Polk County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,376 deer in Polk County in the 2025-26 season: 737 antlered bucks and 588 does (NCWRC). That is 5.8 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 66th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 17% above 2024-25 (1,178). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 1,436 in 2023-24.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Polk CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,376 (737 antlered bucks, 51 antlerless males, 588 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 5.8, 24th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 4.83 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,065 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 1,436 in 2023-24 |
| Deer season zone | Northwestern (gun opens Nov. 21) |
| NCWRC district | District 9, Mountain; S. Pisgah unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 49 deer |
| Land area | 237.7 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 game land, 12,252 acres |
| Towns | Columbus, Tryon and Saluda |
How many deer are killed in Polk County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,065; the most was 1,436 in 2023-24 and the fewest 783 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 76% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,376 | 5.8 |
| 2024-25 | 1,178 | 5 |
| 2023-24 | 1,436 | 6 |
| 2022-23 | 981 | 4.1 |
| 2021-22 | 1,143 | 4.8 |
| 2020-21 | 990 | 4.2 |
| 2019-20 | 925 | 3.9 |
| 2018-19 | 892 | 3.8 |
| 2017-18 | 945 | 4 |
| 2016-17 | 783 | 3.3 |
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 | 737 | 51 | 588 | 844 | 183 | 123 | 226 | 49 | 1,327 |
| 2024-25 | 628 | 57 | 493 | 752 | 186 | 104 | 136 | 34 | 1,144 |
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 237.7 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Polk County in 2026-27?
Polk 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 Polk County?
| Game land | Acres in Polk County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Green River Game Land | 12,252 | 61 |
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 Polk County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | Northwestern | 1,376 | 5.8 | 76% |
| Henderson County | Western | 944 | 2.5 | 167% |
| Rutherford County | Northwestern | 3,802 | 6.7 | 125% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Polk County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,376 deer taken in Polk County in the 2025-26 season: 737 antlered bucks, 51 antlerless males and 588 does. 844 were taken with a gun, 183 with blackpowder, 123 with a bow and 226 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Polk County in 2026-27?
Polk 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 Polk County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Green River Game Land (12,252 acres in the county) in Polk County.
Has the deer harvest in Polk County gone up or down?
From 783 in 2016-17 to 1,376 in 2025-26, 76% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 1,436 in 2023-24.
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 Henderson County Rutherford County