Green River Game Land: hunting rules, deer harvest and access
Green River Game Land is 15,224 acres of public hunting land in Polk and Henderson counties, a Six Days per Week area by NCWRC's rule for it. Hunters reported 61 deer on it in the 2025-26 season, 36 antlered bucks among them (NCWRC). NC Wildlife Resources Commission owns nearly all of it.
Data updated October 2026. Rules: 15A NCAC 10D as NCWRC adopted it. Harvest: NCWRC's game land reports, 2023-24 to 2025-26. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Green River Game LandOther NCWRC game landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 15,224 acres (NCWRC) |
|---|---|
| County | Polk County, Henderson County |
| Hunting days | Six Days per Week Area |
| Owner | NC Wildlife Resources Commission (15,224 acres) |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 61 (36 antlered bucks, 23 does) |
| Also on the game land | Restricted Zone: 9 acres |
| Target shooting | Not prohibited on 15,224 acres, by NCWRC's tract data; posted rules apply |
| Nearest towns | Columbus (next to it), Saluda (2 mi) and Flat Rock (3 mi) |
What are the rules on Green River Game Land?
Six Days per Week Area: Hunting Monday through Saturday during the open seasons.
- Green River is a Six Days per Week Area. The following shall apply:
- (1) Deer of either sex may be taken the first open Saturday of the applicable Deer With Visible Antlers Season.
- (2) Horseback riding is prohibited.
- (3) Target shooting is prohibited.
Source: 15A NCAC 10D .0230, in effect since October 1, 2022. Game land rules apply on top of the county's season dates.
How many deer are taken on Green River Game Land?
NCWRC reports 61 deer on Green River Game Land in the 2025-26 season. That compares with 41 in 2024-25 and 99 in 2023-24.
| Season | Deer reported | Antlered bucks | Antlerless males | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 61 | 36 | 2 | 23 |
| 2024-25 | 41 | 24 | 0 | 17 |
| 2023-24 | 99 | 59 | 1 | 39 |
Source: NCWRC reported deer harvest by game land, 2023-24 to 2025-26; NCWRC 2024-25 deer harvest by game land; NCWRC 2023-24 deer harvest by game land. NCWRC's 2023-24 report calls antlerless males button bucks.
Who owns Green River Game Land?
Game lands are owned by NCWRC or by partners who open their land to public hunting under NCWRC's rules. NCWRC's tract data for Green River Game Land (18 named tracts):
| Owner | Acres |
|---|---|
| NC Wildlife Resources Commission | 15,224 |
Source: NCWRC game land tracts.
Which county is Green River Game Land in?
| County | Acres of the game land in it | Deer season zone | Gun season opens, 2026 | County deer, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County | 12,252 | Northwestern | Nov. 21 | 1,376 |
| Henderson County | 2,976 | Western | Nov. 28 | 944 |
Acres measured by FilledTag on NCWRC game land boundaries and the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries. Zones and dates: NCWRC hunting and trapping season dates, 2026-27. County harvest: NCWRC 2025-26 reported deer harvest by county.
How do you get to Green River Game Land?
Highways within 5 miles: US 74, I-26, US 25 and US 176. Nearest towns: Columbus (next to it), Saluda (2 miles), Flat Rock (3 miles) and Tryon (4 miles).
The closest other game lands with a page here: Dupont State Forest Game Land (8 miles), Pisgah Game Land (14.3 miles), Headwaters State Forest Game Land (18.3 miles) and South Mountains Game Land (24.8 miles).
On Sundays on game lands, firearm hunting is not allowed between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., deer may not be taken with a firearm while being chased by dogs, and migratory game birds may not be hunted (15A NCAC 10D .0103).
Questions hunters ask
What days can you hunt Green River Game Land?
Green River Game Land is a Six Days per Week Area (15A NCAC 10D .0230). Hunting Monday through Saturday during the open seasons.
How many deer are killed on Green River Game Land?
NCWRC reports 61 deer taken on Green River Game Land in the 2025-26 season: 36 antlered bucks, 2 antlerless males and 23 does. The two seasons before: 41 in 2024-25 and 99 in 2023-24.
What county is Green River Game Land in?
Polk County (12,252 acres) and Henderson County (2,976 acres), measured on NCWRC's boundary.
When is deer gun season on Green River Game Land in 2026-27?
The county's zone sets the dates: Polk County (Northwestern zone) opens gun season Nov. 21 and Henderson County (Western zone) opens gun season Nov. 28, and it runs to January 1, 2027 (NCWRC 2026-27 season dates). The game land's hunting days still apply.
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Where these numbers come from
- Game land rules: NCWRC game land rules, 15A NCAC 10D. Designations, owners and tracts: NCWRC game land tracts.
- Deer harvest on the game land: NCWRC reported deer harvest by game land, 2023-24 to 2025-26. County harvest: NCWRC 2025-26 reported deer harvest by county.
- Boundary: NCWRC game land boundaries. Counties, highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries; U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer. National forest and refuges: U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries.
FilledTag is not part of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Numbers are copied from NCWRC or measured from public maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
North Carolina hunting All North Carolina game lands Polk County deer harvest Henderson County deer harvest