Cabarrus County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,030 deer in Cabarrus County in the 2025-26 season: 1,069 antlered bucks and 886 does (NCWRC). That is 5.6 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 47th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 21% below 2024-25 (2,562). NCWRC's records go back to 1977-78; the most in one season was 2,562 in 2024-25.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Cabarrus CountyNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,030 (1,069 antlered bucks, 75 antlerless males, 886 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 5.6, 27th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 6.89 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,053 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1977 | 2,562 in 2024-25 |
| Deer season zone | Central (gun opens Nov. 14) |
| NCWRC district | District 6, Piedmont; S. Piedmont unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 0 deer |
| Land area | 361.2 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No game land |
| Towns | Concord, Kannapolis, Midland, Harrisburg and Mount Pleasant |
How many deer are killed in Cabarrus County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,053; the most was 2,562 in 2024-25 and the fewest 1,654 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 23% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,030 | 5.6 |
| 2024-25 | 2,562 | 7.1 |
| 2023-24 | 2,213 | 6.1 |
| 2022-23 | 2,165 | 6 |
| 2021-22 | 2,105 | 5.8 |
| 2020-21 | 2,192 | 6.1 |
| 2019-20 | 1,891 | 5.2 |
| 2018-19 | 1,897 | 5.3 |
| 2017-18 | 1,821 | 5 |
| 2016-17 | 1,654 | 4.6 |
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 | 1,069 | 75 | 886 | 1,452 | 193 | 170 | 215 | 0 | 2,030 |
| 2024-25 | 1,297 | 123 | 1,142 | 1,828 | 200 | 225 | 309 | 0 | 2,562 |
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 361.2 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Cabarrus County in 2026-27?
Cabarrus County is in NCWRC's Central deer zone. Its 2026-27 dates:
| Method | Antlered deer | Antlerless deer |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sept. 12 to Oct. 30, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Blackpowder | Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Gun | Nov. 14, 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 Cabarrus County?
No game land boundary falls in Cabarrus County. The closest game lands with a page here: Second Creek Game Land (about 22 miles), Yadkin River Game Land (about 24 miles) and Linwood Game Land (about 28 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 Cabarrus County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabarrus County | Central | 2,030 | 5.6 | 23% |
| Iredell County | Northwestern | 3,133 | 5.5 | 60% |
| Mecklenburg County | Central | 697 | 1.3 | -16% |
| Rowan County | Central | 3,203 | 6.3 | 67% |
| Stanly County | Central | 3,371 | 8.5 | 47% |
| Union County | Central | 3,783 | 6 | 43% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Cabarrus County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 2,030 deer taken in Cabarrus County in the 2025-26 season: 1,069 antlered bucks, 75 antlerless males and 886 does. 1,452 were taken with a gun, 193 with blackpowder, 170 with a bow and 215 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Cabarrus County in 2026-27?
Cabarrus County is in the Central deer zone: archery Sept. 12 to Oct. 30, 2026; blackpowder Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026; gun Nov. 14, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 (NCWRC 2026-27 season dates).
Is there public hunting land in Cabarrus County?
No game land boundary falls in Cabarrus County. The closest game lands with a page here: Second Creek Game Land (about 22 miles), Yadkin River Game Land (about 24 miles) and Linwood Game Land (about 28 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Cabarrus County gone up or down?
From 1,654 in 2016-17 to 2,030 in 2025-26, 23% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 2,562 in 2024-25.
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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 Iredell County Mecklenburg County Rowan County Stanly County