Mecklenburg County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 697 deer in Mecklenburg County in the 2025-26 season: 386 antlered bucks and 284 does (NCWRC). That is 1.3 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 89th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 18% below 2024-25 (854). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 927 in 2020-21.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Mecklenburg CountyNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 697 (386 antlered bucks, 27 antlerless males, 284 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 1.3, 95th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 5.57 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 827 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 927 in 2020-21 |
| Deer season zone | Central (gun opens Nov. 14) |
| NCWRC district | District 6, Piedmont; S. Piedmont unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 0 deer |
| Land area | 523.6 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No game land |
| Towns | Charlotte, Huntersville, Mint Hill, Matthews and Cornelius |
How many deer are killed in Mecklenburg County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 827; the most was 927 in 2020-21 and the fewest 697 in 2025-26. 2025-26 was 16% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 697 | 1.3 |
| 2024-25 | 854 | 1.6 |
| 2023-24 | 792 | 1.5 |
| 2022-23 | 768 | 1.5 |
| 2021-22 | 911 | 1.7 |
| 2020-21 | 927 | 1.8 |
| 2019-20 | 864 | 1.7 |
| 2018-19 | 817 | 1.6 |
| 2017-18 | 812 | 1.6 |
| 2016-17 | 831 | 1.6 |
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 | 386 | 27 | 284 | 198 | 121 | 159 | 219 | 0 | 697 |
| 2024-25 | 455 | 23 | 376 | 267 | 100 | 227 | 260 | 0 | 854 |
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 523.6 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Mecklenburg County in 2026-27?
Mecklenburg County is in NCWRC's Central deer zone. Its 2026-27 dates:
| Method | Antlered deer | Antlerless deer |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sept. 12 to Oct. 30, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Blackpowder | Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Gun | Nov. 14, 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 Mecklenburg County?
No game land boundary falls in Mecklenburg County. The closest game lands with a page here: Second Creek Game Land (about 31 miles), Yadkin River Game Land (about 39 miles) and Linwood Game Land (about 42 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 Mecklenburg County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County | Central | 697 | 1.3 | -16% |
| Cabarrus County | Central | 2,030 | 5.6 | 23% |
| Gaston County | Northwestern | 2,019 | 5.7 | 43% |
| Iredell County | Northwestern | 3,133 | 5.5 | 60% |
| Lincoln County | Northwestern | 2,092 | 7.1 | 44% |
| Union County | Central | 3,783 | 6 | 43% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Mecklenburg County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 697 deer taken in Mecklenburg County in the 2025-26 season: 386 antlered bucks, 27 antlerless males and 284 does. 198 were taken with a gun, 121 with blackpowder, 159 with a bow and 219 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Mecklenburg County in 2026-27?
Mecklenburg County is in the Central deer zone: archery Sept. 12 to Oct. 30, 2026; blackpowder Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026; gun Nov. 14, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 (NCWRC 2026-27 season dates).
Is there public hunting land in Mecklenburg County?
No game land boundary falls in Mecklenburg County. The closest game lands with a page here: Second Creek Game Land (about 31 miles), Yadkin River Game Land (about 39 miles) and Linwood Game Land (about 42 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Mecklenburg County gone up or down?
From 831 in 2016-17 to 697 in 2025-26, 16% lower. The most since NCWRC's records began was 927 in 2020-21.
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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 Cabarrus County Gaston County Iredell County Lincoln County