Alleghany County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,585 deer in Alleghany County in the 2025-26 season: 1,310 antlered bucks and 1,143 does (NCWRC). That is 11 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 33rd of North Carolina's 100. The count was 14% above 2024-25 (2,269). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,144 in 2008-09.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Alleghany CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,585 (1,310 antlered bucks, 132 antlerless males, 1,143 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 11, 1st of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 8.22 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,000 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,144 in 2008-09 |
| Deer season zone | Northwestern (gun opens Nov. 21) |
| NCWRC district | District 7, Mountain; N. Mountain unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 11 deer |
| Land area | 234.8 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 game lands, 866 acres |
| Towns | Sparta |
How many deer are killed in Alleghany County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,000; the most was 2,585 in 2025-26 and the fewest 1,745 in 2021-22. 2025-26 was 44% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,585 | 11 |
| 2024-25 | 2,269 | 9.7 |
| 2023-24 | 1,895 | 8.1 |
| 2022-23 | 1,832 | 7.8 |
| 2021-22 | 1,745 | 7.4 |
| 2020-21 | 2,103 | 9 |
| 2019-20 | 1,915 | 8.2 |
| 2018-19 | 1,912 | 8.1 |
| 2017-18 | 1,940 | 8.3 |
| 2016-17 | 1,801 | 7.7 |
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 | 1,310 | 132 | 1,143 | 1,690 | 523 | 186 | 186 | 11 | 2,574 |
| 2024-25 | 1,197 | 115 | 957 | 1,512 | 484 | 162 | 111 | 12 | 2,257 |
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 234.8 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Alleghany County in 2026-27?
Alleghany 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 Alleghany County?
| Game land | Acres in Alleghany County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Mitchell River Game Land | 613 | 21 |
| Thurmond Chatham Game Land | 253 | 17 |
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 Alleghany County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alleghany County | Northwestern | 2,585 | 11 | 44% |
| Ashe County | Northwestern | 2,793 | 6.6 | 3% |
| Surry County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,094 | 5.8 | 39% |
| Wilkes County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,328 | 4.4 | 17% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Alleghany County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 2,585 deer taken in Alleghany County in the 2025-26 season: 1,310 antlered bucks, 132 antlerless males and 1,143 does. 1,690 were taken with a gun, 523 with blackpowder, 186 with a bow and 186 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Alleghany County in 2026-27?
Alleghany 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 Alleghany County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Mitchell River Game Land (613 acres in the county) and Thurmond Chatham Game Land (253 acres in the county) in Alleghany County.
Has the deer harvest in Alleghany County gone up or down?
From 1,801 in 2016-17 to 2,585 in 2025-26, 44% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,144 in 2008-09.
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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 Ashe County Surry County Wilkes County