Little Fork State Forest Game Land: hunting rules, deer harvest and access
Little Fork State Forest Game Land is 1,270 acres of public hunting land in Wilkes County, a Six Days per Week area by NCWRC's rule for it. Hunters reported 1 deer on it in the 2025-26 season, 0 antlered bucks among them (NCWRC). NC Forest Service 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.
Little Fork State Forest Game LandOther NCWRC game landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 1,270 acres (NCWRC) |
|---|---|
| County | Wilkes County |
| Hunting days | Six Days per Week Area |
| Owner | NC Forest Service (1,270 acres) |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1 (0 antlered bucks, 0 does) |
| Target shooting | Not prohibited on 1,270 acres, by NCWRC's tract data; posted rules apply |
| Nearest towns | West Jefferson (11 mi), Wilkesboro (11 mi) and North Wilkesboro (12 mi) |
What are the rules on Little Fork State Forest Game Land?
Six Days per Week Area: Hunting Monday through Saturday during the open seasons.
- Little Fork State Forest game land is a Six Days per Week Area, in which the following applies:
- (1) Deer of either sex may be taken the first open day of the applicable Deer With Visible Antlers Season through the first Friday thereafter.
- (2) Bear hunting is prohibited.
Source: 15A NCAC 10D .0263, in effect since August 1, 2025. Game land rules apply on top of the county's season dates.
How many deer are taken on Little Fork State Forest Game Land?
NCWRC reports 1 deer on Little Fork State Forest Game Land in the 2025-26 season. That compares with 4 in 2024-25 and 4 in 2023-24.
| Season | Deer reported | Antlered bucks | Antlerless males | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023-24 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
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 Little Fork State Forest 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 Little Fork State Forest Game Land:
| Owner | Acres |
|---|---|
| NC Forest Service | 1,270 |
Source: NCWRC game land tracts.
Which county is Little Fork State Forest Game Land in?
| County | Acres of the game land in it | Deer season zone | Gun season opens, 2026 | County deer, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilkes County | 1,270 | Northwestern CWD Management Area | Nov. 14 | 3,328 |
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 Little Fork State Forest Game Land?
Highways within 5 miles: NC 16, US 421 and NC 163. Nearest towns: West Jefferson (11 miles), Wilkesboro (11 miles), North Wilkesboro (12 miles) and Jefferson (13 miles).
The closest other game lands with a page here: Kerr Scott Game Land (7.9 miles), Thurmond Chatham Game Land (9.3 miles), Buffalo Cove Game Land (10.8 miles) and Three Top Mountain Game Land (15 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 Little Fork State Forest Game Land?
Little Fork State Forest Game Land is a Six Days per Week Area (15A NCAC 10D .0263). Hunting Monday through Saturday during the open seasons.
How many deer are killed on Little Fork State Forest Game Land?
NCWRC reports 1 deer taken on Little Fork State Forest Game Land in the 2025-26 season: 0 antlered bucks, 1 antlerless male and 0 does. The two seasons before: 4 in 2024-25 and 4 in 2023-24.
What county is Little Fork State Forest Game Land in?
All of it is in Wilkes County, by NCWRC's boundary.
When is deer gun season on Little Fork State Forest Game Land in 2026-27?
The county's zone sets the dates: Wilkes County (Northwestern CWD Management Area zone) opens gun season Nov. 14, 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.
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