Officials Urge Increased Doe Harvest to Combat Surging Deer Population on Eastern Shore

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY — State wildlife officials and local agricultural committees are issuing an urgent call to action for regional hunters: harvest more female deer. A rapidly growing whitetail population is inflicting severe damage on local highways, residential landscaping, and the Eastern Shore’s vital agricultural economy.

Biologists with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) report that total harvests must shift focus toward antlerless deer—specifically does—to stabilize the herd. According to state guidelines, female harvests need to hit 52% to 55% of the total local catch to meaningfully reduce herd sizes. While Accomack County hunters met this threshold during the 2025–2026 season—harvesting 1,764 does out of 3,192 total deer (~55%)—Northampton County lagged behind at roughly 49%, taking only 619 does out of 1,256 total harvested deer. Across both counties, hunters brought in a combined total of 4,448 deer last season.

Local farmers are bearing the financial brunt of the population boom. In heavily impacted areas of Northampton County, growers report staggering soybean losses of 30 to 40 bushels per acre. Beyond the fields, expanding herds on private lands are driving up vehicle collisions on area highways and over-browsing local forests. DWR officials note that thinning the population isn’t just good for the community; it improves overall herd health by ensuring surviving bucks and does have better access to vital nutrition.

Policy Deadlock and Hunter Challenges

Despite the clear need for population control, finding a regulatory solution has proven controversial. Just this month, the Northampton Board of Supervisors narrowly defeated a proposal in a 3-2 vote that would have asked the DWR to evaluate stricter management measures. The proposed resolution aimed to explore early or late antlerless-only seasons and the implementation of an “Earn-a-Buck” (EAB) program, which requires hunters to harvest a doe before tagging additional bucks.

For now, Eastern Shore counties remain exempt from standard statewide EAB restrictions. Wildlife officials acknowledge that population control is further complicated by a steady decline in overall hunter participation, alongside the fact that over 90% of the Eastern Shore is privately owned land where hunting is often restricted.

Tracking the 2026–2027 Season Rules

As the fall hunting seasons progress, wildlife managers are leaning on the region’s current regulatory framework to encourage higher yields. The current bag limits allow hunters a maximum of six deer per license year (up to two per day), mandated as no more than three antlered bucks and at least three antlerless deer.

Local hunters are reminded of key regulations and upcoming dates as the general firearms season approaches:

• Early Archery Season: Running from early October through mid-November.
• Early Muzzleloader Season: Running from late October through mid-November.
• General Firearms Season: Opening mid-November and running through early January.

Hunters must stay mindful of distinct county-level weapon ordinances and safety rules. Northampton County continues its historical restriction on hunting deer with rifles, meaning sportsmen must rely on shotguns, muzzleloaders, or archery equipment. Additionally, state law strictly mandates that hunters secure written permission from landowners before stepping onto private property, and all hunters must wear solid blaze orange or blaze pink visible from 360 degrees during muzzleloader and firearms seasons.

About the Author

Wayne Creed

Administrator

View All Posts