Deer harvests increase as bear, turkey harvests trend down in Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia hunters have harvested more deer and taken fewer bears and turkeys this hunting season, according to new state data.

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) on Feb. 4 released harvest data in the commonwealth for the fall 2025-26 hunting seasons. Per the DWR, several factors can impact harvests, including changes in hunter participation, natural food availability and weather.

Deer harvests increase in Virginia

DWR data showed 227,302 white-tailed deer were harvested this season, a 10% increase from last year's 205,759 deer. This year's total included 108,163 antlered bucks, 14,631 button bucks, 973 shed bucks and 103,535 does.

This season's total reflects a 14% increase from the previous 10-year average of 198,666, according to the DWR. Officials said new deer hunting regulations recently implemented likely contributed to the increase in deer harvest, though this season started off stronger than the last.

Virginia's annual deer harvest between 1947 and 2025. (Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources)

Per the DWR, about 32,700 deer were taken by archers and roughly 51,400 were taken with muzzleloaders, a type of gun. Officials said 143,100 deer were taken with firearms.

Fewer bears were harvested this season

About 2,000 black bears were hunted during the 2025-26 season, according to data from the DWR. This reflects a 13.3% decrease from the previous year and a 18% drop from the previous 5-year average between 2020 and 2024.

Hunters harvested more female bears this season compared to the previous period, officials said.

Virginia saw a decrease in bear harvests in almost all methods, including a 31.4% drop in archery and a 24.6% drop in muzzleloader. The youth and apprentice hunting season also saw a 25.4% decline in harvests. Bear harvests by general firearms are the exception, increasing by 4% statewide.

Virginia's annual black bear harvest between 1928 and 2025. (Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources)

Officials said factors like season reductions in 24 counties and the closing of the 3-day early season in nine additional southwestern counties could have potentially contributed to the decrease in the number of bears harvested.

During permitting seasons, about 68.9% of bears were taken by hunters using hounds.

Virginia sees increase in turkey harvests

Over 1,000 wild turkeys were harvested across the commonwealth during the 2025-26 fall turkey hunting season, per the DWR. This reflects a 28% decrease from the previous 2024-25 season and a 38% drop compared to the previous 5-year average.

Officials said the decline can be linked to decreasing hunter participation, where the number of fall turkey hunters has dropped by 64% since 2005. Many hunters have also chosen to either hunt other species in the fall or save turkey tags for the more popular spring turkey season, per the DWR.

Virginia's fall wild turkey harvest between 1962 and 2025. (Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources)

Annual reproductive success is likely another contributing factor in the decline, officials said. Last year, Virginia reported 1.3 poults per hen, far below the long-term average productivity estimate of 2.6 poults per hen and the lowest the state has seen since 2007.

All regions of the commonwealth saw a decline in productivity except southwestern Virginia, which officials said is most likely due to a periodic cicada hatch in the coalfield counties.