Wythe County, Virginia: deer and bear hunting, harvest and public land
DWR counted 3,202 deer killed in Wythe County in the 2025-26 season: 1,457 antlered bucks, 151 button bucks and 1,594 does, along with 36 bears. In 2026-27 the firearms deer season on private land runs November 14 to January 2. 22.2% of the county is public land, the largest share national forest (58,436 acres), by the USGS Protected Areas Database.
Data updated October 2026. Deer: DWR Deer Kill Data. Bears: DWR Black Bear Harvest by County. Seasons: DWR's 2026-27 deer and bear regulations. Land: PAD-US 4.1.
National forestDWR land (WMAs)State parks and natural areas (DCR)Wythe CountyNeighboring countiesHighway
| Size | 465 square miles |
|---|---|
| Public land | 22.2% (66,099 acres) |
| Wildlife management areas | Big Survey WMA, Wytheville Trout WMA |
| Deer killed, 2025-26 | 3,202 (1,457 antlered, 1,594 does) |
| Deer killed per square mile | 6.9 (worked out from DWR's count) |
| Bears killed, 2025 | 36 |
| Firearms deer season, private lands, 2026-27 | November 14 to January 2 |
| Earn a Buck | Yes: an antlerless deer must be taken before a second antlered deer (DWR) |
| National forest firearms season | November 14 to November 28 |
How many deer are killed in Wythe County?
DWR counted 3,202 deer in Wythe County in 2025-26, up from 2,583. DWR's table for the county runs back to 1947; the most it shows is 3,202 in 2025. The last 20 seasons:
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,457 | 151 | 1,594 | 3,202 |
| 2024-25 | 1,242 | 92 | 1,249 | 2,583 |
| 2023-24 | 1,563 | 114 | 1,321 | 2,998 |
| 2022-23 | 1,329 | 99 | 1,295 | 2,723 |
| 2021-22 | 1,380 | 133 | 1,320 | 2,833 |
| 2020-21 | 1,460 | 155 | 1,193 | 2,808 |
| 2019-20 | 1,391 | 154 | 1,205 | 2,750 |
| 2018-19 | 1,259 | 143 | 945 | 2,347 |
| 2017-18 | 1,377 | 114 | 1,100 | 2,591 |
| 2016-17 | 1,113 | 121 | 837 | 2,071 |
| 2015-16 | 1,471 | 196 | 1,237 | 2,904 |
| 2014-15 | 1,111 | 142 | 873 | 2,127 |
| 2013-14 | 1,231 | 168 | 1,151 | 2,552 |
| 2012-13 | 1,073 | 135 | 835 | 2,043 |
| 2011-12 | 1,041 | 188 | 1,001 | 2,231 |
| 2010-11 | 946 | 111 | 815 | 1,872 |
| 2009-10 | 1,133 | 217 | 1,287 | 2,637 |
| 2008-09 | 1,224 | 183 | 1,269 | 2,676 |
| 2007-08 | 1,260 | 260 | 1,351 | 2,871 |
| 2006-07 | 1,292 | 191 | 1,048 | 2,531 |
Source: DWR Deer Kill Data, Wythe. DWR's figure for the latest season is preliminary and leaves out the late urban archery and late antlerless-only seasons.
How many bears are killed in Wythe County?
DWR counted 36 bears in Wythe County in 2025.
| Year | Bears |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 36 |
| 2024 | 54 |
| 2023 | 44 |
Source: DWR Black Bear Harvest by County.
When are the 2026-27 seasons in Wythe County?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Deer, early archery (either sex, statewide) | October 3 to November 13 |
| Deer, early muzzleloader (most of the state) | October 31 to November 13 |
| Deer, firearms, private lands | November 14 to January 2 |
| Deer, either-sex days | November 14 through January 2 (full season) |
| Deer, firearms, George Washington and Jefferson National Forest | November 14 to November 28 |
| Deer, either-sex days on the national forest | November 21, November 27, and November 28 |
| Bear, archery | October 3 to November 13 |
| Bear, muzzleloader | November 7 to 13 |
| Bear, firearms | November 23 to January 2 |
Sources: DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons; DWR Bear Hunting Regulations and Seasons, read 2026-10-18. Late archery and late muzzleloader seasons differ by area; DWR's pages list them. Public land other than the national forest and DWR's WMAs follows the private land seasons.
How much public land is in Wythe County?
22.2% of Wythe County is public land: 66,099 of its 297,431 acres. The largest share is national forest, 58,436 acres.
| Manager | Acres | Share of Wythe County |
|---|---|---|
| National forest | 58,436 | 19.6% |
| DWR land (WMAs) | 7,471 | 2.5% |
| State parks and natural areas (DCR) | 192 | 0.1% |
Measured by FilledTag inside the county line from USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US 4.1). Hunting is allowed on most national forest and DWR land; Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway are closed to it, and state parks allow it only in places.
Wildlife management areas in Wythe County
| WMA | Acres in Wythe County | Firearms deer season on the WMA |
|---|---|---|
| Big Survey WMA | 7,435 | November 14 to November 28 |
| Wytheville Trout WMA | 128 | Follows the private land season |
Which counties border Wythe County?
| County or city | Public land | Deer, 2025 | Antlered, 2025 | Bears, 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bland County | 33.5% | 1,519 | 931 | 35 |
| Carroll County | 4.6% | 3,429 | 1,661 | 26 |
| Grayson County | 14.2% | 3,605 | 1,707 | 24 |
| Pulaski County | 9.6% | 2,324 | 1,115 | 26 |
| Smyth County | 31.2% | 1,949 | 1,123 | 53 |
Highways crossing Wythe County: I-81 (60 miles), US 11 (47 miles), I-77 (44 miles), US 52 (41 miles), US 21 (18 miles) and VA 94 (9 miles). Towns inside: Wytheville and Rural Retreat.
Questions hunters ask
How many deer are killed in Wythe County?
DWR counted 3,202 deer in Wythe County in 2025-26, against 2,583 the season before. The five-season average to 2025 is 2,868 a year, and the most in DWR's table was 3,202 in 2025, worked out from DWR's figures.
When is deer season in Wythe County in 2026?
Early archery runs October 3 to November 13 and early muzzleloader October 31 to November 13 in most of the state. The firearms season on private land in Wythe County runs November 14 to January 2, with either-sex days November 14 through January 2 (full season) (DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons).
When is bear season in Wythe County?
In 2026-27: archery October 3 to November 13; muzzleloader November 7 to 13; firearms November 23 to January 2 (DWR Bear Hunting Regulations and Seasons). DWR counted 36 bears in Wythe County in 2025.
How much public land is in Wythe County?
66,099 acres, 22.2% of the county, by PAD-US 4.1. DWR's wildlife management areas here: Big Survey (7,435 acres) and Wytheville Trout (128 acres). National forest: 58,436 acres.
Is Wythe County an Earn a Buck county?
Yes. DWR marks Wythe County as an Earn a Buck county for 2026-27: a hunter must take an antlerless deer there before taking a second antlered deer.
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Where these numbers come from
- Deer: DWR Deer Kill Data. Bears: DWR Black Bear Harvest by County; DWR, 2025-2026 bear, deer and turkey harvest data announced.
- Seasons, either-sex days and Earn a Buck: DWR Deer Hunting Regulations and Seasons; DWR Bear Hunting Regulations and Seasons.
- Boundary: Virginia county and city boundaries (DCR, served by DWR). WMAs: DWR Wildlife Management Areas. Public land: 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. Numbers are copied from DWR and federal sources, or measured from their maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
Virginia hunting Bland County Carroll County Grayson County Pulaski County Smyth County