Ashe County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,793 deer in Ashe County in the 2025-26 season: 1,508 antlered bucks and 1,156 does (NCWRC). That is 6.6 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 27th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 19% above 2024-25 (2,354). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 2,891 in 2015-16.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Ashe CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,793 (1,508 antlered bucks, 129 antlerless males, 1,156 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 6.6, 13th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 5.35 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,598 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 2,891 in 2015-16 |
| Deer season zone | Northwestern (gun opens Nov. 21) |
| NCWRC district | District 7, Mountain; N. Mountain unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 51 deer |
| Land area | 426.3 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 game lands, 7,048 acres |
| Towns | West Jefferson, Jefferson and Lansing |
How many deer are killed in Ashe County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,598; the most was 2,835 in 2020-21 and the fewest 2,234 in 2023-24. 2025-26 was 3% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,793 | 6.6 |
| 2024-25 | 2,354 | 5.5 |
| 2023-24 | 2,234 | 5.2 |
| 2022-23 | 2,701 | 6.3 |
| 2021-22 | 2,586 | 6.1 |
| 2020-21 | 2,835 | 6.7 |
| 2019-20 | 2,607 | 6.1 |
| 2018-19 | 2,478 | 5.8 |
| 2017-18 | 2,678 | 6.3 |
| 2016-17 | 2,716 | 6.4 |
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 | 1,508 | 129 | 1,156 | 1,857 | 565 | 189 | 182 | 51 | 2,742 |
| 2024-25 | 1,306 | 103 | 945 | 1,501 | 514 | 176 | 163 | 29 | 2,325 |
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 426.3 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Ashe County in 2026-27?
Ashe 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 Ashe County?
| Game land | Acres in Ashe County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Pond Mountain Game Land | 3,627 | 37 |
| Three Top Mountain Game Land | 3,421 | 14 |
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 Ashe County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashe County | Northwestern | 2,793 | 6.6 | 3% |
| Alleghany County | Northwestern | 2,585 | 11 | 44% |
| Watauga County | Northwestern | 2,142 | 6.9 | 44% |
| Wilkes County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,328 | 4.4 | 17% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Ashe County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 2,793 deer taken in Ashe County in the 2025-26 season: 1,508 antlered bucks, 129 antlerless males and 1,156 does. 1,857 were taken with a gun, 565 with blackpowder, 189 with a bow and 182 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Ashe County in 2026-27?
Ashe 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 Ashe County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Pond Mountain Game Land (3,627 acres in the county) and Three Top Mountain Game Land (3,421 acres in the county) in Ashe County.
Has the deer harvest in Ashe County gone up or down?
From 2,716 in 2016-17 to 2,793 in 2025-26, 3% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 2,891 in 2015-16.
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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 Alleghany County Watauga County Wilkes County