North Carolina Population and Management Archive -  North Carolina

View the archive by scrolling through the window below.  Historic deer hunt data is below the Archive window on the left column with links to sources.    A list of all articles in the Archive is below the window.

North Carolina Deer Population and Management Archive

Annual Reported Deer Hunt

1976 to 2016

1950:    15,000

1968:    39,000

1976:    22,614

1977:    28,428

1978:    29,730

1979:    30,053

1980:    28,794

1981:    34,666

1982:    37,893

1983:    47,873

1984:    49,894

1985:    55,074

1986:    62,682

1987:    78,259

1988 :   83,239

1989:    89,896

1990:  105,005 

1991:  104,750

1992:  118,638

1993:  134,422

1994:  124,696

1995:  123,312

1996:  116,661

1997:  119,656

1998:  132,373

1999:  125,226

2000:  132,325

2001:  142,887

2002:  118,174

2003:  134,507

2004:  140,311

2005:  144,315

2006:  154,273

2007:  171,986

2008:  176,297

2009:  169,273

2010:  175,157

2011:  173,553

2012:  167,249

2013:  188,130

2014:  153,629 

2015:  162,558

2016:  149,811

2017:  161,854

2018:  143,529

2019:  161,941

2020:  169,973

2021:  168,427


Hunting Statistics


Annual Estimated Deer Hunt

2010:  234,195

2011:  217,146

2012:  219,385

2013:  238,185

A List of Articles in the Archive

2021

Deer harvest is up in North Carolina May 18, 2021

Eight red wolves released into the wild in eastern North Carolina in hopes of keeping the species from going extinct May 17, 2021

North Carolina’s deer harvest increased in 2020-21 season April 27, 2021

2020

Deer Harvest for 2019-20 Season Up Nearly 7 Percent from Previous Three-Year Average April 24, 2020 North Carolina

2019

Deer Harvest for 2018-19 Season Down 9 Percent from Previous Three Year Average May 10, 2019 North Carolina

Elk-in store for big surprise one day May 1, 2019 North Carolina

2018

2018 North Carolina Deer Forecast October 31, 2018

Antlered deer harvest in Western North Carolina hits record high March 15, 2018

Can red wolves be saved again? February 5, 2018 North Carolina

Deer Harvest for 2017-18 Season Increased 8 percent from Previous Season

Elk get more room for growing population with new Maggie Valley state game land August 22, 2018 North Carolina

How many coyotes are in NC? September 6, 2018 North Carolina

Officially extinct: North Carolina cougars are long gone January 31, 2018

Pender County, Deer numbers slim after Hurricane Florence October 18, 2018 North Carolina

The WNC Deer Population is Up ... November 20, 2018 North Carolina,

2017

Elk are coming to Grandfather Mountain, naming contest begins November 17, 2017 North Carolina,

North Carolina deer harvest dips this season April 25, 2017

North Carolina Deer Information October, 2017

Wildlife Commission Adopts Resolution to Request Membership in Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact July 31, 2017 North Carolina

2016

'America's very best idea' September 2, 2016 Tennessee

'Friend of Conservation' award is given to Chatham family June 1, 2016 North Carolina,

A better deer season for hunters March 9, 2016 North Carolina

Changes In Regard To Antlered, Antlerless Deer September 21, 2016 Tennessee

Coyotes make themselves at home in WNC November 17, 2016 North Carolina

Deer food on the cheap April 8, 2016 North Carolina

Deer harvest of 2015-16 shows improvement over previous year April 25, 2016 North Carolina

The politics of deer farming in North Carolina—lessons learned RD Brown - Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2016

Will fewer deer be the new norm? May 2, 2016 North Carolina

WNC weighs in on proposed elk hunt January 13, 2016 North Carolina

2015

2015 North Carolina deer season preview August 1, 2015 North Carolina

2015 Trophy Deer Forecast: North Carolina October 21, 2015 North Carolina

America's Forgotten Wolf Still Lives In North Carolina January 14, 2015

Are all the deer and fish really gone? February 23, 2015 North Carolina

Coyote predation on fawns may demand direct attack April 17, 2015 North Carlina

Coyotes becoming a nuisance in Eastern North Carolina March 29, 2015 North Carolina

Coyotes filling wolves' niche in southeastern US March 26, 2015 North Carolina

Debate over deer management in NC July 10, 2015 North Carolina

Deer Farm Bill Ignites North Carolina Residents June 18, 2015

Deer Farmers drain Family Farmers USDA / FSA Funds June 17, 2015 North Carolina,

Deer farming bill heads to governor September 30, 2015 North Carolina

Deer farming changes debated May 12, 2015 North Carolina,

Deer farming changes pass state Senate, go to House May 20, 2015 North Carolina,

Deer harvest is off 18 percent over 2013-14, NCWRC announces May 7, 2015 North Carolina

