Henderson County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 944 deer in Henderson County in the 2025-26 season: 598 antlered bucks and 326 does (NCWRC). That is 2.5 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 81st of North Carolina's 100. The count was 18% above 2024-25 (802). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 944 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Henderson CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 944 (598 antlered bucks, 20 antlerless males, 326 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 2.5, 79th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 2.68 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 599 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 944 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Western (gun opens Nov. 28) |
| NCWRC district | District 9, Mountain; S. Pisgah unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 44 deer |
| Land area | 372.9 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 game lands, 26,772 acres |
| Towns | Mills River, Flat Rock, Hendersonville, Fletcher and Laurel Park |
How many deer are killed in Henderson County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 599; the most was 944 in 2025-26 and the fewest 354 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 167% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 944 | 2.5 |
| 2024-25 | 802 | 2.2 |
| 2023-24 | 678 | 1.8 |
| 2022-23 | 591 | 1.6 |
| 2021-22 | 574 | 1.5 |
| 2020-21 | 625 | 1.7 |
| 2019-20 | 576 | 1.5 |
| 2018-19 | 412 | 1.1 |
| 2017-18 | 432 | 1.2 |
| 2016-17 | 354 | 0.9 |
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 | 598 | 20 | 326 | 508 | 105 | 139 | 192 | 44 | 900 |
| 2024-25 | 566 | 22 | 214 | 415 | 136 | 108 | 143 | 42 | 760 |
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 372.9 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Henderson County in 2026-27?
Henderson 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 | Same as antlered |
| Gun | Nov. 28, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 | Nov. 28 to Dec. 5, 2026 (all gun days in parts of Buncombe and Henderson) |
In the part of Buncombe County east of N.C. 191, south of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, west of U.S. 25 and north of N.C. 280, and the part of Henderson County east of N.C. 191 and north and west of N.C. 280, antlerless deer may be taken on all days of the antlered season.
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 Henderson County?
| Game land | Acres in Henderson County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Pisgah Game Land | 19,088 | 702 |
| Dupont State Forest Game Land | 4,708 | 45 |
| Green River Game Land | 2,976 | 61 |
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 Henderson County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henderson County | Western | 944 | 2.5 | 167% |
| Buncombe County | Western | 1,626 | 2.5 | 126% |
| Haywood County | Western | 767 | 1.4 | 189% |
| Polk County | Northwestern | 1,376 | 5.8 | 76% |
| Rutherford County | Northwestern | 3,802 | 6.7 | 125% |
| Transylvania County | Western | 763 | 2 | 167% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Henderson County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 944 deer taken in Henderson County in the 2025-26 season: 598 antlered bucks, 20 antlerless males and 326 does. 508 were taken with a gun, 105 with blackpowder, 139 with a bow and 192 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Henderson County in 2026-27?
Henderson 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 Henderson County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Pisgah Game Land (19,088 acres in the county), Dupont State Forest Game Land (4,708 acres in the county) and Green River Game Land (2,976 acres in the county) in Henderson County.
Has the deer harvest in Henderson County gone up or down?
From 354 in 2016-17 to 944 in 2025-26, 167% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 944 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.
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