Montgomery County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,984 deer in Montgomery County in the 2025-26 season: 1,593 antlered bucks and 1,254 does (NCWRC). That is 6.1 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 21st of North Carolina's 100. The count was within 1% of 2024-25 (2,989). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,608 in 2023-24.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Montgomery CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,984 (1,593 antlered bucks, 137 antlerless males, 1,254 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 6.1, 20th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 3.7 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,873 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,608 in 2023-24 |
| Deer season zone | Central (gun opens Nov. 14) |
| NCWRC district | District 6, Piedmont; S. Piedmont unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 330 deer |
| Land area | 491.5 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 game lands, 43,111 acres |
| Towns | Troy, Mount Gilead, Biscoe, Candor and Star |
How many deer are killed in Montgomery County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,873; the most was 3,608 in 2023-24 and the fewest 2,261 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 32% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,984 | 6.1 |
| 2024-25 | 2,989 | 6.1 |
| 2023-24 | 3,608 | 7.3 |
| 2022-23 | 2,790 | 5.7 |
| 2021-22 | 3,123 | 6.4 |
| 2020-21 | 2,881 | 5.9 |
| 2019-20 | 2,806 | 5.7 |
| 2018-19 | 2,553 | 5.2 |
| 2017-18 | 2,736 | 5.6 |
| 2016-17 | 2,261 | 4.6 |
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 | 1,593 | 137 | 1,254 | 2,156 | 541 | 143 | 144 | 330 | 2,654 |
| 2024-25 | 1,555 | 122 | 1,312 | 2,259 | 460 | 89 | 181 | 307 | 2,682 |
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 491.5 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Montgomery County in 2026-27?
Montgomery 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 Montgomery County?
| Game land | Acres in Montgomery County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Uwharrie Game Land | 41,374 | 379 |
| Pee Dee River Game Land | 1,100 | 142 |
| Yadkin River Game Land | 637 | 203 |
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 Montgomery County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | Central | 2,984 | 6.1 | 32% |
| Anson County | Central | 4,254 | 8 | 23% |
| Davidson County | Central | 3,527 | 6.4 | 59% |
| Moore County | Southeastern | 3,360 | 4.8 | 33% |
| Randolph County | Central | 5,349 | 6.8 | 82% |
| Richmond County | Southeastern | 2,270 | 4.8 | 21% |
| Rowan County | Central | 3,203 | 6.3 | 67% |
| Stanly County | Central | 3,371 | 8.5 | 47% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Montgomery County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 2,984 deer taken in Montgomery County in the 2025-26 season: 1,593 antlered bucks, 137 antlerless males and 1,254 does. 2,156 were taken with a gun, 541 with blackpowder, 143 with a bow and 144 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Montgomery County in 2026-27?
Montgomery 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 Montgomery County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Uwharrie Game Land (41,374 acres in the county), Pee Dee River Game Land (1,100 acres in the county) and Yadkin River Game Land (637 acres in the county) in Montgomery County.
Has the deer harvest in Montgomery County gone up or down?
From 2,261 in 2016-17 to 2,984 in 2025-26, 32% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,608 in 2023-24.
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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 Anson County Davidson County Moore County Randolph County