Transylvania County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 763 deer in Transylvania County in the 2025-26 season: 529 antlered bucks and 220 does (NCWRC). That is 2 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 85th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 38% above 2024-25 (553). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 763 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Transylvania CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 763 (529 antlered bucks, 14 antlerless males, 220 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 2, 85th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 2.01 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 474 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 763 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Western (gun opens Nov. 28) |
| NCWRC district | District 9, Mountain; S. Pisgah unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 195 deer |
| Land area | 378.4 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 5 game lands, 107,653 acres |
| Towns | Brevard and Rosman |
How many deer are killed in Transylvania County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 474; the most was 763 in 2025-26 and the fewest 286 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 167% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 763 | 2 |
| 2024-25 | 553 | 1.5 |
| 2023-24 | 480 | 1.3 |
| 2022-23 | 551 | 1.5 |
| 2021-22 | 462 | 1.2 |
| 2020-21 | 478 | 1.3 |
| 2019-20 | 482 | 1.3 |
| 2018-19 | 371 | 1 |
| 2017-18 | 313 | 0.8 |
| 2016-17 | 286 | 0.8 |
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 | 529 | 14 | 220 | 393 | 110 | 138 | 122 | 195 | 568 |
| 2024-25 | 423 | 11 | 119 | 293 | 94 | 81 | 85 | 174 | 379 |
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 378.4 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Transylvania County in 2026-27?
Transylvania 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 Transylvania County?
| Game land | Acres in Transylvania County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Pisgah Game Land | 88,626 | 702 |
| Dupont State Forest Game Land | 7,237 | 45 |
| Headwaters State Forest Game Land | 6,149 | 13 |
| Toxaway Game Land | 5,610 | 19 |
| Nantahala Game Land | 31 | 933 |
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 Transylvania County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transylvania County | Western | 763 | 2 | 167% |
| Buncombe County | Western | 1,626 | 2.5 | 126% |
| Haywood County | Western | 767 | 1.4 | 189% |
| Henderson County | Western | 944 | 2.5 | 167% |
| Jackson County | Western | 759 | 1.5 | 250% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Transylvania County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 763 deer taken in Transylvania County in the 2025-26 season: 529 antlered bucks, 14 antlerless males and 220 does. 393 were taken with a gun, 110 with blackpowder, 138 with a bow and 122 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Transylvania County in 2026-27?
Transylvania 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 Transylvania County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Pisgah Game Land (88,626 acres in the county), Dupont State Forest Game Land (7,237 acres in the county), Headwaters State Forest Game Land (6,149 acres in the county) and Toxaway Game Land (5,610 acres in the county) in Transylvania County.
Has the deer harvest in Transylvania County gone up or down?
From 286 in 2016-17 to 763 in 2025-26, 167% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 763 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.
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