Davidson County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 3,527 deer in Davidson County in the 2025-26 season: 1,923 antlered bucks and 1,468 does (NCWRC). That is 6.4 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 9th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 5% above 2024-25 (3,348). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,856 in 2023-24.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Davidson CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 3,527 (1,923 antlered bucks, 136 antlerless males, 1,468 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 6.4, 16th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 5.11 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,875 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,856 in 2023-24 |
| Deer season zone | Central (gun opens Nov. 14) |
| NCWRC district | District 6, Piedmont; S. Piedmont unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 91 deer |
| Land area | 553 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 game lands, 5,132 acres |
| Towns | Lexington, Thomasville, Midway, Wallburg and Denton |
How many deer are killed in Davidson County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,875; the most was 3,856 in 2023-24 and the fewest 2,224 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 59% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 3,527 | 6.4 |
| 2024-25 | 3,348 | 6.1 |
| 2023-24 | 3,856 | 7 |
| 2022-23 | 2,917 | 5.3 |
| 2021-22 | 2,615 | 4.7 |
| 2020-21 | 2,776 | 5 |
| 2019-20 | 2,562 | 4.6 |
| 2018-19 | 2,362 | 4.3 |
| 2017-18 | 2,566 | 4.6 |
| 2016-17 | 2,224 | 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 | 1,923 | 136 | 1,468 | 2,555 | 443 | 220 | 309 | 91 | 3,436 |
| 2024-25 | 1,829 | 95 | 1,424 | 2,525 | 333 | 188 | 302 | 64 | 3,284 |
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 553 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Davidson County in 2026-27?
Davidson 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 Davidson County?
| Game land | Acres in Davidson County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Yadkin River Game Land | 3,998 | 203 |
| Uwharrie Game Land | 965 | 379 |
| Linwood Game Land | 169 | 10 |
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 Davidson County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davidson County | Central | 3,527 | 6.4 | 59% |
| Davie County | Northwestern | 1,222 | 4.6 | 28% |
| Forsyth County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 1,475 | 3.6 | 8% |
| Guilford County | Central | 2,251 | 3.5 | 21% |
| Montgomery County | Central | 2,984 | 6.1 | 32% |
| Randolph County | Central | 5,349 | 6.8 | 82% |
| Rowan County | Central | 3,203 | 6.3 | 67% |
| Stanly County | Central | 3,371 | 8.5 | 47% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Davidson County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 3,527 deer taken in Davidson County in the 2025-26 season: 1,923 antlered bucks, 136 antlerless males and 1,468 does. 2,555 were taken with a gun, 443 with blackpowder, 220 with a bow and 309 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Davidson County in 2026-27?
Davidson 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 Davidson County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Yadkin River Game Land (3,998 acres in the county), Uwharrie Game Land (965 acres in the county) and Linwood Game Land (169 acres in the county) in Davidson County.
Has the deer harvest in Davidson County gone up or down?
From 2,224 in 2016-17 to 3,527 in 2025-26, 59% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,856 in 2023-24.
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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.
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