Lincoln County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,092 deer in Lincoln County in the 2025-26 season: 1,084 antlered bucks and 924 does (NCWRC). That is 7.1 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 45th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 11% above 2024-25 (1,886). NCWRC's records go back to 1978-79; the most in one season was 2,092 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Lincoln CountyNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,092 (1,084 antlered bucks, 84 antlerless males, 924 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 7.1, 5th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 6.1 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,733 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1978 | 2,092 in 2025-26 |
| 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 | 295.9 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No game land |
| Towns | Lincolnton |
How many deer are killed in Lincoln County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,733; the most was 2,092 in 2025-26 and the fewest 1,449 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 44% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,092 | 7.1 |
| 2024-25 | 1,886 | 6.4 |
| 2023-24 | 1,976 | 6.7 |
| 2022-23 | 1,735 | 5.9 |
| 2021-22 | 1,780 | 6 |
| 2020-21 | 1,724 | 5.8 |
| 2019-20 | 1,596 | 5.4 |
| 2018-19 | 1,492 | 5 |
| 2017-18 | 1,597 | 5.4 |
| 2016-17 | 1,449 | 4.9 |
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 | 1,084 | 84 | 924 | 1,368 | 312 | 179 | 233 | 0 | 2,092 |
| 2024-25 | 1,014 | 74 | 798 | 1,215 | 306 | 174 | 191 | 0 | 1,886 |
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 295.9 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Lincoln County in 2026-27?
Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?
No game land boundary falls in Lincoln County. The closest game lands with a page here: South Mountains Game Land (about 29 miles), Johns River Game Land (about 35 miles) and Second Creek Game Land (about 36 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 Lincoln County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln County | Northwestern | 2,092 | 7.1 | 44% |
| Burke County | Western | 2,161 | 4.3 | 74% |
| Catawba County | Northwestern | 2,429 | 6.1 | 89% |
| Cleveland County | Northwestern | 3,948 | 8.5 | 115% |
| Gaston County | Northwestern | 2,019 | 5.7 | 43% |
| Iredell County | Northwestern | 3,133 | 5.5 | 60% |
| Mecklenburg County | Central | 697 | 1.3 | -16% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Lincoln County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 2,092 deer taken in Lincoln County in the 2025-26 season: 1,084 antlered bucks, 84 antlerless males and 924 does. 1,368 were taken with a gun, 312 with blackpowder, 179 with a bow and 233 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Lincoln County in 2026-27?
Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?
No game land boundary falls in Lincoln County. The closest game lands with a page here: South Mountains Game Land (about 29 miles), Johns River Game Land (about 35 miles) and Second Creek Game Land (about 36 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Lincoln County gone up or down?
From 1,449 in 2016-17 to 2,092 in 2025-26, 44% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 2,092 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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