North Carolina Deer Season 2026-27
North Carolina deer season dates start with Sep 12-Nov 6, 2026. The table below keeps every listed deer row together with zones and notes where available.
Quick answer
North Carolina's listed 2026-27 firearm deer season runs Oct 17, 2026-Jan 1, 2027.
Archery White-tailed Deer opens Sep 12, 2026 and closes Nov 6, 2026.
Archery White-tailed Deer opens Sep 12, 2026 and closes Nov 13, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
Deer
58 listed rowsWhite-tailed Deer
Archery
Counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Polk, Rutherford, Watauga. Antlerless same as antlered archery. No Special Early Season.
Zone: Northwestern
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Antlerless dates same as antlered archery
Zone: Western Zone - Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, Transylvania
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Antlerless same as antlered archery. No Special Early Season. *Partial county restrictions apply.
Zone: Western - Buncombe*, Henderson*, McDowell
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Counties: Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin. Antlerless: Sept. 12 - Oct. 30, 2026. Special Early Season: Aug. 22 - Aug. 23, 2026.
Zone: Northwestern CWD Management Area
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Antlerless dates same as antlered archery
Zone: Central Zone - Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Granville, Guilford, Lee, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly, Union
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Antlerless same as antlered archery. No Special Early Season.
Zone: Western - Graham
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Antlerless dates same as antlered archery
Zone: Northwestern Zone - Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Catawba, Cleveland, Davie, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Polk, Rutherford, Watauga
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Antlerless same as antlered archery. No Special Early Season.
Zone: Western - Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Madison, Mitchell, Yancey
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Antlerless same as antlered archery. No Special Early Season.
Zone: Western - Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, Transylvania
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Counties: Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Granville, Guilford, Lee, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly, Union. Antlerless same as antlered archery. No Special Early Season.
Zone: Central
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Antlerless dates same as antlered archery
Zone: Western Zone - Graham
White-tailed Deer
Archery
Antlerless archery: Sept. 12 - Oct. 30, 2026. Special Early Season: Aug. 22 - Aug. 23, 2026
Zone: Northwestern CWD Management Area - Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| White-tailed DeerArchery · NortheasternCounties: Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Johnston, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne, Wilson. Antlerless same as antlered archery. | Closed | |
| White-tailed DeerArchery · SoutheasternCounties: Beaufort, Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Craven, Dare, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, Hyde, Jones, Lenoir, Moore, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Richmond, Robeson, Scotland, Tyrrell, Washington. Antlerless same as antlered archery. | Closed | |
| White-tailed DeerArchery · Southeastern CWD Management AreaCounties: Cumberland, Sampson. Antlerless season: Sept. 12 - Oct. 2, 2026. Special Early Season: Aug. 22 - Aug. 23, 2026. | Closed | |
| White-tailed DeerArchery · Southeastern CWD Management Area - Cumberland, SampsonAntlerless archery: Sept. 12 - Oct. 2, 2026 | Closed | |
| White-tailed DeerArchery · Western Zone - Buncombe, Henderson, McDowellAntlerless dates same as antlered archery | Open | |
| White-tailed DeerArchery · Western Zone - Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Madison, Mitchell, YanceyAntlerless dates same as antlered archery | Open | |
| White-tailed DeerBlackpowder · Southeastern CWD Management Area - Cumberland, SampsonAntlerless blackpowder: Oct. 3 - Oct. 16, 2026. Special Early Season: Aug. 22 - Aug. 23, 2026 | Open | |
| White-tailed DeerMuzzleloader/Blackpowder · Southeastern CWD Management AreaCounties: Cumberland, Sampson. Antlerless: Oct. 3 - Oct. 16, 2026. Special Early Season: Aug. 22 - Aug. 23, 2026. | Open | |
| White-tailed DeerMuzzleloader/Blackpowder · SoutheasternAntlerless same as antlered blackpowder. | Open | |
| White-tailed DeerMuzzleloader/Blackpowder · NortheasternAntlerless same as antlered blackpowder. | Open | |
| White-tailed DeerBlackpowder · Northeastern ZoneAntlerless dates same as antlered blackpowder | Open | |
| White-tailed DeerBlackpowder · Southeastern ZoneAntlerless dates same as antlered blackpowder | Open | |
| White-tailed DeerGun · Northeastern ZoneAntlerless dates same as antlered gun. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerGun · Southeastern ZoneAntlerless dates same as antlered gun. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerGun · Southeastern CWD Management Area - Cumberland, SampsonAntlerless gun: Oct. 17, 2026 - Jan. 1, 2027. Special Early Season: Aug. 22 - Aug. 23, 2026 | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerRegular Firearm · NortheasternAntlerless same as antlered gun. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerRegular Firearm · Southeastern CWD Management AreaCounties: Cumberland, Sampson. Antlerless: Oct. 17, 2026 - Jan. 1, 2027. Special Early Season: Aug. 22 - Aug. 23, 2026. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerRegular Firearm · SoutheasternAntlerless same as antlered gun. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerMuzzleloader/Blackpowder · CentralAntlerless same as antlered blackpowder. