Mattaponi Wildlife Management Area: hunting, parking and access
Mattaponi Wildlife Management Area is 2,555 acres of Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources land in Caroline County. DWR's maps show 7 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)Military (closed unless the base allows)Mattaponi WMADWR parkingCounty lineHighway
| Size | 2,555 acres (DWR) |
|---|---|
| County | Caroline County |
| DWR region | Region 4 |
| Parking areas | 7 |
| Gates | 9 |
| Other facilities DWR maps | 7 kiosks and 1 boat ramp |
| Firearms deer season, 2026-27 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Nearest towns | Bowling Green (2 mi), Lake Caroline (7 mi) and Lake Land'Or (8 mi) |
Where do you park on Mattaponi WMA?
DWR maps 7 parking areas on Mattaponi WMA, listed north to south.
| Lot | Latitude, longitude | Kind (DWR) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 38.07036, -77.40185 | Parking |
| 2 | 38.06974, -77.40970 | Parking |
| 3 | 38.06810, -77.37997 | Parking |
| 4 | 38.06128, -77.37868 | Parking |
| 5 | 38.06067, -77.38408 | Parking |
| 6 | 38.05849, -77.38980 | Parking |
| 7 | 38.05689, -77.39272 | Parking |
Source: DWR WMA facilities (parking, gates, boat ramps, ranges).
What roads and trails does Mattaponi WMA have?
DWR's road layer counts 1.9 miles of open road through or along it. DWR records 9 gates.
Other facilities on DWR's map: 7 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 Mattaponi WMA in 2026-27?
DWR's public lands table gives Mattaponi WMA its own firearms deer season: November 14 to January 2, with either-sex days November 21, November 28, 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline County | 2,551 | November 14 to January 2 | 2,851 (2025) | 3 (2025) |
Seasons: DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons. Harvest: DWR Deer Kill Data; DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
How do you get to Mattaponi WMA?
Highways within five miles: US 301, VA 2, VA 207 and I-95. Nearest towns: Bowling Green (2 miles), Lake Caroline (7 miles), Lake Land'Or (8 miles) and Port Royal (12 miles).
DWR's page for the area: DWR, Mattaponi WMA.
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Mattaponi WMA?
DWR sets the 2026-27 firearms deer season on Mattaponi WMA at November 14 to January 2, with either-sex days November 21, November 28, and December 28-January 2. Early archery runs October 3 to November 13 statewide.
Where do you park on Mattaponi WMA?
DWR maps 7 parking areas on Mattaponi WMA. The coordinates of each are in the table on this page; the first is at 38.0613, -77.3787.
How big is Mattaponi WMA?
2,555 acres by DWR's records, in Caroline County.
How many deer are killed in Caroline County, where Mattaponi WMA is?
DWR counted 2,851 deer in Caroline County in 2025-26: 1,259 antlered bucks and 1,297 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.