
| 4 | 37.74087, -78.40843 | Parking |
Source: DWR WMA facilities (parking, gates, boat ramps, ranges).
What roads and trails does Hardware River WMA have?
DWR's road layer counts 2.7 miles of open road through or along it. DWR records 4 gates.
Other facilities on DWR's map: 4 kiosks, 1 bridge, 1 boat ramp and 1 cemetery.
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 Hardware River WMA in 2026-27?
DWR's public lands table gives Hardware River WMA its own firearms deer season: November 14 to January 2, with either-sex days November 21, November 28, and December 21-January 2. 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fluvanna County | 1,241 | November 14 to January 2 | 2,052 (2025) | 24 (2025) |
Seasons: DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons. Harvest: DWR Deer Kill Data; DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
How do you get to Hardware River WMA?
Highways within five miles: VA 6, VA 20 and US 15. Nearest towns: Scottsville (4 miles), Esmont (9 miles), Palmyra (11 miles) and Lake Monticello (12 miles).
DWR's page for the area: DWR, Hardware River WMA.
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Hardware River WMA?
DWR sets the 2026-27 firearms deer season on Hardware River WMA at November 14 to January 2, with either-sex days November 21, November 28, and December 21-January 2. Early archery runs October 3 to November 13 statewide.
Where do you park on Hardware River WMA?
DWR maps 4 parking areas on Hardware River WMA. The coordinates of each are in the table on this page; the first is at 37.7642, -78.4319.
How big is Hardware River WMA?
1,241 acres by DWR's records, in Fluvanna County.
How many deer are killed in Fluvanna County, where Hardware River WMA is?
DWR counted 2,052 deer in Fluvanna County in 2025-26: 928 antlered bucks and 947 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.