Mitchell County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,277 deer in Mitchell County in the 2025-26 season: 725 antlered bucks and 509 does (NCWRC). That is 5.8 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 70th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 34% above 2024-25 (951). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 1,277 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Mitchell CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,277 (725 antlered bucks, 43 antlerless males, 509 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 5.8, 23rd of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 4.71 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 981 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 1,277 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Western (gun opens Nov. 28) |
| NCWRC district | District 8, Mountain; N. Pisgah unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 36 deer |
| Land area | 221.3 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 game lands, 19,875 acres |
| Towns | Spruce Pine and Bakersville |
How many deer are killed in Mitchell County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 981; the most was 1,277 in 2025-26 and the fewest 787 in 2017-18. 2025-26 was 43% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,277 | 5.8 |
| 2024-25 | 951 | 4.3 |
| 2023-24 | 963 | 4.4 |
| 2022-23 | 1,142 | 5.2 |
| 2021-22 | 930 | 4.2 |
| 2020-21 | 1,035 | 4.7 |
| 2019-20 | 1,003 | 4.5 |
| 2018-19 | 829 | 3.7 |
| 2017-18 | 787 | 3.6 |
| 2016-17 | 891 | 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 | 725 | 43 | 509 | 603 | 304 | 144 | 226 | 36 | 1,241 |
| 2024-25 | 575 | 20 | 356 | 440 | 251 | 86 | 174 | 24 | 927 |
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 221.3 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Mitchell County in 2026-27?
Mitchell 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 | 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 Mitchell County?
| Game land | Acres in Mitchell County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Pisgah Game Land | 18,962 | 702 |
| Pisgah WRC Game Land | 913 |
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 Mitchell County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell County | Western | 1,277 | 5.8 | 43% |
| Avery County | Western | 1,325 | 5.4 | 77% |
| McDowell County | Western | 1,027 | 2.3 | 76% |
| Yancey County | Western | 1,758 | 5.6 | 45% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Mitchell County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,277 deer taken in Mitchell County in the 2025-26 season: 725 antlered bucks, 43 antlerless males and 509 does. 603 were taken with a gun, 304 with blackpowder, 144 with a bow and 226 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Mitchell County in 2026-27?
Mitchell 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 Mitchell County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Pisgah Game Land (18,962 acres in the county) and Pisgah WRC Game Land (913 acres in the county) in Mitchell County.
Has the deer harvest in Mitchell County gone up or down?
From 891 in 2016-17 to 1,277 in 2025-26, 43% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 1,277 in 2025-26.
Get a North Carolina hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for North Carolina are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, North Carolina included.
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 McDowell County Yancey County