Short Hills Wildlife Management Area: hunting, parking and access
Short Hills Wildlife Management Area is 4,314 acres of Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources land in Rockbridge County and Botetourt County. DWR's maps show 2 parking areas and 3 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 forestState parks and natural areas (DCR)Short Hills WMADWR parkingCounty lineHighway
| Size | 4,314 acres (DWR) |
|---|---|
| County | Rockbridge County, Botetourt County |
| DWR region | Region 4 |
| Parking areas | 2 |
| Gates | 3 |
| Other facilities DWR maps | 2 kiosks |
| Firearms deer season, 2026-27 | November 14 to November 28 |
| Nearest towns | Glasgow (7 mi), Lexington (7 mi) and Buchanan (7 mi) |
Where do you park on Short Hills WMA?
DWR maps 2 parking areas on Short Hills WMA, listed north to south.
| Lot | Latitude, longitude | Kind (DWR) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 37.64771, -79.58578 | Parking |
| 2 | 37.64752, -79.58602 | Parking |
Source: DWR WMA facilities (parking, gates, boat ramps, ranges).
What roads and trails does Short Hills WMA have?
DWR records 3 gates.
Other facilities on DWR's map: 2 kiosks.
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 Short Hills WMA in 2026-27?
DWR's public lands table gives Short Hills 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockbridge County | 3,873 | November 14 to December 12 | 3,639 (2025) | 33 (2025) |
| Botetourt County | 442 | November 14 to December 12 | 3,609 (2025) | 32 (2025) |
Seasons: DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons. Harvest: DWR Deer Kill Data; DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
How do you get to Short Hills WMA?
Highways within five miles: I-81, US 11, VA 251, VA 130 and VA 43. Nearest towns: Glasgow (7 miles), Lexington (7 miles), Buchanan (7 miles) and Eagle Rock (8 miles).
DWR's page for the area: DWR, Short Hills WMA.
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Short Hills WMA?
DWR sets the 2026-27 firearms deer season on Short Hills 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 Short Hills WMA?
DWR maps 2 parking areas on Short Hills WMA. The coordinates of each are in the table on this page; the first is at 37.6475, -79.5860.
How big is Short Hills WMA?
4,314 acres by DWR's records, in Rockbridge County (3,873 acres) and Botetourt County (442 acres).
How many deer are killed in Rockbridge County, where Short Hills WMA is?
DWR counted 3,639 deer in Rockbridge County in 2025-26: 1,888 antlered bucks and 1,593 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.