Virginia.gov

Earn A Buck (EAB) Questions and Answers

  • What is EAB?
    • EAB is a regulation designed to increase the antlerless deer kill.
  • Where is EAB in effect?
    • EAB areas include all private lands in the counties (including the private lands in the cities and towns within) in Bedford, Clarke, Fairfax, Fauquier, Franklin, Frederick, Loudoun, Patrick, Prince William, Roanoke, Shenandoah, and Warren counties.
  • When is EAB in effect?
    • During all open deer seasons (archery, muzzleloading, and firearms).
  • Will deer hunters have to kill an antlerless deer first under EAB?
    • No, under EAB the first deer can be an antlered buck or an antlerless deer (a doe or button buck)..
  • How will EAB work?
    • In EAB areas at least one antlerless deer must be taken on private lands in an EAB area before the second antlered deer of the license year may be taken on private lands in an EAB area. Furthermore, at least two antlerless deer must have been taken on private lands in an EAB area before the third antlered deer of the license year may be taken on private lands in an EAB area.
  • What if I hunt deer in one of the EAB counties and in other counties in Virginia?
    • EAB will still apply. Antlered bucks taken anywhere in the state count against the EAB antlered buck requirement, but only antlerless deer taken on private lands in the designated EAB areas count toward the EAB antlerless deer requirement.
  • Why require EAB?
    • The Department's Deer Management Plan calls for deer populations to be reduced in all these counties, and traditional liberal deer regulations have not effectively achieved that objective. In fact, deer populations in several of these counties have increased. EAB has been demonstrated in several other states to be an effective management tool to control and reduce deer numbers.
  • Can a deer hunter shoot an antlerless deer first and be "prequalified" to kill two bucks?
    • Yes.
  • Can a deer hunter shoot two antlerless deer first and be "prequalified" to kill three bucks?
    • Yes.
  • Can antlerless deer "carry over" from year to year?
    • No.
  • What should I do if I have additional EAB questions?