McDowell County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,027 deer in McDowell County in the 2025-26 season: 659 antlered bucks and 336 does (NCWRC). That is 2.3 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 78th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 30% above 2024-25 (789). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 1,027 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
McDowell CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,027 (659 antlered bucks, 32 antlerless males, 336 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 2.3, 81st of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 1.7 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 789 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 1,027 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Western (gun opens Nov. 28) |
| NCWRC district | District 8, Mountain; N. Pisgah unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 67 deer |
| Land area | 440 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 game lands, 72,665 acres |
| Towns | Marion and Old Fort |
How many deer are killed in McDowell County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 789; the most was 1,027 in 2025-26 and the fewest 582 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 76% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,027 | 2.3 |
| 2024-25 | 789 | 1.8 |
| 2023-24 | 820 | 1.9 |
| 2022-23 | 768 | 1.7 |
| 2021-22 | 880 | 2 |
| 2020-21 | 805 | 1.8 |
| 2019-20 | 787 | 1.8 |
| 2018-19 | 689 | 1.6 |
| 2017-18 | 745 | 1.7 |
| 2016-17 | 582 | 1.3 |
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 | 659 | 32 | 336 | 578 | 205 | 125 | 119 | 67 | 960 |
| 2024-25 | 560 | 19 | 210 | 434 | 201 | 92 | 62 | 48 | 741 |
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 440 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in McDowell County in 2026-27?
McDowell 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 McDowell County?
| Game land | Acres in McDowell County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Pisgah Game Land | 70,432 | 702 |
| Pisgah WRC Game Land | 1,311 | |
| South Mountains Game Land | 922 | 64 |
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 McDowell County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDowell County | Western | 1,027 | 2.3 | 76% |
| Avery County | Western | 1,325 | 5.4 | 77% |
| Buncombe County | Western | 1,626 | 2.5 | 126% |
| Burke County | Western | 2,161 | 4.3 | 74% |
| Mitchell County | Western | 1,277 | 5.8 | 43% |
| Rutherford County | Northwestern | 3,802 | 6.7 | 125% |
| Yancey County | Western | 1,758 | 5.6 | 45% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in McDowell County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,027 deer taken in McDowell County in the 2025-26 season: 659 antlered bucks, 32 antlerless males and 336 does. 578 were taken with a gun, 205 with blackpowder, 125 with a bow and 119 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in McDowell County in 2026-27?
McDowell 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 McDowell County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Pisgah Game Land (70,432 acres in the county), Pisgah WRC Game Land (1,311 acres in the county) and South Mountains Game Land (922 acres in the county) in McDowell County.
Has the deer harvest in McDowell County gone up or down?
From 582 in 2016-17 to 1,027 in 2025-26, 76% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 1,027 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 Avery County Buncombe County Burke County Mitchell County