Deer Regulations
General Restrictions
- Any person hunting deer during a deer firearms season shall wear hunter orange visible from all sides. This includes hunting with archery equipment on Sundays. This also includes anyone hunting on Youth Deer Hunting Day, regardless of age of the hunter or weapon used. Landholders, their spouses and children hunting on land held by the landholder do not have to wear hunter orange.
- Antlered deer may be taken during any open antlered deer season. Antlerless deer may only be taken during antlerless deer seasons.
- Antlered deer are defined as having visible antlers, defined as bony structures that protrude through the skin. Knobs or buttons covered by skin or velvet are not considered visible antlers.
- It is unlawful to place processed food products as bait in any area of the state with an established season for taking black bears. Processed food products are any food substance or flavoring that has been modified by the addition of ingredients or by treatment to modify its chemical composition or form or to enhance its aroma or taste. This includes: food products enhanced by sugar, honey, syrups, oils, salts, spices, peanut butter, grease, meat, bones, or blood; candies, pastries, gum, and sugar blocks; and extracts of such products.
- The placement of commercially available mineral supplements specifically and exclusively marketed for attracting or feeding deer is allowed anywhere in the state, except on game lands and CWD Surveillance Areas (see CWD Surveillance Areas and Special Regulations).
- Possession and use of some types of natural deer excretions (including urine) is not allowed. See the section on Baiting and Attractants on General Hunting Regulations for more information.
Weapons and Dogs
Archery
- During the archery season the following are legal weapons: bows and arrows, crossbows, and slingbows (all described on General Hunting Regulations).
Blackpowder
- During the blackpowder season the following are legal weapons: bows and arrows, crossbows, slingbows, and blackpowder firearms (all described on General Hunting Regulations).
Gun
- During the gun season the following are legal weapons: bows and arrows, crossbows, and slingbows, blackpowder firearms, shotguns, rifles, and handguns (all described on General Hunting Regulations).
Dogs
- Hunters may use dogs to hunt deer during open deer seasons in counties listed on General Hunting Regulations, and to retrieve a wounded deer. See General Hunting Regulations for details.
Bag Limits
- The season and possession bag limit is six deer, two of which may be antlered, and four of which may be antlerless.
- There is no daily bag limit.
- Antlerless deer harvested and reported on Bonus Antlerless Harvest Report Cards do not count towards the season or possession limit.
- Bonus Antlerless Harvest Report Cards allow for the harvest of two additional antlerless deer per card. These are ONLY valid for use for deer taken within participating municipalities during the Urban Archery Season (described on Deer Regulations). Unlimited Bonus Antlerless Harvest Report Cards are available to each hunter. Bonus Antlerless Harvest Report Cards can be obtained on or after Jan. 1 at most wildlife service agents, or online at gooutdoorsnorthcarolina.com.
- Antlerless deer harvested under the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) and tagged with harvest tags provided with the program are not included in normal statewide bag limits.
Antlerless Deer Seasons
Youth Deer Hunting Day
- Antlered and antlerless deer may be taken by hunters under the age of 18 on this day (includes game lands).
Archery Deer Season
- Antlered and antlerless deer may be taken during archery deer season in all areas (includes game lands) in and east of Watauga, Wilkes, Alexander, Catawba, Cleveland, Rutherford, and Polk counties.
- Antlered and antlerless deer may be taken during the first and second archery deer seasons in all areas (includes game lands) in and west of Henderson, Buncombe, McDowell, Burke, Caldwell and Avery counties.
- Some game lands have special deer seasons that do not follow the county archery deer season. See “Game Lands” section for seasons and rules specific to the game land you will be hunting.
Blackpowder Firearm Deer Season
- Antlerless deer may only be taken during the blackpowder firearm season dates indicated on Deer Zone Maps and General Game Lands Regulations.
- Some game lands have special deer seasons that do not follow the county blackpowder deer season. See “Game Lands” section for seasons and rules specific to the game land you will be hunting.
Gun Deer Season
- Antlerless deer may only be taken during the gun season dates indicated on Deer Zone Maps and General Game Lands Regulations.
Urban Archery Season
Archery only: Jan. 13 – Feb. 18, 2024
Information for Hunters
- The intention of the Urban Archery Season is to enable cities, towns and villages to reduce urban deer populations through increased hunter opportunity. Hunting during the Urban Archery Season is allowed ONLY in participating municipalities.
- Each city, town and village will decide if hunting is allowed on public property and restrictions, if any, for hunting on private property within the city, town and village limits.
