Cleveland County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 3,948 deer in Cleveland County in the 2025-26 season: 2,116 antlered bucks and 1,680 does (NCWRC). That is 8.5 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 4th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 3% above 2024-25 (3,820). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,948 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Cleveland CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 3,948 (2,116 antlered bucks, 152 antlerless males, 1,680 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 8.5, 2nd of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 7.63 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,819 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,948 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Northwestern (gun opens Nov. 21) |
| NCWRC district | District 8, Piedmont; S. Foothill unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 10 deer |
| Land area | 464.3 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 game land, 2,811 acres |
| Towns | Shelby, Kings Mountain, Belwood, Boiling Springs and Fallston |
How many deer are killed in Cleveland County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,819; the most was 3,948 in 2025-26 and the fewest 1,833 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 115% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 3,948 | 8.5 |
| 2024-25 | 3,820 | 8.2 |
| 2023-24 | 3,779 | 8.1 |
| 2022-23 | 3,071 | 6.6 |
| 2021-22 | 2,769 | 6 |
| 2020-21 | 2,563 | 5.5 |
| 2019-20 | 2,355 | 5.1 |
| 2018-19 | 2,028 | 4.4 |
| 2017-18 | 2,025 | 4.4 |
| 2016-17 | 1,833 | 3.9 |
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 | 2,116 | 152 | 1,680 | 2,465 | 607 | 352 | 524 | 10 | 3,938 |
| 2024-25 | 2,061 | 119 | 1,640 | 2,418 | 605 | 338 | 459 | 4 | 3,816 |
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 464.3 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Cleveland County in 2026-27?
Cleveland 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 Cleveland County?
| Game land | Acres in Cleveland County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| South Mountains Game Land | 2,811 | 64 |
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 Cleveland County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland County | Northwestern | 3,948 | 8.5 | 115% |
| Burke County | Western | 2,161 | 4.3 | 74% |
| Gaston County | Northwestern | 2,019 | 5.7 | 43% |
| Lincoln County | Northwestern | 2,092 | 7.1 | 44% |
| Rutherford County | Northwestern | 3,802 | 6.7 | 125% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Cleveland County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 3,948 deer taken in Cleveland County in the 2025-26 season: 2,116 antlered bucks, 152 antlerless males and 1,680 does. 2,465 were taken with a gun, 607 with blackpowder, 352 with a bow and 524 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Cleveland County in 2026-27?
Cleveland 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 Cleveland County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts South Mountains Game Land (2,811 acres in the county) in Cleveland County.
Has the deer harvest in Cleveland County gone up or down?
From 1,833 in 2016-17 to 3,948 in 2025-26, 115% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,948 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 Burke County Gaston County Lincoln County Rutherford County