Iredell County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 3,133 deer in Iredell County in the 2025-26 season: 1,758 antlered bucks and 1,249 does (NCWRC). That is 5.5 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 16th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 21% above 2024-25 (2,590). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,133 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Iredell CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 3,133 (1,758 antlered bucks, 126 antlerless males, 1,249 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 5.5, 30th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 4.23 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,393 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,133 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Northwestern (gun opens Nov. 21) |
| NCWRC district | District 7, Piedmont; N. Foothill unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 0 deer |
| Land area | 574.4 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No game land |
| Towns | Statesville, Mooresville, Troutman, Harmony and Love Valley |
How many deer are killed in Iredell County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,393; the most was 3,133 in 2025-26 and the fewest 1,953 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 60% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 3,133 | 5.5 |
| 2024-25 | 2,590 | 4.5 |
| 2023-24 | 2,595 | 4.5 |
| 2022-23 | 2,043 | 3.6 |
| 2021-22 | 2,258 | 3.9 |
| 2020-21 | 2,427 | 4.2 |
| 2019-20 | 2,352 | 4.1 |
| 2018-19 | 2,176 | 3.8 |
| 2017-18 | 2,405 | 4.2 |
| 2016-17 | 1,953 | 3.4 |
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 | 1,758 | 126 | 1,249 | 2,082 | 511 | 228 | 312 | 0 | 3,133 |
| 2024-25 | 1,410 | 97 | 1,083 | 1,826 | 383 | 187 | 194 | 0 | 2,590 |
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 574.4 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Iredell County in 2026-27?
Iredell 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 Iredell County?
No game land boundary falls in Iredell County. The closest game lands with a page here: Second Creek Game Land (about 17 miles), Perkins Game Land (about 26 miles) and Kerr Scott Game Land (about 31 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 Iredell County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iredell County | Northwestern | 3,133 | 5.5 | 60% |
| Alexander County | Northwestern | 1,255 | 4.8 | 82% |
| Cabarrus County | Central | 2,030 | 5.6 | 23% |
| Catawba County | Northwestern | 2,429 | 6.1 | 89% |
| Davie County | Northwestern | 1,222 | 4.6 | 28% |
| Lincoln County | Northwestern | 2,092 | 7.1 | 44% |
| Mecklenburg County | Central | 697 | 1.3 | -16% |
| Rowan County | Central | 3,203 | 6.3 | 67% |
| Wilkes County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,328 | 4.4 | 17% |
| Yadkin County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 2,099 | 6.3 | 40% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Iredell County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 3,133 deer taken in Iredell County in the 2025-26 season: 1,758 antlered bucks, 126 antlerless males and 1,249 does. 2,082 were taken with a gun, 511 with blackpowder, 228 with a bow and 312 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Iredell County in 2026-27?
Iredell 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 Iredell County?
No game land boundary falls in Iredell County. The closest game lands with a page here: Second Creek Game Land (about 17 miles), Perkins Game Land (about 26 miles) and Kerr Scott Game Land (about 31 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Iredell County gone up or down?
From 1,953 in 2016-17 to 3,133 in 2025-26, 60% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,133 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 Alexander County Cabarrus County Catawba County Davie County