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerBlackpowder · Central ZoneAntlerless dates same as antlered blackpowder | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerBlackpowder · Northwestern CWD Management Area - Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes, YadkinAntlerless blackpowder: Oct. 31 - Nov. 13, 2026. Special Early Season: Aug. 22 - Aug. 23, 2026 | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerMuzzleloader/Blackpowder · Northwestern CWD Management AreaAntlerless: Oct. 31 - Nov. 13, 2026. Special Early Season: Aug. 22 - Aug. 23, 2026. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerMuzzleloader/Blackpowder · NorthwesternAntlerless same as antlered blackpowder. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerBlackpowder · Northwestern ZoneAntlerless dates same as antlered blackpowder | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerRegular Firearm · Northwestern CWD Management AreaAntlerless: Nov. 14, 2026 - Jan. 1, 2027. Special Early Season: Aug. 22 - Aug. 23, 2026. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerRegular Firearm · CentralAntlerless same as antlered gun. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerBlackpowder · Western Zone - GrahamAntlerless blackpowder: Nov. 21, 2026 | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerBlackpowder · Western Zone - Buncombe, Henderson, McDowellAntlerless dates same as antlered blackpowder | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerMuzzleloader/Blackpowder · Western - Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, TransylvaniaAntlerless: Nov. 21 - Nov. 27, 2026. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerMuzzleloader/Blackpowder · Western - Buncombe*, Henderson*, McDowellAntlerless same as antlered blackpowder. No Special Early Season. *Partial county restrictions apply. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerGun · Central ZoneAntlerless dates same as antlered gun. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerBlackpowder · Western Zone - Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, TransylvaniaAntlerless blackpowder: Nov. 21 - Nov. 27, 2026 | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerBlackpowder · Western Zone - Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Madison, Mitchell, YanceyAntlerless dates same as antlered blackpowder | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerGun · Northwestern CWD Management Area - Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes, YadkinAntlerless gun: Nov. 14, 2026 - Jan. 1, 2027. Special Early Season: Aug. 22 - Aug. 23, 2026 | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerMuzzleloader/Blackpowder · Western - Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Madison, Mitchell, YanceyAntlerless same as antlered blackpowder. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerMuzzleloader/Blackpowder · Western - GrahamAntlerless: Nov. 21, 2026. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerGun · Northwestern ZoneAntlerless dates same as antlered gun. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerRegular Firearm · NorthwesternAntlerless same as antlered gun. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerGun · Western Zone - GrahamAntlerless gun: None. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerGun · Western Zone - Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, TransylvaniaAntlerless gun: Nov. 28, 2026. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerRegular Firearm · Western - Cherokee, Clay, Haywood, Jackson, Macon, Swain, TransylvaniaAntlerless: Nov. 28, 2026. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerGun · Western Zone - Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Madison, Mitchell, YanceyAntlerless dates same as antlered gun. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerRegular Firearm · Western - GrahamAntlerless: None. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerRegular Firearm · Western - Buncombe*, Henderson*, McDowellAntlerless: Nov. 28 - Dec. 5, 2026*. *Partial county restrictions apply. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerRegular Firearm · Western - Avery, Burke, Caldwell, Madison, Mitchell, YanceyAntlerless same as antlered gun. No Special Early Season. | Upcoming | |
| White-tailed DeerGun · Western Zone - Buncombe, Henderson, McDowellAntlerless gun: Nov. 28 - Dec. 5, 2026 (tentative). In part of Buncombe County east of N.C. 191, south of French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, west of U.S. 25, and north of N.C. 280; and that part of Henderson County east of N.C. 191 and north and west of N.C. 280, the antlerless deer season is all days of applicable weapons antlered season. | Upcoming |
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Nearby deer seasons
North Carolina Deer Season FAQ
When does deer season open in North Carolina?
September 12, 2026 is the earliest listed deer opener in North Carolina — archery white-tailed deer runs Sep 12-Nov 6, 2026. Confirm zone and permit details with NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
What are the 2026-27 deer season dates in North Carolina?
North Carolina lists 58 deer season windows: Archery White-tailed Deer (Sep 12-Nov 6, 2026); Archery White-tailed Deer (Sep 12-Nov 13, 2026); Archery White-tailed Deer (Sep 12-Nov 13, 2026); Archery White-tailed Deer (Sep 12-Oct 30, 2026); Archery White-tailed Deer (Sep 12-Oct 2, 2026); Archery White-tailed Deer (Sep 12-Oct 2, 2026); Archery White-tailed Deer (Sep 12-Oct 30, 2026); Archery White-tailed Deer (Sep 12-Oct 2, 2026); and more. Always verify against NC Wildlife Resources Commission before hunting.
Are there different deer seasons in North Carolina?
Yes — North Carolina lists separate deer seasons for Archery White-tailed Deer, Blackpowder White-tailed Deer, Muzzleloader/Blackpowder White-tailed Deer, Gun White-tailed Deer, Regular Firearm White-tailed Deer. Each can carry its own dates, zones, and weapon rules; see the table above and NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
Do I need a license to hunt deer in North Carolina?
Yes. North Carolina generally requires the appropriate hunting license, and deer hunting may also require tags, permits, stamps, or zone authorizations. Confirm requirements with NC Wildlife Resources Commission.