Richmond's suburbs have too many deer and too few hunters
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A whitetail deer in Glen Allen in October. Photo: Mike Mulholland/Getty Images
Richmond has a deer problem — and fewer hunters to help keep the population in check, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Why it matters: As Richmond's suburbs expand, deer are finding refuge in neighborhoods where hunting is limited, making them harder to control.
- And deer, it turns out, aren't always the best neighbors. Too many can lead to car crashes, property damage and even health problems for the animals themselves, per state wildlife officials.
State of play: Wildlife officials are trying to reduce deer populations in parts of the Richmond region — and much of the state.
- Woods, parks, golf courses and backyard gardens provide plenty of food and shelter, Justin Folks, deer project leader for DWR, tells Axios.
- Meanwhile: Virginia has 19% fewer licensed deer hunters than a decade ago, and suburban development is limiting where they can hunt, per DWR.
What they're saying: "You've got people that are having conflicts with deer and want to declare war on all of them, and then right next door you've got someone that's got a name for every single deer in the neighborhood," Folks says.
By the numbers: Hunters killed at least 5,035 deer in Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico during the 2025–26 hunting season, per DWR.
- Hanover accounted for 2,615, Chesterfield for 1,771 and Henrico for 649.
Yes, but: Reducing deer populations requires targeting females, which generally need to account for at least 50% of the deer killed, per DWR.
- After DWR expanded local hunting opportunities last season, females accounted for about 53% of deer killed in Hanover, 50% in Henrico and 48% in Chesterfield.
- "They did pretty good last year," Folks tells Axios. But bringing populations down will take sustained effort. "Gotta keep your foot on the gas."
The catch: Hunting in Richmond's suburbs isn't as simple as spotting a deer in your backyard and shooting it (shockingly).
- Local laws restrict where hunters can shoot, especially near homes.
- Richmond prohibits hunting deer with firearms, though bows and crossbows are allowed on private property (with permission), apparently.
What's next: Virginia's deer shooting season opens Nov. 14.
- DWR is encouraging hunters to donate extra venison to help feed Virginians in need as part of the National Deer Association's #DonateADoe challenge.