Forsyth County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,475 deer in Forsyth County in the 2025-26 season: 871 antlered bucks and 547 does (NCWRC). That is 3.6 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 64th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 13% above 2024-25 (1,310). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 1,512 in 2017-18.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Forsyth CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,475 (871 antlered bucks, 57 antlerless males, 547 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.6, 58th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 6.03 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,315 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 1,512 in 2017-18 |
| Deer season zone | Northwestern CWD Management Area (gun opens Nov. 14) |
| NCWRC district | District 7, Piedmont; N. Foothill unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 0 deer |
| Land area | 408 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 game land, 180 acres |
| Towns | Winston-Salem, Kernersville, Lewisville, Clemmons and Tobaccoville |
How many deer are killed in Forsyth County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,315; the most was 1,512 in 2017-18 and the fewest 847 in 2022-23. 2025-26 was 8% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,475 | 3.6 |
| 2024-25 | 1,310 | 3.2 |
| 2023-24 | 1,374 | 3.4 |
| 2022-23 | 847 | 2.1 |
| 2021-22 | 1,148 | 2.8 |
| 2020-21 | 1,380 | 3.4 |
| 2019-20 | 1,481 | 3.6 |
| 2018-19 | 1,258 | 3.1 |
| 2017-18 | 1,512 | 3.7 |
| 2016-17 | 1,362 | 3.3 |
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 | 871 | 57 | 547 | 804 | 210 | 169 | 292 | 0 | 1,475 |
| 2024-25 | 726 | 56 | 528 | 715 | 221 | 140 | 234 | 0 | 1,310 |
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 408 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Forsyth County in 2026-27?
Forsyth County is in NCWRC's Northwestern CWD Management Area deer zone. Its 2026-27 dates:
| Method | Antlered deer | Antlerless deer |
|---|---|---|
| Special early season | Aug. 22 to 23, 2026 | As listed |
| Archery | Sept. 12 to Oct. 30, 2026 | Sept. 12 to Oct. 30, 2026 |
| Blackpowder | Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026 | Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026 |
| Gun | Nov. 14, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 | Nov. 14, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 |
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 Forsyth County?
| Game land | Acres in Forsyth County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Paynes Branch Game Land | 180 |
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 Forsyth County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forsyth County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 1,475 | 3.6 | 8% |
| Davidson County | Central | 3,527 | 6.4 | 59% |
| Davie County | Northwestern | 1,222 | 4.6 | 28% |
| Guilford County | Central | 2,251 | 3.5 | 21% |
| Rockingham County | Central | 4,033 | 7.1 | 39% |
| Stokes County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,192 | 7.1 | 14% |
| Surry County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,094 | 5.8 | 39% |
| Yadkin County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 2,099 | 6.3 | 40% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Forsyth County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,475 deer taken in Forsyth County in the 2025-26 season: 871 antlered bucks, 57 antlerless males and 547 does. 804 were taken with a gun, 210 with blackpowder, 169 with a bow and 292 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Forsyth County in 2026-27?
Forsyth County is in the Northwestern CWD Management Area deer zone: special early season Aug. 22 to 23, 2026; 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 Forsyth County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Paynes Branch Game Land (180 acres in the county) in Forsyth County.
Has the deer harvest in Forsyth County gone up or down?
From 1,362 in 2016-17 to 1,475 in 2025-26, 8% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 1,512 in 2017-18.
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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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