Deer, swine, eels in NC farm bill that gets Senate OK May 19, 2015 North Carolina

Deer-farm supporters find two friends in state senate March 31, 2015 North Carolina,

Deer-farming bill herded through committee June 9, 2010 North Carolina

Eastern coyote adapts easily to our area November 15, 2015 North Carolina,

Elmore files bill legalizing sale of deer skins in North Carolina April 22, 2015 North Carolina,

Find loggers and you'll find deer ... December 1, 2015 North Carolina

For World's Only Wild Red Wolves, a Fateful Decision March 18, 2015 North Carolina,

Forest Lookouts: The inextricable -- but controversial -- ties among WNC economies and the national forests April 17, 2015 North Carolina

House approves bill expanding Sunday hunting April 28, 2015 North Carolina,

Hunters aren’t seeing as many deer November 19, 2015 North Carolina

Is deer farming a threat to wildlife and deer hunting in NC? August 20, 2015 North Carolina

Nature keeps down most recent deer season numbers May 14, 2015 North Carolina

NC Deer Farming Bill Threatens Federal Excise Gun Range Dollars August 20, 2015 North Carolina

NC WRC Releases Deer Study Results December 9, 2015 North Carolina,

North Carolina Deer Forecast for 2015 September 8, 2015

North Carolina's game commission wants the red wolf program ended February 6, 2015 North Carlina

Poor deer season last fall has multiple causes, biologist says March 6, 2015 North Carolina

Regulating deer key to preventing disease June 25, 2015 North Carolina,

Sportsmen asked to oppose expansion of deer pens in NC June 16, 2015 North Carolina,

Star man uses dachshund to find injured deer for hunters December 19, 2015 North Carolina

Statewide survey shows deer hunters managing more for quality than in the past December 10, 2015 North Carolina

Turn up the heat on coyotes now May 15, 2015 North Carolina

Two tales of timber: Managing your trees can help your wallet, wildlife April 9, 2015 North Carolina,

U.S. Forest Service Slaps Hunters in the Face March 21, 2015 North Carolina

White‐tailed deer population dynamics and adult female survival in the presence of a novel predator MC Chitwood, MA Lashley, JC Kilgo, CE Moorman… - The Journal of Wildlife …, 2015 North Carolina

Wild red wolf count falls as fewer parents making fewer pups July 24,2015 North Carolina

Wildlife Commission Passes Resolutions Regarding Red Wolves January 30, 2015 North Carolina

Winter is time to burn February 5, 2015 North Carolina

2014

2 public meetings will allow comment on deer farming amendment September 18, 2014 North Carolina

A federal program to bring back red wolves to North Carolina faces a challenge from landowners October 19, 2014

Acorn bumper crop turns heads in Western North Carolina October 15, 2014 North Carolina

Bucks Are Growing in North Carolina December 2, 2014 North Carolina

Budget proposal to shift N.C. deer farming oversight finds opposition July 22, 2014 North Carolina

Captive deer are sold as lucrative trophies November 29, 2014 North Carolina

Cherokee, Deer Relocated To Cherokee February 24, 2014 North Carolina

Cherokee, Project could revive deer on reservation land January 11, 2014 North Carolina

Cherokee, White-tailed deer, a plentiful nuisance elsewhere, find welcome on Cherokee tribal lands January 24, 2014 North Carolina

Commission faced with big decision Thursday on state's deer farms October 28, 2014 North Carolina

Commission votes to continue restrictions on farm raised elk, whitetails October 31, 2014 North Carolina

Dealing with deer causing rifts among neighbors September 2, 2014 North Carolina

Deer farmers accuse NC agency of stoking fear and raiding farms November 18, 2014 North Carolina

Deer Management Basics June 5, 2014 North Carolina

Deer reclaim historic home in Cherokee March 12, 2014 North Carolina

Does love of money put wildlife at risk? August 1, 2014 North Carolina

Eastern Band of Cherokee to participate in state park deer relocation January 8, 2014 North Carolina

Eastern Cherokee Reclaim Deer Heritage May 2, 2014 North Carolina

Gadugi Ecology: Combining old and new perspectives to understand deer in the Qualla Boundary March 25, 2014 North Carolina

Hunting rules due for changes January 11, 2014 North Carolina

Legislature to put NC Wildlife Resources Commission under microscope November 17, 2014 North Carolina

NC deer farmers, hunters battle over regulation of growing herds November 22, 2014 North Carolina

