Caldwell County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,668 deer in Caldwell County in the 2025-26 season: 1,033 antlered bucks and 579 does (NCWRC). That is 3.5 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 58th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 11% above 2024-25 (1,506). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 1,668 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Caldwell CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,668 (1,033 antlered bucks, 56 antlerless males, 579 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.5, 59th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 3.27 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,159 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 1,668 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Western (gun opens Nov. 28) |
| NCWRC district | District 8, Mountain; N. Pisgah unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 51 deer |
| Land area | 471.9 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 4 game lands, 56,071 acres |
| Towns | Lenoir, Gamewell, Sawmills, Granite Falls and Hudson |
How many deer are killed in Caldwell County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,159; the most was 1,668 in 2025-26 and the fewest 695 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 140% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,668 | 3.5 |
| 2024-25 | 1,506 | 3.2 |
| 2023-24 | 1,576 | 3.3 |
| 2022-23 | 1,139 | 2.4 |
| 2021-22 | 1,177 | 2.5 |
| 2020-21 | 1,048 | 2.2 |
| 2019-20 | 1,008 | 2.1 |
| 2018-19 | 849 | 1.8 |
| 2017-18 | 925 | 2 |
| 2016-17 | 695 | 1.5 |
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 | 1,033 | 56 | 579 | 865 | 400 | 160 | 243 | 51 | 1,617 |
| 2024-25 | 937 | 53 | 516 | 776 | 400 | 150 | 180 | 36 | 1,470 |
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 471.9 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Caldwell County in 2026-27?
Caldwell County is in NCWRC's Western deer zone. Its 2026-27 dates:
| Method | Antlered deer | Antlerless deer |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sept. 12 to Nov. 13, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Blackpowder | Nov. 14 to 27, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Gun | Nov. 28, 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 Caldwell County?
| Game land | Acres in Caldwell County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Pisgah Game Land | 47,597 | 702 |
| Buffalo Cove Game Land | 6,674 | 14 |
| Kings Creek Game Land | 1,086 | 9 |
| Pisgah WRC Game Land | 714 |
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 Caldwell County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caldwell County | Western | 1,668 | 3.5 | 140% |
| Alexander County | Northwestern | 1,255 | 4.8 | 82% |
| Avery County | Western | 1,325 | 5.4 | 77% |
| Burke County | Western | 2,161 | 4.3 | 74% |
| Catawba County | Northwestern | 2,429 | 6.1 | 89% |
| 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 Caldwell County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,668 deer taken in Caldwell County in the 2025-26 season: 1,033 antlered bucks, 56 antlerless males and 579 does. 865 were taken with a gun, 400 with blackpowder, 160 with a bow and 243 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Caldwell County in 2026-27?
Caldwell County is in the Western deer zone: archery Sept. 12 to Nov. 13, 2026; blackpowder Nov. 14 to 27, 2026; gun Nov. 28, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 (NCWRC 2026-27 season dates).
Is there public hunting land in Caldwell County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Pisgah Game Land (47,597 acres in the county), Buffalo Cove Game Land (6,674 acres in the county), Kings Creek Game Land (1,086 acres in the county) and Pisgah WRC Game Land (714 acres in the county) in Caldwell County.
Has the deer harvest in Caldwell County gone up or down?
From 695 in 2016-17 to 1,668 in 2025-26, 140% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 1,668 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 Alexander County Avery County Burke County Catawba County