Virginia Deer Population and Management Archive - Virginia
View the archive by scrolling through the window below. Historic deer hunt data is below the Archive window on the left column with links to sources. A list of all articles in the Archive is below the window.
Annual Reported
Deer Kill
1930: 1,299
1947: 4,019
1951: 7,514
1957: 22,473
1967: 24,983
1968: 24,934
1977: 67,059
1980: 75,208
1981: 78,388
1982: 88,540
1983: 85,783
1984: 84,432
1985: 101,425
1986: 121,801
1987: 119,309
1988: 114,562
1989: 135,094
1990: 160,411
1991: 179,344
1992: 200,446
1993: 201,122
1994: 209,373
1995: 218,476
1996: 209,743
1997: 198,561
1998: 179,027
1999: 190,043
2000: 187,878
2001: 215,872
2002: 214,847
2003: 237,035
2004: 221,492
2005: 215,082
2006: 223,775
2007: 242,792
2008: 256,382
2009: 259,147
2010: 222,074
2011: 233,104
2012: 215,241
2013: 245,440
2014: 190,745
2015* 209,197
2016: 180,121
2017: 189,730
2018: 190,636
2019: 206,976
2020: 208,131
2021: 190,582
2022: 184,968
* not currently available on state website
Deer Harvest by City-County 2005 to 2014
Virginia Deer Management Plan 2015 to 2024
A List of Articles in the Archive
..........2021
A stable deer harvest March 11, 2021 Virginia
Virginia 2020-21 Deer Kill Summary
Virginia's deer, turkey and bear harvests were strong in 2020 March 3, 2021
.........2020
2019 Deer Kill Summary
Buchanan County elk reintroduction boosts tourism, economy October 20, 2020 Virginia
Deer hunters experience better success during recent season March 31, 2020 Virgina
Historic Virginia Deer December 7, 2020
........2019
Deer season outlook for the valley October 14, 2019 Virginia
Elk reintroduction ignites backlash in Southwest Virginia June 30, 2019 Virginia
Restoring the American chestnut by researching its genome July 23, 2019 Virginia
Virginia 2018 Virginia Deer Harvest March 11, 2019
.......2018
Deer Population, Risk of striking a deer rises for Virginia drivers as mating season begins October 17, 2018 Virginia
Elk population in Virginia is growing November 12, 2018
Elk restoration moving forward in Buchanan County October 17, 2018 Virginia
No cougars in Virginia . . . so far February 22, 2018 Virginia
Outlook for coming deer season September 3, 2018 Virginia
Rappahannock County, Lowest deer harvest in 20 years for Rappahannock County March 5, 2018 Virginia,
Virginia Deer Population during the 1930s March 3, 2018
Virginia DGIF Announces Bear, Deer, Turkey, Harvest Data February 22, 2018
......2017
2016–2017 Virginia Deer Kill Summary
Hunting law change expected to lower Virginia deer population June 21, 2017
.....2016
Deer Harvest On Rise January 23, 2016 Virginia,
Deer, dogs, and property rights January 9, 2016 Virginia,
Not a big year for bills relating to hunting and fishing February 9, 2016 Virginia
VA Deer, Bear, Turkey Harvest Data Announced February 22, 2016 Virginia
Wildfire generates new life for Shenandoah National Park April 29, 2016 Virginia
Wildlife agency celebrates 100 years of success June 21, 2016 Virginia
....2015
2 General Assembly bills raising ire of Virgina hunters January 27, 2015 Virginia
2015 Trophy Deer Forecast: Virginia October 21, 2015
Accomack committee acts on deer hunting with dogs May 1, 2015 Virginia
Are there mountain lions in Virginia? November 22, 2015
Ban on deer urine scents in effect July 13, 2015 Virginia
Ban on urine-based scent in deer hunting causes a stink June 23, 2015 Virginia
Battlefield conversions: Hunters see climate changing their traditions April 7, 2015 Virginia,
Best seeds to plant for summer food plots May 11, 2015 Virginia
Coyote Hunting Tournament To Control Population March 14, 2015 Virginia,
Coyotes' danger to fawns prompts worries about deer season lengths, limits November 13, 2015 Virginia
Deer harvest plummets statewide April 10, 2015 Virginia
Deer hunting experiences a big drop January 22, 2015 Virginia
Deer kill up a modest 6 percent November 8, 2015 Virginia
Deer management plan not just a hunting document October 21, 2015 Virginia
Deer season should be better, but not a return to “the good old days” September 29, 2015 Virginia
Deer, bear, turkey harvest data announced February 24, 2015 Virginia
Fall hunting data released by state March 11, 2015 Virginia
Gerald Almy: Prime time for Brassicas July 6, 2015 Virginia
House bill challenges dog hunting laws January 24, 2015 Virginia
Hunters believe coyotes putting the bite on deer population November 10, 2015 Virginia,
Hunters verify that it was a so-so deer season June 19, 2015 Virginia
King George officials shoot down request to allow rifles during deer season February 9, 2015 Virginia
Landowner group wants hound hunting changes October 21, 2015 Louisiana,
Natural Deer Urine Attractants Illegal in Virginia November 24, 2015
New group advocates more young forest habitat July 24, 205 Virginia