NC hits record-high deer hunting season April 24, 2014 North Carolina

NC Wildlife Commission approves regulations March 7, 2014 North Carolina

NCWRC's deer-farm vote deserves praise December 1, 2014 North Carolina

No change in captive deer farming jurisdiction August 13, 2014 North Carolina

North Carolina Deer Hunting Forecast for 2014 October 2, 2014

North Carolina red wolf also subject of conservation controversy May 27, 2014 North Carolina

Numbers show deer recovery is going well April 30, 2014 North Carolina

Piedmont Deer To Be Relocated On Cherokee Reservation January 8, 2014 North Carolina

Protect those buck fawns October 6, 2014 North Carolina

Public hearing set to discuss use of dogs during deer season June 19, 2014 North Carolina

Public Hearings Set for Proposed Changes to Captive Cervid Program August 29, 2014 North Carolina,

Restrictions on deer farms challenged December 24, 2014 North Carolina,

Sportsman are winners in budget bill signed Thursday August 8, 2014 North Carolina,

Sportsmen urge commission 'to stand up for resource' on deer issue October 15, 2014 North Carolina

State will host meeting Tuesday to discuss deer farming expansion in NC October 6, 2014 North Carolina

Statewide Deer Harvest Increases, declines in some areas May 5, 2014 North Carolina

Wildlife agency will defend officers' protection of deer, bear December 9, 2014 North Carolina

Wildlife Commission asking for input on captive deer rules October 8, 2014 North Carolina

Wildlife Commission to Conduct Nine Public Hearings Starting Jan. 6 December 11, 2014 North Carolina

Wildlife Commission to Conduct Public Hearing in Norwood on Jan. 8 December 26, 2014 North Carolina,

2013

Coping with coyotes: Residents speak out; bill seeks changes March 29, 2013 North Carolina

Deer hunting season in Western NC gets into full swing November 21, 2013 North Carolina

Deer meeting draws big crowd from Columbus January 25, 2013 North Carolin

Deer populations blunted by disease May 18, 2013 North Carolina

Farmers Manage Deer Project To Reach Out To Hunters, Land Managers, Communuities in September August 30, 2013 North Carolina

G&F Forecast: Where To Hunt Whitetails in North Carolina in 2013 October, 2013

Hunters, farmers to work together June 12, 2013 North Carolina

Initial deer numbers show decline January 20, 2013 North Carolina

Men get prison for poaching in WNC June 14, 2013 North Carolina

NCSU Students Working to Reduce Deer-Related Crop Damage June 27, 2013 North Carolina

North Carolina Deer Season 2013: Hunting Forecast October 4, 2013

States set sights on lifting Sunday hunting bans April 27, 2013 North Carolina

Study shows hunting is big business October 13, 2013 North Carolina

Supplemental feeding helps deer in the winter February 11, 2013 North Carolina

Tobacco trust fund to fund farmer-hunter program January 11, 2013 North Carolina

Why Predator Control Matters For Deer Populations April 3, 2013 North Carolina

2012

2011-12 was a good year for deer hunters June 30, 2012 North Carolina

Camp Lejeune: Deer hunting season ends with white-tail harvest countJanuary 12, 2012 North Carolina

Cherokee hopes bounty will help rein in pesky coyote population November 7, 2012 North Carolina

Concerns over deer control proposals by Wildlife Commission October 16, 2012 North Carolina

Deer harvest up in Wilkes in 2011 after dropping in 2010 April 17, 2012 North Carolina

Deer management program creates opportunities for hunters, farmers November 11, 2012, North Carolina

Duke Forest closes for deer season September 15, 2012 North Carolina

Proposed wildlife law irks hunters, thrills farmers September 19, 2012 North Carolina

Rise of the coyote: The new top dog May 16, 2012 North Carolina

2011

County supports banning deer hunting with dogs September 22, 2011 North Carolina

Deer season opens Monday in Asheville area, WNC November 19, 2011 North Carolina

Deer, turkey maps help NCWRC spot trends January 23, 2011 North Carolina

Hunting bill dies in Raleigh June 4, 2011 North Carolina

Killing of 9 penned deer in NC draws outrage October 10, 2011 North Carolina

NC deer hunter, poacher, banned from hunting worldwide in plea deal September 16, 2011

Tribe implements White-tailed Deer Project November 17, 2011 North Carolina

North Carolina deer harvest continues to grow July 16, 2010

Studies try to get handle on coyotes in NC August 2, 2010 North Carolina

Subtle effects of a managed fire regime: A case study in the longleaf pine ecosystem MA Lashley, MC Chitwood, A Prince, MB Elfelt…North Carolina