Clay County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 711 deer in Clay County in the 2025-26 season: 440 antlered bucks and 246 does (NCWRC). That is 3.3 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 87th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 1% above 2024-25 (706). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 711 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Clay CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 711 (440 antlered bucks, 25 antlerless males, 246 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.3, 66th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 2.71 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 474 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 711 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Western (gun opens Nov. 28) |
| NCWRC district | District 9, Mountain; Nantahala unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 95 deer |
| Land area | 215 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 game land, 66,612 acres |
| Towns | Hayesville |
How many deer are killed in Clay County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 474; the most was 711 in 2025-26 and the fewest 328 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 111% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 711 | 3.3 |
| 2024-25 | 706 | 3.3 |
| 2023-24 | 503 | 2.3 |
| 2022-23 | 489 | 2.3 |
| 2021-22 | 433 | 2 |
| 2020-21 | 472 | 2.2 |
| 2019-20 | 418 | 1.9 |
| 2018-19 | 328 | 1.5 |
| 2017-18 | 345 | 1.6 |
| 2016-17 | 337 | 1.6 |
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 | 440 | 25 | 246 | 307 | 126 | 109 | 169 | 95 | 616 |
| 2024-25 | 441 | 32 | 233 | 283 | 156 | 97 | 170 | 89 | 617 |
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 215 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Clay County in 2026-27?
Clay 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 | Nov. 21 to 27, 2026 |
| Gun | Nov. 28, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 | Nov. 28, 2026 |
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 Clay County?
| Game land | Acres in Clay County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Nantahala Game Land | 66,612 | 933 |
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 Clay County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay County | Western | 711 | 3.3 | 111% |
| Cherokee County | Western | 1,339 | 2.9 | 156% |
| Macon County | Western | 1,232 | 2.4 | 86% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Clay County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 711 deer taken in Clay County in the 2025-26 season: 440 antlered bucks, 25 antlerless males and 246 does. 307 were taken with a gun, 126 with blackpowder, 109 with a bow and 169 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Clay County in 2026-27?
Clay 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 Clay County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Nantahala Game Land (66,612 acres in the county) in Clay County.
Has the deer harvest in Clay County gone up or down?
From 337 in 2016-17 to 711 in 2025-26, 111% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 711 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 Cherokee County Macon County