Jackson County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 759 deer in Jackson County in the 2025-26 season: 549 antlered bucks and 199 does (NCWRC). That is 1.5 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 86th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 23% above 2024-25 (615). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 759 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Jackson CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 759 (549 antlered bucks, 11 antlerless males, 199 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 1.5, 92nd of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 1.79 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 401 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 759 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Western (gun opens Nov. 28) |
| NCWRC district | District 9, Mountain; Nantahala unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 191 deer |
| Land area | 491.1 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 game lands, 77,363 acres |
| Towns | Sylva, Webster, Forest Hills and Dillsboro |
How many deer are killed in Jackson County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 401; the most was 759 in 2025-26 and the fewest 201 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 250% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 759 | 1.5 |
| 2024-25 | 615 | 1.3 |
| 2023-24 | 521 | 1.1 |
| 2022-23 | 429 | 0.9 |
| 2021-22 | 373 | 0.8 |
| 2020-21 | 347 | 0.7 |
| 2019-20 | 313 | 0.6 |
| 2018-19 | 201 | 0.4 |
| 2017-18 | 234 | 0.5 |
| 2016-17 | 217 | 0.4 |
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 | 549 | 11 | 199 | 443 | 145 | 73 | 98 | 191 | 568 |
| 2024-25 | 470 | 9 | 136 | 359 | 132 | 58 | 66 | 193 | 422 |
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 491.1 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Jackson County in 2026-27?
Jackson 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 to 27, 2026 |
| Gun | Nov. 28, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 | Nov. 28, 2026 |
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 Jackson County?
| Game land | Acres in Jackson County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Nantahala Game Land | 77,339 | 933 |
| Pisgah Game Land | 24 | 702 |
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 Jackson County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County | Western | 759 | 1.5 | 250% |
| Haywood County | Western | 767 | 1.4 | 189% |
| Macon County | Western | 1,232 | 2.4 | 86% |
| Swain County | Western | 386 | 0.7 | 163% |
| Transylvania County | Western | 763 | 2 | 167% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Jackson County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 759 deer taken in Jackson County in the 2025-26 season: 549 antlered bucks, 11 antlerless males and 199 does. 443 were taken with a gun, 145 with blackpowder, 73 with a bow and 98 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Jackson County in 2026-27?
Jackson 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 Jackson County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Nantahala Game Land (77,339 acres in the county) and Pisgah Game Land (24 acres in the county) in Jackson County.
Has the deer harvest in Jackson County gone up or down?
From 217 in 2016-17 to 759 in 2025-26, 250% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 759 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 Haywood County Macon County Swain County Transylvania County