Swain County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 386 deer in Swain County in the 2025-26 season: 236 antlered bucks and 145 does (NCWRC). That is 0.7 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 96th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 21% above 2024-25 (318). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 386 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Swain CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 386 (236 antlered bucks, 5 antlerless males, 145 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 0.7, 98th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 2.1 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 218 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 386 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Western (gun opens Nov. 28) |
| NCWRC district | District 9, Mountain; Nantahala unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 125 deer |
| Land area | 527.7 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 game lands, 26,723 acres |
| Towns | Bryson City |
How many deer are killed in Swain County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 218; the most was 386 in 2025-26 and the fewest 147 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 163% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 386 | 0.7 |
| 2024-25 | 318 | 0.6 |
| 2023-24 | 196 | 0.4 |
| 2022-23 | 215 | 0.4 |
| 2021-22 | 204 | 0.4 |
| 2020-21 | 209 | 0.4 |
| 2019-20 | 191 | 0.4 |
| 2018-19 | 156 | 0.3 |
| 2017-18 | 154 | 0.3 |
| 2016-17 | 147 | 0.3 |
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 | 236 | 5 | 145 | 177 | 89 | 56 | 64 | 125 | 261 |
| 2024-25 | 209 | 12 | 97 | 149 | 79 | 32 | 58 | 123 | 195 |
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 527.7 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Swain County in 2026-27?
Swain 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 | Nov. 21 to 27, 2026 |
| Gun | Nov. 28, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 | Nov. 28, 2026 |
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 Swain County?
| Game land | Acres in Swain County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Nantahala Game Land | 23,144 | 933 |
| Needmore Game Land | 3,579 | 86 |
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 Swain County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swain County | Western | 386 | 0.7 | 163% |
| Graham County | Western | 168 | 0.6 | 185% |
| Haywood County | Western | 767 | 1.4 | 189% |
| Jackson County | Western | 759 | 1.5 | 250% |
| Macon County | Western | 1,232 | 2.4 | 86% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Swain County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 386 deer taken in Swain County in the 2025-26 season: 236 antlered bucks, 5 antlerless males and 145 does. 177 were taken with a gun, 89 with blackpowder, 56 with a bow and 64 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Swain County in 2026-27?
Swain 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 Swain County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Nantahala Game Land (23,144 acres in the county) and Needmore Game Land (3,579 acres in the county) in Swain County.
Has the deer harvest in Swain County gone up or down?
From 147 in 2016-17 to 386 in 2025-26, 163% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 386 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 Graham County Haywood County Jackson County Macon County