James River Wildlife Management Area: hunting, parking and access
James River Wildlife Management Area is 1,124 acres of Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources land in Nelson County. DWR's maps show 5 parking areas and 9 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)James River WMADWR parkingCounty lineHighway
| Size | 1,124 acres (DWR) |
|---|---|
| County | Nelson County |
| DWR region | Region 2 |
| Parking areas | 5 |
| Gates | 9 |
| Other facilities DWR maps | 4 kiosks and 1 boat ramp |
| Firearms deer season, 2026-27 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Nearest towns | Yogaville (next to it), Shipman (6 mi) and Schuyler (8 mi) |
Where do you park on James River WMA?
DWR maps 5 parking areas on James River WMA, listed north to south.
| Lot | Latitude, longitude | Kind (DWR) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 37.67712, -78.72594 | Parking |
| 2 | 37.67277, -78.72076 | Parking |
| 3 | 37.67114, -78.71730 | Parking |
| 4 | 37.66918, -78.72411 | Parking |
| 5 | 37.66224, -78.74262 | Parking |
Source: DWR WMA facilities (parking, gates, boat ramps, ranges).
What roads and trails does James River WMA have?
DWR's road layer counts 16 miles of open road through or along it. DWR records 9 gates.
Other facilities on DWR's map: 4 kiosks and 1 boat ramp.
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 James River WMA in 2026-27?
DWR's public lands table gives James River WMA its own firearms deer season: November 14 to January 2, with either-sex days November 21 and December 28-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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nelson County | 1,124 | November 14 to January 2 | 2,486 (2025) | 42 (2025) |
Seasons: DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons. Harvest: DWR Deer Kill Data; DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
How do you get to James River WMA?
Highways within five miles: VA 56. Nearest towns: Yogaville (next to it), Shipman (6 miles), Schuyler (8 miles) and Arrington (8 miles).
DWR's page for the area: DWR, James River WMA.
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on James River WMA?
DWR sets the 2026-27 firearms deer season on James River WMA at November 14 to January 2, with either-sex days November 21 and December 28-January 2. Early archery runs October 3 to November 13 statewide.
Where do you park on James River WMA?
DWR maps 5 parking areas on James River WMA. The coordinates of each are in the table on this page; the first is at 37.6622, -78.7426.
How big is James River WMA?
1,124 acres by DWR's records, in Nelson County.
How many deer are killed in Nelson County, where James River WMA is?
DWR counted 2,486 deer in Nelson County in 2025-26: 1,476 antlered bucks and 882 does. DWR does not publish a separate count for the WMA.
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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.