Rowan County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 3,203 deer in Rowan County in the 2025-26 season: 1,690 antlered bucks and 1,353 does (NCWRC). That is 6.3 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 14th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 7% above 2024-25 (2,996). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,203 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Rowan CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 3,203 (1,690 antlered bucks, 160 antlerless males, 1,353 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 6.3, 17th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 4.39 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,401 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,203 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Central (gun opens Nov. 14) |
| NCWRC district | District 6, Piedmont; S. Piedmont unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 104 deer |
| Land area | 511.6 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 game lands, 5,696 acres |
| Towns | Salisbury, China Grove, Landis, Spencer and Granite Quarry |
How many deer are killed in Rowan County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,401; the most was 3,203 in 2025-26 and the fewest 1,916 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 67% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 3,203 | 6.3 |
| 2024-25 | 2,996 | 5.9 |
| 2023-24 | 2,860 | 5.6 |
| 2022-23 | 2,271 | 4.4 |
| 2021-22 | 2,249 | 4.4 |
| 2020-21 | 2,280 | 4.5 |
| 2019-20 | 2,121 | 4.1 |
| 2018-19 | 2,045 | 4 |
| 2017-18 | 2,067 | 4 |
| 2016-17 | 1,916 | 3.7 |
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 | 1,690 | 160 | 1,353 | 2,325 | 370 | 229 | 279 | 104 | 3,099 |
| 2024-25 | 1,608 | 126 | 1,262 | 2,266 | 316 | 201 | 213 | 99 | 2,897 |
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 511.6 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Rowan County in 2026-27?
Rowan 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 Rowan County?
| Game land | Acres in Rowan County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Yadkin River Game Land | 4,590 | 203 |
| Second Creek Game Land | 1,106 | 16 |
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 Rowan County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rowan County | Central | 3,203 | 6.3 | 67% |
| Cabarrus County | Central | 2,030 | 5.6 | 23% |
| Davidson County | Central | 3,527 | 6.4 | 59% |
| Davie County | Northwestern | 1,222 | 4.6 | 28% |
| Iredell County | Northwestern | 3,133 | 5.5 | 60% |
| Montgomery County | Central | 2,984 | 6.1 | 32% |
| Stanly County | Central | 3,371 | 8.5 | 47% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Rowan County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 3,203 deer taken in Rowan County in the 2025-26 season: 1,690 antlered bucks, 160 antlerless males and 1,353 does. 2,325 were taken with a gun, 370 with blackpowder, 229 with a bow and 279 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Rowan County in 2026-27?
Rowan 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 Rowan County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Yadkin River Game Land (4,590 acres in the county) and Second Creek Game Land (1,106 acres in the county) in Rowan County.
Has the deer harvest in Rowan County gone up or down?
From 1,916 in 2016-17 to 3,203 in 2025-26, 67% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,203 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 Cabarrus County Davidson County Davie County Iredell County