New group calls for registration of deer dogs November 4, 2015 Virginia
Opening-day deer harvest climbs November 19, 2015 Virginia,
Pipestem, Controlled deer hunt scheduled at Pipestem Resort State Park November 13, 2015 Virginia
Plan on statewide deer management being finalized July 9, 2015 Virginia
Public Invited to Comment on Draft Deer Management Plan June 3, 2015 Virginia
Top outdoors stories of 2015 Deer Rebound December 29, 2015 Virginia
Tough hunting results in fewer big game trophies August 25, 2015 Virginia
Va. deer harvest plummets March 16, 2015 Virginia
Virginia 2014–2015 Deer Kill Summary
Virginia Deer Forecast for 2015 September 1, 2015
Virginia Deer Hunters Seek Damages from Irresponsible Dog Owners February 28, 2015
Virginia Farm Bureau satisfied with elk management plan June 6, 2015
Virginia hunting for 2014/2015: Deer numbers down February 27, 2015
Virginia seeks feedback on Deer Management Plan June 11, 2015 Virginia
Virginia Tech study shows adaptability of coyotes April 13, 2015 Virginia
Wildlife officials want to ban use of deer urine in hunting March 18, 2015 Virginia
...2014
'Feast or famine' for Lynchburg area's deer hunters this season January 25, 2014 Virginia
33 Fascinating Findings from Deer Research May 22, 2014 Virginia
A Study Report on the Effects of Removing the Prohibition Against Hunting Over Bait in Virginia [PDF] FM Ruff Jr, SJR Patron - 2014
Antler craze leads to controversial hunts May 13, 2014 Virginia
Baiting’s byproducts cloud its success October 30, 2014 Virginia
Caroline County hunting ordinance at issue January 27, 2014 Virginia
Combination of factors have led to low deer numbers December 25, 2014 Virginia
Decline in acorns benefited hunters through past season, Harvest Data February 19, 2014 Virginia
Deer hunters see ‘tale of two seasons’ January 6, 2014 Virginia
Deer kill is down 40 percent in Virginia December 24, 2014
Deer kill numbers called into question December 26, 2014 Virginia
Deer kill up in Virginia February 20, 2014 Virginia
Deer mortality reported: 'They look like they just laid down and died' April 10, 2014 Virginia
Deer population not out of control here February 8, 2014 Virginia
Deer pulling a disappearing act December 3, 2014 Virginia
Deer researcher shares thoughts on how coyotes can impact deer populations September 23, 2014 Virginia
Deer season forecast looks promising October 22, 2014 Virgina
Deer, bear, turkey harvest data announced February 12, 2014 Virginia
Food plots: getting started July 7, 2014 Virginia
Game officials uphold 78-year old ban on hunting over bait October 28, 2014 Virginia
Home Range Methods for a Reintroduced Yearling Bull Elk in Virginia PL Gopalan, J Vance - Proceedings of the Symposium on BEER, 2014
Lawmakers to Consider Allowing Hunting on Sundays January 26, 2014 Virginia
Mastering The E-Hunt November 4, 2014 Virginia
National Park Service OKs deer kill at Civil War battlefields September 23, 2014
Perfect VA Management Plan: Food Plots and Let Bucks Walk April 10, 2014 Virginia
Plan targeting 2,800 battlefield deer progresses August 1, 2014 Virginia
Southampton big on deer hunting, except when it comes to muzzleloaders March 27, 2014 Virginia
Soybeans excellent choice for food plots April 28, 2014 Virginia
Spatiotemporal variation in deer browse and tolerance in a woodland herb HR Prendeville, JC Steven, LF Galloway - Ecology, 2014
Sunday Hunting Bill Clears Hurdle in Virginia January 28, 2014
Sunday hunting bills progress through General Assembly February 10, 2014 Virginia
Sunday hunting expected to be signed into law March 1, 2014 Virginia,
Va. deer-kill numbers down greatly this year December 11, 2014 Virginia
Virginia Whitetail Deer Hunting Outlook October 3, 2014
Virginia will have Sunday hunting on private lands February 22, 2014
..2013
Accomack Supervisors to revisit deer dog issue March 2, 2013 Virginia
Accomack, Divided Board of Supervisors preserves deer hunting with dogs, OK's complaints committee October 17, 2013 Virginia
Annual Deer Feeding Ban to Begin Sept. 1 August 27, 2013 Virginia
Bath County, Deer hunters flooded campgrounds in Bath County in the old days December 11, 2013 Virginia
Biologist says “Bah Humbug” to big deer kill December 3, 2013 Virginia,
Cochran’s take in on deer kill rollercoaster December 4, 2013 Virginia,
Deer are main target of DGIF hunting regs changes June 14, 2013 Virginia
Deer dog hunts alive March 30, 2013 Virginia
Deer poaching is up this year and officials want help November 21, 2013 Virginia
Deer, Bear and Turkey Harvest Data March 9, 2013 Virginia
Don't feed deer during hunting season September 18, 2013 Virginia
Henry and Patrick counties, Deer kills are lower in area January 28, 2013 Virginia
Herd Status, Virginia deer season preview September 28, 2013
Issue of deer hunting with dogs will be revisited by county this fall August 30, 2013 Virginia
