Watauga County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,142 deer in Watauga County in the 2025-26 season: 1,187 antlered bucks and 882 does (NCWRC). That is 6.9 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 42nd of North Carolina's 100. The count was 5% above 2024-25 (2,038). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 2,142 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Watauga CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,142 (1,187 antlered bucks, 73 antlerless males, 882 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 6.9, 10th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 8.83 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,738 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 2,142 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Northwestern (gun opens Nov. 21) |
| NCWRC district | District 7, Mountain; N. Mountain unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 15 deer |
| Land area | 312.4 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 game lands, 1,119 acres |
| Towns | Beech Mountain, Boone, Blowing Rock and Seven Devils |
How many deer are killed in Watauga County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,738; the most was 2,142 in 2025-26 and the fewest 1,354 in 2021-22. 2025-26 was 44% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,142 | 6.9 |
| 2024-25 | 2,038 | 6.5 |
| 2023-24 | 1,999 | 6.4 |
| 2022-23 | 1,811 | 5.8 |
| 2021-22 | 1,354 | 4.3 |
| 2020-21 | 1,770 | 5.7 |
| 2019-20 | 1,632 | 5.2 |
| 2018-19 | 1,598 | 5.1 |
| 2017-18 | 1,548 | 5 |
| 2016-17 | 1,484 | 4.8 |
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 | 1,187 | 73 | 882 | 1,406 | 327 | 212 | 197 | 15 | 2,127 |
| 2024-25 | 1,145 | 64 | 829 | 1,358 | 296 | 195 | 189 | 17 | 2,021 |
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 312.4 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Watauga County in 2026-27?
Watauga County is in NCWRC's Northwestern deer zone. Its 2026-27 dates:
| Method | Antlered deer | Antlerless deer |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sept. 12 to Nov. 6, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Blackpowder | Nov. 7 to 20, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Gun | Nov. 21, 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 Watauga County?
| Game land | Acres in Watauga County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Elk Knob Game Land | 721 | 11 |
| Pisgah Game Land | 398 | 702 |
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 Watauga County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watauga County | Northwestern | 2,142 | 6.9 | 44% |
| Ashe County | Northwestern | 2,793 | 6.6 | 3% |
| Avery County | Western | 1,325 | 5.4 | 77% |
| Caldwell County | Western | 1,668 | 3.5 | 140% |
| Wilkes County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,328 | 4.4 | 17% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Watauga County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 2,142 deer taken in Watauga County in the 2025-26 season: 1,187 antlered bucks, 73 antlerless males and 882 does. 1,406 were taken with a gun, 327 with blackpowder, 212 with a bow and 197 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Watauga County in 2026-27?
Watauga County is in the Northwestern deer zone: archery Sept. 12 to Nov. 6, 2026; blackpowder Nov. 7 to 20, 2026; gun Nov. 21, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 (NCWRC 2026-27 season dates).
Is there public hunting land in Watauga County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Elk Knob Game Land (721 acres in the county) and Pisgah Game Land (398 acres in the county) in Watauga County.
Has the deer harvest in Watauga County gone up or down?
From 1,484 in 2016-17 to 2,142 in 2025-26, 44% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 2,142 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 Ashe County Avery County Caldwell County Wilkes County