Gaston County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,019 deer in Gaston County in the 2025-26 season: 1,064 antlered bucks and 872 does (NCWRC). That is 5.7 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 48th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 10% below 2024-25 (2,250). NCWRC's records go back to 1985-86; the most in one season was 2,300 in 2023-24.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Gaston CountyNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,019 (1,064 antlered bucks, 83 antlerless males, 872 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 5.7, 26th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 7.15 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,924 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1985 | 2,300 in 2023-24 |
| Deer season zone | Northwestern (gun opens Nov. 21) |
| NCWRC district | District 8, Piedmont; S. Foothill unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 0 deer |
| Land area | 355.8 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No game land |
| Towns | Gastonia, Belmont, Mount Holly, Cherryville and Bessemer City |
How many deer are killed in Gaston County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,924; the most was 2,300 in 2023-24 and the fewest 1,413 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 43% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,019 | 5.7 |
| 2024-25 | 2,250 | 6.3 |
| 2023-24 | 2,300 | 6.5 |
| 2022-23 | 2,097 | 5.9 |
| 2021-22 | 2,025 | 5.7 |
| 2020-21 | 2,056 | 5.8 |
| 2019-20 | 1,936 | 5.4 |
| 2018-19 | 1,643 | 4.6 |
| 2017-18 | 1,501 | 4.2 |
| 2016-17 | 1,413 | 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 | 1,064 | 83 | 872 | 1,140 | 280 | 206 | 393 | 0 | 2,019 |
| 2024-25 | 1,089 | 94 | 1,067 | 1,209 | 305 | 239 | 497 | 0 | 2,250 |
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 355.8 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Gaston County in 2026-27?
Gaston 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 Gaston County?
No game land boundary falls in Gaston County. The closest game lands with a page here: South Mountains Game Land (about 36 miles), Second Creek Game Land (about 42 miles) and Johns River Game Land (about 47 miles).
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 Gaston County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gaston County | Northwestern | 2,019 | 5.7 | 43% |
| Cleveland County | Northwestern | 3,948 | 8.5 | 115% |
| Lincoln County | Northwestern | 2,092 | 7.1 | 44% |
| Mecklenburg County | Central | 697 | 1.3 | -16% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Gaston County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 2,019 deer taken in Gaston County in the 2025-26 season: 1,064 antlered bucks, 83 antlerless males and 872 does. 1,140 were taken with a gun, 280 with blackpowder, 206 with a bow and 393 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Gaston County in 2026-27?
Gaston 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 Gaston County?
No game land boundary falls in Gaston County. The closest game lands with a page here: South Mountains Game Land (about 36 miles), Second Creek Game Land (about 42 miles) and Johns River Game Land (about 47 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Gaston County gone up or down?
From 1,413 in 2016-17 to 2,019 in 2025-26, 43% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 2,300 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.
North Carolina hunting North Carolina deer harvest by county Cleveland County Lincoln County Mecklenburg County