Land parcelization and deer population densities in a rural county of Virginia KR Lovely, WJ Mcshea, NW Lafon, DE Carr - Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2013
Local hunters hope legislators will establish season to exercise deer dogs May 29, 2013 Virginia
Majestic animals return to Southwest Virginia - Elk September 23, 2012
Manassas, Hunting and Birth Control Proposed to Decrease Deer Population in Manassas Battlefield Park August 27, 2013 Virginia
Manassas, Park Service deer control plan at Manassas battlefield won't include public hunting August 30, 2013 Virginia
Manassas, Park Service proposes culling deer at Manassas battlefield August 26, 2013 Virginia
New signs Virginia hunters embracing Quality Deer Management May 22, 2013
Poaching steadily increasing December 22, 2013 Virginia
Prince William Forest Park Deer Survey December 12, 2013 Virginia
Rather than dining on venison, some preseason deer forecasters are eating crow November 19, 2013 Virginia
Southampton County saw a 22 percent drop in its deer harvest this year February 28, 2013 Virginia
State plan thins county white-tailed deer population May 1, 2013 Virginia
The Price of Deer October 8, 2013 Virginia
There are fewer deer August 21, 2013 Virginia
Timber cuts a magnet for deer October 21, 2013 Virginia
Virginia deer hunters get updates on studies, declining deer population January 18, 2013
Virginia deer, bear, turkey harvest data announced February 27, 2013
Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries tightens whitetail limits June 13, 2013
.2012
Amendment would facilitate control of coyote population January 18, 2012 Virginia
Deer ... harvest data announced February 28, 2012 Virginia
Deer kill up from previous seasons March 22, 2012 Virginia
Elk reintroduction a success November 8, 2012 Virginia
Forest Service plans 788-acre burn in Amherst County February 8, 2012 Virginia
Good and bad news for deer October 18, 2012 Virginia
Hunters bag slim whitetail harvest on national forest April 10, 2012 Virginia
Hunting is big business for Virginia December 27, 2012
Keeping Deer Wild in Virginia April 30, 2012 Virginia
More opposition to 'immoral' hunting March 14, 2012 Virginia
Non-hunters deserve Sunday peace January 20, 2012 Virginia
Quantico uses tracking devices to study coyote impact on deer June 18, 2012 Virginia
Some General Assembly bills are out of this world [hunting system for landowners] January 17, 2012 Virginia
Valley Crop Mob Helps Last Virginia Deer Farmer Turn Things Around [Last Deer Farmer in Virginia] January 30, 2012
Virginia Bill Would Destroy Hunting, Trapping, & State Wildlife ConservationJanuary 20, 2012
Virginia deer spotter headed to court March 5, 2012 Virginia
Virginia deer-feeding ban begins Saturday August 31, 2012
Virginia's ... deer kills up from past season March 4, 2012
What is the Real Killer of Deer in Virginia's Forests? June 20, 2012
Wild Elk Return To Southwest Virginia May 18, 2012
Wildlife Center treating poisoned bald eagle January 13, 2012 Virginia
2011
Age of trees in George Washington National Forest's key issue in management September 4, 2011, Virginia
As hunting declines in Virginia, a way of life is lost January 24, 2011 Virginia
Coyote Control: Necessary Part of Deer Management? June 2, 2011 Virginia
Deer kills for Virginia's fall-winter season decline March 7, 2011
Don't feed the deer: Ban goes into effect Sept. 1 in Virginia August 28, 2011
Drop In State Deer Herd Concern To Hunters February 25, 2011 Virginia
Drop in Virginia deer herd concern to hunters February 26, 2011
Hunters concerned over decline in national forest deer June 24, 2011 Virginia
Hunters' deer tally drops considerably March 3, 2011 Virginia
Hunting Regulation Amendments, Virginia July 4, 2011
Loudoun County Plans Managed Deer Hunts at Nature Preserve September 13, 2011 Virginia
Manassas Deer eating house and home at Manassas battlefield April 14, 2011 Virginia
Manasses: Deer management plans on Manasses National Battlefield Park, Antietam National Battlefield Park and Monocacy National Battlefield July 19, 2011 Virginia
QDMA chapter's Field Day helps with habitat improvement May 31, 2011 Virginia
Rescuing Wildlife August 16, 2011 Virginia
Sundays Won't Bring Deer Back June 29, 2011 Virginia
Virginia Deer Harvest Down July 29, 2011
Virginia game officials report smaller deer harvest July 31, 2011
Where have all the mountain deer gone? August 17, 2011 Virginia
Where have the deer gone? January 20, 2011 Virginia
Will hunters see a rebound in whitetails? September 23, 2011 Virginia
Deer hunters: Don't shoot the does 10/26/2010
Influences of Precipitation, Temperature, and Acorn Mast on White-Tailed Deer Body Weight in the Northern Piedmont of Virginia SAB Campbell
Lighter deer harvest forecast (Population decline in Virginia) December 2, 2010