Stanly County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 3,371 deer in Stanly County in the 2025-26 season: 1,630 antlered bucks and 1,572 does (NCWRC). That is 8.5 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 10th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 7% below 2024-25 (3,619). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,681 in 2023-24.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Stanly CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 3,371 (1,630 antlered bucks, 169 antlerless males, 1,572 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 8.5, 3rd of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 6.7 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 3,134 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,681 in 2023-24 |
| Deer season zone | Central (gun opens Nov. 14) |
| NCWRC district | District 6, Piedmont; S. Piedmont unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 35 deer |
| Land area | 395.1 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 game lands, 1,229 acres |
| Towns | Albemarle, Locust, Norwood, Stanfield and Red Cross |
How many deer are killed in Stanly County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 3,134; the most was 3,681 in 2023-24 and the fewest 2,294 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 47% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 3,371 | 8.5 |
| 2024-25 | 3,619 | 9.2 |
| 2023-24 | 3,681 | 9.3 |
| 2022-23 | 3,554 | 9 |
| 2021-22 | 3,467 | 8.8 |
| 2020-21 | 3,307 | 8.4 |
| 2019-20 | 2,920 | 7.4 |
| 2018-19 | 2,806 | 7.1 |
| 2017-18 | 2,317 | 5.9 |
| 2016-17 | 2,294 | 5.8 |
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 | 1,630 | 169 | 1,572 | 2,645 | 360 | 178 | 188 | 35 | 3,336 |
| 2024-25 | 1,795 | 178 | 1,646 | 2,883 | 304 | 207 | 225 | 35 | 3,584 |
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 395.1 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Stanly County in 2026-27?
Stanly 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 Stanly County?
| Game land | Acres in Stanly County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Yadkin River Game Land | 992 | 203 |
| Pee Dee River Game Land | 237 | 142 |
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 Stanly County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stanly County | Central | 3,371 | 8.5 | 47% |
| Anson County | Central | 4,254 | 8 | 23% |
| Cabarrus County | Central | 2,030 | 5.6 | 23% |
| Davidson County | Central | 3,527 | 6.4 | 59% |
| Montgomery County | Central | 2,984 | 6.1 | 32% |
| Richmond County | Southeastern | 2,270 | 4.8 | 21% |
| Rowan County | Central | 3,203 | 6.3 | 67% |
| Union County | Central | 3,783 | 6 | 43% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Stanly County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 3,371 deer taken in Stanly County in the 2025-26 season: 1,630 antlered bucks, 169 antlerless males and 1,572 does. 2,645 were taken with a gun, 360 with blackpowder, 178 with a bow and 188 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Stanly County in 2026-27?
Stanly 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 Stanly County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Yadkin River Game Land (992 acres in the county) and Pee Dee River Game Land (237 acres in the county) in Stanly County.
Has the deer harvest in Stanly County gone up or down?
From 2,294 in 2016-17 to 3,371 in 2025-26, 47% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,681 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 Cabarrus County Davidson County Montgomery County