- Hunters wishing to hunt in an area participating in the Urban Archery Season should call the participating city, town or village or visit its website to obtain a map showing lawful areas to hunt and additional information on specific restrictions that may apply to each area.
- The Urban Archery Season does not obligate private landowners to allow hunting on their property, nor does it eliminate the ethical requirement for obtaining permission from the landowner before hunting. Hunters are legally required to obtain written permission to hunt on posted property.
- Season bag and possession limits for both antlerless and antlered deer, including Bonus Anterless Harvest Report Cards, that apply to the general archery, blackpowder, and gun deer seasons also apply to the Urban Archery Season.
- Antlered and antlerless deer may be harvested in participating areas during the Urban Archery Season.
The 2023 participating cities, towns and villages are:
Albemarle - 704-984-9565
albemarlenc.gov
Ansonville - 704-826-8404
townofansonville.godaddysites.com
Archer Lodge - 919-359-9727
archerlodgenc.gov
Boiling Springs - 704-434-9691
boilingspringsnc.net
Chapel Hill - 919-968-2784
townofchapelhill.org
China Grove - 704-857-2466
chinagrovenc.gov
Clayton - 919-553-5002
townofclaytonnc.org
Cleveland - 704-278-4777
clevelandnc.org
Concord - 704-920-5000
concordnc.gov
Denton - 336-859-4231
townofdenton.com
East Bend - 336-699-8560
eastbendnc.com
Eden - 336-623-9687
edennc.us
Elkin - 336-258-8917
elkinnc.org
Fairview - 704-753-1981
fairviewnc.gov
Franklinville - 336-824-2604
franklinvillenc.org
Glen Alpine - 828-584-2622
townofglenalpine.org
Granite Quarry - 704-279-5596
granitequarrync.gov
Harrisburg - 704-455-0709
harrisburgnc.org
Huntersville - 704-875-6571
huntersville.org
Indian Trail - 704-821-5401 Ext. 226
indiantrail.org
Jamestown - 336-454-1138
jamestown-nc.gov
Jefferson - 336-846-9368
townofjefferson.org
Jonesville - 336-835-3426
King - 336-983-8265
ci.king.nc.us
Landis - 704-857-4114
townoflandisnc.com
Lattimore - 704-434-2620
facebook.com/TownofLattimore
Lenoir - 828-757-2100
cityoflenoir.com
Lewisville - 336-945-5558
lewisvillenc.net
Locust - 704-888-5260
locustnc.com
Midland - 704-888-2232
midlandnc.us
Mineral Springs - 704-243-0505
mineralspringsnc.com
Mooresboro - townofmooresboro.org
Morganton - 828-432-2345
morgantonnc.gov
Nags Head/Kill Devil Hills - nature.org/nhw
New London - 704-463-5423
newlondonnc.org
North Wilkesboro - 336-667-7129
north-wilkesboro.com
Norwood - 704-474-3416
norwoodgov.com
Oakboro - 704-485-3351
oakboro.com
Oak Ridge - 336-644-7009
oakridgenc.com
Pleasant Garden - 336-674-3002
pleasantgarden.net
Randleman - 336-495-7500
cityofrandleman.com
Red Cross - 704-485-2002
townofredcross.com
Reidsville - 336-349-1030
reidsvillenc.gov
Richfield - 704-463-1308
richfieldnc.com
Ronda - 336-835-2061
townofronda.org
Sanford - 919-777-1104
sanfordnc.net
Shelby - 704-484-6801
cityofshelby.com
Stallings - 704-821-8557
stallingsnc.org
Stanfield - 704-888-2386
stanfieldnc.com
Stokesdale - 336-643-4011
stokesdale.org
Summerfield - 336-643-8655
summerfieldnc.gov
Trent Woods - 252-637-3030
trentwoodspd.org
Troutman - 704-528-7600
troutmannc.gov
Unionville - 704-226-1989
Valdese - 828-879-2100
townofvaldese.com
Wake Forest - 919-435-9609
wakeforestnc.gov
Waxhaw - 704-843-2195 Ext. 278
waxhaw.com
Weddington - 704-846-2709
townofweddington.com
Wentworth - 336-342-6288
townofwentworth.com
Yadkinville - 336-679-8732
yadkinville.org
Information for cities, towns and villages
The Urban Archery Season is available for cities, towns and villages that submit to the Wildlife Resources Commission by April 1 of each year a letter of intent to participate in the season. A map (no larger than 11” X 17”) clearly defining the area included in the season should also accompany the letter of intent. Interested municipalities should call the Wildlife Management Division at 919-707-0050 and request to be contacted by a district wildlife biologist.
