Union County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 3,783 deer in Union County in the 2025-26 season: 1,860 antlered bucks and 1,744 does (NCWRC). That is 6 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 6th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 8% below 2024-25 (4,113). NCWRC's records go back to 1980-81; the most in one season was 4,113 in 2024-25.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Union CountyLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 3,783 (1,860 antlered bucks, 179 antlerless males, 1,744 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 6, 21st of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 4.74 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 3,348 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1980 | 4,113 in 2024-25 |
| Deer season zone | Central (gun opens Nov. 14) |
| NCWRC district | District 6, Piedmont; S. Piedmont unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 0 deer |
| Land area | 632.7 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No game land |
| Towns | Monroe, Fairview, Unionville, Indian Trail and Weddington |
How many deer are killed in Union County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 3,348; the most was 4,113 in 2024-25 and the fewest 2,644 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 43% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 3,783 | 6 |
| 2024-25 | 4,113 | 6.5 |
| 2023-24 | 3,585 | 5.7 |
| 2022-23 | 3,415 | 5.4 |
| 2021-22 | 3,619 | 5.7 |
| 2020-21 | 3,479 | 5.5 |
| 2019-20 | 3,039 | 4.8 |
| 2018-19 | 2,945 | 4.7 |
| 2017-18 | 2,862 | 4.5 |
| 2016-17 | 2,644 | 4.2 |
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 | 1,860 | 179 | 1,744 | 2,835 | 398 | 267 | 283 | 0 | 3,783 |
| 2024-25 | 1,979 | 207 | 1,927 | 3,068 | 347 | 334 | 364 | 0 | 4,113 |
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 632.7 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Union County in 2026-27?
Union 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 Union County?
No game land boundary falls in Union County. The closest game lands with a page here: Pee Dee River Game Land (about 39 miles), Yadkin River Game Land (about 41 miles) and Second Creek Game Land (about 47 miles).
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 Union County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union County | Central | 3,783 | 6 | 43% |
| Anson County | Central | 4,254 | 8 | 23% |
| Cabarrus County | Central | 2,030 | 5.6 | 23% |
| Mecklenburg County | Central | 697 | 1.3 | -16% |
| Stanly County | Central | 3,371 | 8.5 | 47% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Union County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 3,783 deer taken in Union County in the 2025-26 season: 1,860 antlered bucks, 179 antlerless males and 1,744 does. 2,835 were taken with a gun, 398 with blackpowder, 267 with a bow and 283 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Union County in 2026-27?
Union 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 Union County?
No game land boundary falls in Union County. The closest game lands with a page here: Pee Dee River Game Land (about 39 miles), Yadkin River Game Land (about 41 miles) and Second Creek Game Land (about 47 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Union County gone up or down?
From 2,644 in 2016-17 to 3,783 in 2025-26, 43% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 4,113 in 2024-25.
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 Anson County Cabarrus County Mecklenburg County Stanly County