Graham County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 168 deer in Graham County in the 2025-26 season: 147 antlered bucks and 20 does (NCWRC). That is 0.6 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 99th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 23% above 2024-25 (137). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 168 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Graham CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 168 (147 antlered bucks, 1 antlerless male, 20 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 0.6, 99th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 0.56 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 102 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 168 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Western (gun opens Nov. 28) |
| NCWRC district | District 9, Mountain; Nantahala unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 106 deer |
| Land area | 292 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 game land, 113,913 acres |
| Towns | Robbinsville, Fontana Dam and Lake Santeetlah |
How many deer are killed in Graham County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 102; the most was 168 in 2025-26 and the fewest 59 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 185% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 168 | 0.6 |
| 2024-25 | 137 | 0.5 |
| 2023-24 | 133 | 0.5 |
| 2022-23 | 111 | 0.4 |
| 2021-22 | 80 | 0.3 |
| 2020-21 | 89 | 0.3 |
| 2019-20 | 104 | 0.4 |
| 2018-19 | 63 | 0.2 |
| 2017-18 | 75 | 0.3 |
| 2016-17 | 59 | 0.2 |
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 | 147 | 1 | 20 | 102 | 42 | 10 | 14 | 106 | 62 |
| 2024-25 | 117 | 2 | 18 | 91 | 29 | 8 | 9 | 82 | 55 |
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 292 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Graham County in 2026-27?
Graham 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, 2026 |
| Gun | Nov. 28, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 | None |
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 Graham County?
| Game land | Acres in Graham County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Nantahala Game Land | 113,913 | 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 Graham County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graham County | Western | 168 | 0.6 | 185% |
| Cherokee County | Western | 1,339 | 2.9 | 156% |
| Macon County | Western | 1,232 | 2.4 | 86% |
| Swain County | Western | 386 | 0.7 | 163% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Graham County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 168 deer taken in Graham County in the 2025-26 season: 147 antlered bucks, 1 antlerless male and 20 does. 102 were taken with a gun, 42 with blackpowder, 10 with a bow and 14 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Graham County in 2026-27?
Graham 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 Graham County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Nantahala Game Land (113,913 acres in the county) in Graham County.
Has the deer harvest in Graham County gone up or down?
From 59 in 2016-17 to 168 in 2025-26, 185% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 168 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 Swain County