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2026-2027

North Carolina Deer Hunting Seasons 2026-2027

North Carolina publishes county-group deer schedules with separate antlered and antlerless dates in the western counties and additional CWD Management Area opportunities.

Last checked: 2026-08-10 Source: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 37 season records
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Method Dates Where Action
Northeastern zone — archery Archery
Northeastern zone: Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Johnston, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne and Wilson counties Antlered and Antlerless
Northeastern zone — blackpowder Muzzleloader
Northeastern zone: Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Johnston, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne and Wilson counties Antlered and Antlerless
Northeastern zone — gun Firearm
Northeastern zone: Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Johnston, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne and Wilson counties Antlered and Antlerless
Southeastern zone — archery Archery
Southeastern zone: Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Dare, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Moore, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Richmond, Robeson, Scotland, Tyrrell and Washington counties Antlered and Antlerless
Southeastern zone — blackpowder Muzzleloader
Southeastern zone: Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Dare, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Moore, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Richmond, Robeson, Scotland, Tyrrell and Washington counties Antlered and Antlerless
Southeastern zone — gun Firearm
Southeastern zone: Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Dare, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Moore, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Richmond, Robeson, Scotland, Tyrrell and Washington counties Antlered and Antlerless
Central zone — archery Archery
Central zone: Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Granville, Guilford, Lee, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties Antlered and Antlerless
Central zone — blackpowder Muzzleloader
Central zone: Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Granville, Guilford, Lee, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties Antlered and Antlerless
Central zone — gun Firearm
Central zone: Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Granville, Guilford, Lee, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties Antlered and Antlerless
Northwestern zone — archery Archery
Northwestern zone: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Polk, Rutherford and Watauga counties Antlered and Antlerless
Northwestern zone — blackpowder Muzzleloader
Northwestern zone: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Polk, Rutherford and Watauga counties Antlered and Antlerless
Northwestern zone — gun Firearm
Northwestern zone: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Polk, Rutherford and Watauga counties Antlered and Antlerless
Southeastern CWD Management Area — special early antlered season Special
Southeastern CWD Management Area: Cumberland and Sampson counties Antlered Only
Southeastern CWD Management Area — archery Archery
Southeastern CWD Management Area: Cumberland and Sampson counties Antlered and Antlerless
Southeastern CWD Management Area — blackpowder Muzzleloader
Southeastern CWD Management Area: Cumberland and Sampson counties Antlered and Antlerless
Southeastern CWD Management Area — gun Firearm
Southeastern CWD Management Area: Cumberland and Sampson counties Antlered and Antlerless
Northwestern CWD Management Area — special early antlered season Special
Northwestern CWD Management Area: Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties Antlered Only
Northwestern CWD Management Area — archery Archery
Northwestern CWD Management Area: Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties Antlered and Antlerless
Northwestern CWD Management Area — blackpowder Muzzleloader
Northwestern CWD Management Area: Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties Antlered and Antlerless
Northwestern CWD Management Area — gun Firearm
Northwestern CWD Management Area: Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties Antlered and Antlerless
Western group A — archery Archery
Western group A: Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey counties Antlered and Antlerless
Western group A — blackpowder Muzzleloader
Western group A: Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey counties Antlered and Antlerless
Western group A — gun Firearm
Western group A: Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey counties Antlered and Antlerless
Western group B — archery Archery
Western group B: Buncombe, Henderson and McDowell counties Antlered and Antlerless
Western group B — blackpowder Muzzleloader
Western group B: Buncombe, Henderson and McDowell counties Antlered and Antlerless
Western group B — gun, antlered Firearm
Western group B: Buncombe, Henderson and McDowell counties Antlered Only
Western group B — gun, antlerless Firearm
Western group B: Buncombe, Henderson and McDowell counties Antlerless Only
Western group B boundary area — extended antlerless gun Firearm
Part of Buncombe County east of NC 191, south of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, west of US 25 and north of NC 280; and part of Henderson County east of NC 191 and north and west of NC 280 Antlerless Only
Western group C — archery Archery
Western group C: Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Transylvania counties Antlered and Antlerless
Western group C — blackpowder, antlered Muzzleloader
Western group C: Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Transylvania counties Antlered Only
Western group C — blackpowder, antlerless Muzzleloader
Western group C: Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Transylvania counties Antlerless Only
Western group C — gun, antlered Firearm
Western group C: Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Transylvania counties Antlered Only
Western group C — gun, antlerless Firearm
Western group C: Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Transylvania counties Antlerless Only
Western group D — archery Archery
Western group D: Graham County Antlered and Antlerless
Western group D — blackpowder, antlered Muzzleloader
Western group D: Graham County Antlered Only
Western group D — blackpowder, antlerless Muzzleloader
Western group D: Graham County Antlerless Only
Western group D — gun, antlered Firearm
Western group D: Graham County Antlered Only

Season data compiled and verified against official state sources. Regulations can change. Confirm current rules before hunting.

? Field Honest summarizes official hunting regulations for convenience. Official agency regulations remain controlling.
Season map

North Carolina deer map

Click a county or zone to see what seasons match that place.

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Select a mapped area for details. Map layers simplify official geography for web use.

