Rapidan Wildlife Management Area: hunting, parking and access
Rapidan Wildlife Management Area is 10,035 acres of Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources land in Madison County and Greene County. DWR's maps show 8 parking areas and 10 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)National Park ServiceRapidan WMADWR parkingCounty lineHighway
| Size | 10,035 acres (DWR) |
|---|---|
| County | Madison County, Greene County |
| DWR region | Region 4 |
| Parking areas | 8 |
| Gates | 10 |
| Other facilities DWR maps | 5 kiosks and 2 bridges |
| Firearms deer season, 2026-27 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Nearest towns | Stanardsville (5 mi), Madison (5 mi) and Elkton (6 mi) |
Where do you park on Rapidan WMA?
DWR maps 8 parking areas on Rapidan WMA, listed north to south.
| Lot | Latitude, longitude | Kind (DWR) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 38.48722, -78.40487 | Parking |
| 2 | 38.47089, -78.38182 | Parking |
| 3 | 38.42438, -78.40317 | Parking |
| 4 | 38.42107, -78.40489 | Parking |
| 5 | 38.41545, -78.39344 | Parking |
| 6 | 38.40747, -78.42508 | Parking |
| 7 | 38.40282, -78.38958 | Parking |
| 8 | 38.38585, -78.48025 | Parking |
Source: DWR WMA facilities (parking, gates, boat ramps, ranges).
What roads and trails does Rapidan WMA have?
DWR's road layer counts 14 miles of open road through or along it. DWR records 10 gates.
Other facilities on DWR's map: 5 kiosks and 2 bridges.
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 Rapidan WMA in 2026-27?
DWR's public lands table gives Rapidan 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madison County | 8,184 | November 14 to January 2 | 2,024 (2025) | 11 (2025) |
| Greene County | 1,847 | November 14 to January 2 | 1,109 (2025) | 9 (2025) |
Seasons: DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons. Harvest: DWR Deer Kill Data; DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
How do you get to Rapidan WMA?
Highways within five miles: US 33, VA 231 and VA 230. Nearest towns: Stanardsville (5 miles), Madison (5 miles), Elkton (6 miles) and Stanley (7 miles).
DWR's page for the area: DWR, Rapidan WMA.
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Rapidan WMA?
DWR sets the 2026-27 firearms deer season on Rapidan 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 Rapidan WMA?
DWR maps 8 parking areas on Rapidan WMA. The coordinates of each are in the table on this page; the first is at 38.3858, -78.4802.
How big is Rapidan WMA?
10,035 acres by DWR's records, in Madison County (8,184 acres) and Greene County (1,847 acres).
How many deer are killed in Madison County, where Rapidan WMA is?
DWR counted 2,024 deer in Madison County in 2025-26: 853 antlered bucks and 1,018 does. DWR does not publish a separate count for the WMA.
Get a Virginia hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for Virginia are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
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.