Alexander County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,255 deer in Alexander County in the 2025-26 season: 652 antlered bucks and 550 does (NCWRC). That is 4.8 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 71st of North Carolina's 100. The count was 10% above 2024-25 (1,146). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 1,255 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Alexander CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,255 (652 antlered bucks, 53 antlerless males, 550 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.8, 35th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 3.98 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 997 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 1,255 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Northwestern (gun opens Nov. 21) |
| NCWRC district | District 7, Mountain; N. Mountain unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 0 deer |
| Land area | 260 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No game land |
| Towns | Taylorsville |
How many deer are killed in Alexander County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 997; the most was 1,255 in 2025-26 and the fewest 689 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 82% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,255 | 4.8 |
| 2024-25 | 1,146 | 4.4 |
| 2023-24 | 1,094 | 4.2 |
| 2022-23 | 1,092 | 4.2 |
| 2021-22 | 1,077 | 4.1 |
| 2020-21 | 947 | 3.6 |
| 2019-20 | 928 | 3.6 |
| 2018-19 | 853 | 3.3 |
| 2017-18 | 887 | 3.4 |
| 2016-17 | 689 | 2.7 |
How the last 2 seasons' deer were taken, and where:
| Season | Antlered bucks | Antlerless males | Does | Gun | Blackpowder | Bow | Crossbow | Game lands | Other land |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 652 | 53 | 550 | 847 | 226 | 94 | 88 | 0 | 1,255 |
| 2024-25 | 615 | 52 | 479 | 833 | 159 | 82 | 72 | 0 | 1,146 |
Sources: NCWRC reported deer harvest by county, 1976-2024; NCWRC 2024-25 reported deer harvest by county; NCWRC 2025-26 reported deer harvest by county. Per square mile uses the county's 260 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Alexander County in 2026-27?
Alexander County is in NCWRC's Northwestern deer zone. Its 2026-27 dates:
| Method | Antlered deer | Antlerless deer |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sept. 12 to Nov. 6, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Blackpowder | Nov. 7 to 20, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Gun | Nov. 21, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 | Same as antlered |
Source: NCWRC hunting and trapping season dates, 2026-27. On game lands, the game land's hunting days also apply.
Where is the public hunting land in Alexander County?
No game land boundary falls in Alexander County. The closest game lands with a page here: Kerr Scott Game Land (about 14 miles), Little Fork State Forest Game Land (about 23 miles) and Buffalo Cove Game Land (about 24 miles).
Acres measured by FilledTag on NCWRC game land boundaries, U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries.
How does Alexander County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander County | Northwestern | 1,255 | 4.8 | 82% |
| Caldwell County | Western | 1,668 | 3.5 | 140% |
| Catawba County | Northwestern | 2,429 | 6.1 | 89% |
| Iredell County | Northwestern | 3,133 | 5.5 | 60% |
| Wilkes County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,328 | 4.4 | 17% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Alexander County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,255 deer taken in Alexander County in the 2025-26 season: 652 antlered bucks, 53 antlerless males and 550 does. 847 were taken with a gun, 226 with blackpowder, 94 with a bow and 88 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Alexander County in 2026-27?
Alexander County is in the Northwestern deer zone: archery Sept. 12 to Nov. 6, 2026; blackpowder Nov. 7 to 20, 2026; gun Nov. 21, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 (NCWRC 2026-27 season dates).
Is there public hunting land in Alexander County?
No game land boundary falls in Alexander County. The closest game lands with a page here: Kerr Scott Game Land (about 14 miles), Little Fork State Forest Game Land (about 23 miles) and Buffalo Cove Game Land (about 24 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Alexander County gone up or down?
From 689 in 2016-17 to 1,255 in 2025-26, 82% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 1,255 in 2025-26.
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Where these numbers come from
- Deer harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest by county, 1976-2024; NCWRC 2024-25 reported deer harvest by county; NCWRC 2025-26 reported deer harvest by county.
- Deer zones and dates: NCWRC hunting and trapping season dates, 2026-27.
- Public land: NCWRC game land boundaries; U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries. County land area: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries. Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer.
FilledTag is not part of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Numbers are copied from NCWRC and the Census Bureau or measured from public maps; nothing here is estimated by FilledTag.
North Carolina hunting North Carolina deer harvest by county Caldwell County Catawba County Iredell County Wilkes County