Source detail Open official-source records Detailed notes, harvest classes, eligibility flags, and agency links.
Underlying records

Official-source season details

The quick finder above is the main view. These records keep the supporting geography, harvest notes, and source links together.

Archery

Bow, crossbow, or archery-only windows where listed. 10 seasons
Season Dates Geography Notes
Northeastern zone — archery Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Northeastern zone: Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Johnston, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne and Wilson counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Southeastern zone — archery Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Southeastern zone: Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Dare, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Moore, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Richmond, Robeson, Scotland, Tyrrell and Washington counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Central zone — archery Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Central zone: Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Granville, Guilford, Lee, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Northwestern zone — archery Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Northwestern zone: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Polk, Rutherford and Watauga counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Southeastern CWD Management Area — archery Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Southeastern CWD Management Area: Cumberland and Sampson counties cwd_management_area

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Northwestern CWD Management Area — archery Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Northwestern CWD Management Area: Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties cwd_management_area

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Western group A — archery Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Western group A: Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Western group B — archery Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Western group B: Buncombe, Henderson and McDowell counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Western group C — archery Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Western group C: Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Transylvania counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Western group D — archery Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Western group D: Graham County county

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source

Firearm

General rifle, gun, and firearm framework seasons. 13 seasons
Season Dates Geography Notes
Northeastern zone — gun Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Northeastern zone: Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Johnston, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne and Wilson counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Southeastern zone — gun Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Southeastern zone: Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Dare, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Moore, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Richmond, Robeson, Scotland, Tyrrell and Washington counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Central zone — gun Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Central zone: Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Granville, Guilford, Lee, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Northwestern zone — gun Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Northwestern zone: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Polk, Rutherford and Watauga counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Southeastern CWD Management Area — gun Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Southeastern CWD Management Area: Cumberland and Sampson counties cwd_management_area

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Northwestern CWD Management Area — gun Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Northwestern CWD Management Area: Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties cwd_management_area

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Western group A — gun Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Western group A: Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Western group B — gun, antlered Antlered Only General hunters
Western group B: Buncombe, Henderson and McDowell counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Western group B — gun, antlerless Antlerless Only General hunters
Western group B: Buncombe, Henderson and McDowell counties county_group

General Western group B antlerless gun dates; the specified Buncombe/Henderson boundary area has a longer record below.

Official source
Western group B boundary area — extended antlerless gun Antlerless Only General hunters Special rules
Part of Buncombe County east of NC 191, south of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, west of US 25 and north of NC 280; and part of Henderson County east of NC 191 and north and west of NC 280 special_area

In this boundary area the antlerless season is open on all days of the applicable gun antlered season.

Official source
Western group C — gun, antlered Antlered Only General hunters
Western group C: Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Transylvania counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Western group C — gun, antlerless Antlerless Only General hunters
Western group C: Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Transylvania counties county_group

One-day antlerless gun opportunity.

Official source
Western group D — gun, antlered Antlered Only General hunters
Western group D: Graham County county

No antlerless gun season is listed for Graham County in the official at-a-glance table.

Official source

Muzzleloader

Muzzleloader-only or late muzzleloader opportunities. 12 seasons
Season Dates Geography Notes
Northeastern zone — blackpowder Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Northeastern zone: Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Johnston, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne and Wilson counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Southeastern zone — blackpowder Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Southeastern zone: Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Dare, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Moore, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Richmond, Robeson, Scotland, Tyrrell and Washington counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Central zone — blackpowder Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Central zone: Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Granville, Guilford, Lee, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly and Union counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Northwestern zone — blackpowder Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Northwestern zone: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Polk, Rutherford and Watauga counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Southeastern CWD Management Area — blackpowder Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Southeastern CWD Management Area: Cumberland and Sampson counties cwd_management_area

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Northwestern CWD Management Area — blackpowder Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Northwestern CWD Management Area: Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties cwd_management_area

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Western group A — blackpowder Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Western group A: Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Madison, Mitchell and Yancey counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Western group B — blackpowder Antlered and Antlerless General hunters
Western group B: Buncombe, Henderson and McDowell counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Western group C — blackpowder, antlered Antlered Only General hunters
Western group C: Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Transylvania counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Western group C — blackpowder, antlerless Antlerless Only General hunters
Western group C: Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Transylvania counties county_group

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Western group D — blackpowder, antlered Antlered Only General hunters
Western group D: Graham County county

Game lands and individual properties may have additional or different rules; retain the official regulation link.

Official source
Western group D — blackpowder, antlerless Antlerless Only General hunters
Western group D: Graham County county

One-day antlerless blackpowder opportunity.

Official source

Special

Antlerless, CWD, urban, holiday, or other special rules. 2 seasons
Season Dates Geography Notes
Southeastern CWD Management Area — special early antlered season Antlered Only General hunters Special rules
Southeastern CWD Management Area: Cumberland and Sampson counties cwd_management_area

Any lawful weapon may be used. Baiting remains prohibited before September 1 in these CWD Management Areas.

Official source
Northwestern CWD Management Area — special early antlered season Antlered Only General hunters Special rules
Northwestern CWD Management Area: Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin counties cwd_management_area

Any lawful weapon may be used. Baiting remains prohibited before September 1 in these CWD Management Areas.

Official source