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Northwestern zone · District 8
Catawba County Hunting
NCWRC rules, harvest figures and public ground for Catawba County: the Northwestern deer dates with antlerless days, Piedmont BMU (group 3) bear dates, CWD status, local acts, game lands with acres and the shops nearby.
Photo: chascow (CC BY 2.0)
In the mountains, Catawba County spans 401 square miles with Newton at its centre of government. Population sat near 167,054 in 2024 after growing 4.0% since 2020. For wildlife staff it belongs to District 8, one of the Mountain Region districts. Northwestern is the deer zone group, and the Piedmont BMU (group 3) sets bear hunting. That group spans 12 counties, so neighbours may open on other days. Catawba County has no game land of its own by GIS measure.
Land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer, population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates, district and region from the NCWRC district biologist sheet, game land acres from the NCWRC game land boundary layer (GIS measure), deer groups from the 2026-2027 Season Dates at a Glance. Checked October 25, 2026.
Deer dates and CWD rules in Catawba County
Catawba County hunts deer on the Northwestern calendar: bows from Sep 12, blackpowder from Nov 7 and guns from Nov 21 until Jan 1, 2027. Does may be taken any day the season is open, whatever the weapon. The youth deer weekend falls on Sep 26 to Sep 27, 2026 this season. The CWD maps leave Catawba County out this season.
| Weapon | Dates | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|
| Archery season | Sep 12–Nov 6, 2026 | Every open day |
| Blackpowder season | Nov 7–Nov 20, 2026 | Every open day |
| Gun (any legal weapon) | Nov 21–Jan 1, 2027 | Every open day |
| Youth days (statewide) | Sep 26–Sep 27, 2026 | Either sex, youth |
| Urban archery | Jan 9–Feb 14, 2027 | Participating towns |
No CWD positive has come from Catawba County; its tests are counted with the rest of the state.
Urban bow season
Bowhunters can keep going in Catawba through Feb 14, 2027.
Shining deer
Lights on deer are banned all night, from half an hour after sunset.
Season limit
Six per season, two of them antlered.
Report card
Validate the card before moving the deer; register the same day or by next noon.
Northwestern dates in full · All zone groups · CWD status
Zone groups, dates and antlerless days from the 2026-2027 Season Dates at a Glance and the digest deer seasons; youth, CWD early and urban seasons from the digest deer regulations; CWD areas from the NCWRC CWD special regulations; tests from the NCWRC CWD testing chart (updated Oct 15, 2026); light rule from 15A NCAC 10B .0115. Checked October 25, 2026.
Catawba County season dates for 2026-27
33 species and 52 dated segments reach Catawba County; the last column checks each one against today.
| Quarry | Season | Covers | From | To | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Northwestern | Sep 12, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth Deer Hunting Days | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Blackpowder | Northwestern | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Northwestern | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Urban Archery Season | Urban archery towns only | Jan 9, 2027 | Feb 14, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Group 3 | Piedmont BMU group 3 | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Season (spring) | Statewide | Apr 10, 2027 | Apr 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Statewide Spring Season | Statewide | Apr 17, 2027 | May 15, 2027 | |
| Feral swine | Year-round | Private land, year-round | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Dove | Dove (split) | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Oct 10, 2026 | |
| Dove | Dove (split) | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Dove | Dove (split) | Statewide | Dec 16, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Remainder of state (either sex) | Rest of the state | Sep 5, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock | Statewide | Dec 10, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Fall/winter | Statewide | Oct 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Spring season | Statewide | May 17, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Red squirrel | Fall/winter | Statewide | Oct 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Inland zone | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Inland zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 3 | Inland zone | Dec 18, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | September Canada goose season | Statewide in September | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Split 1 | Resident Population Zone | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Split 2 | Resident Population Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 5, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Split 3 | Resident Population Zone | Dec 17, 2026 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| White-fronted goose | Split 1 | Resident Population Zone | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 | |
| White-fronted goose | Split 2 | Resident Population Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 5, 2026 | |
| White-fronted goose | Split 3 | Resident Population Zone | Dec 17, 2026 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Regular season | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Brant | Statewide | Dec 28, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| Tundra swan | Tundra swan (permit only) | Permit holders only | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| Waterfowl | Veterans day | Statewide | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 5, 2026 | |
| Waterfowl | Youth Waterfowl Day | Statewide | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 5, 2026 | |
| Waterfowl | Veterans day | Statewide | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| Waterfowl | Youth Waterfowl Day | Statewide | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| King and clapper rail | Rails | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Nov 25, 2026 | |
| Virginia rail and sora | Rails | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Nov 25, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Gallinule and moorhen | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Nov 25, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Snipe | Statewide | Oct 27, 2026 | Feb 27, 2027 | |
| Crow | Season 1 (Wed/Fri/Sat) | Statewide | Aug 1, 2026 | Feb 27, 2027 | |
| Crow | Season 2 (Wed/Fri/Sat) | Statewide | Jun 2, 2027 | Jul 31, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Year-round | Private land, year-round | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Groundhog | Year-round | Private land, year-round | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Nutria | Year-round | Private land, year-round | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Skunk | Year-round | Private land, year-round | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Armadillo | Year-round | Private land, year-round | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Beaver | Year-round | Statewide, year-round | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
From the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 2026-27 regulations digest and the 2026-2027 Season Dates at a Glance, checked October 25, 2026.
Catawba County game lands and public ground
Catawba County has no listed public tract of its own, so the nearest ones over the line are pinned below.
Close by in other counties: Kings Creek Game Land 2,361 acres, 28 miles out; Johns River Game Land 6,483 acres, 28 miles out; South Mountains Game Land 22,583 acres, 31 miles out; Kerr Scott Game Land 521 acres, 31 miles out; W. Kerr Scott Reservoir (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) 521 acres, 31 miles out.
North Carolina public land · Game land list · Days per week
Tracts from our North Carolina land list (NCWRC regional game land tables, game land rules, USFS, USFWS, NPS and Corps records); game land acres from the NCWRC boundary layer and national forest acres from the USFS ownership layer, both GIS measures; acres within 10 miles of the seat from the same layers. Checked October 25, 2026.
Catawba County bucks, does and weapons
The 2025-26 count for Catawba County reached 2,429, of which 44% were antlerless. The seven-season high is 2025-26 at 2,429; 2019-20 began the table at 1,513. Archery tackle accounted for 459 deer, counting 275 crossbow kills. Game lands produced 0 deer and other land 2,429. Buck density came to 5.25 a square mile. The doe column reads 970, the button buck column 93. Going back to 1976, the best year on record for Catawba County is 2025 (2,429).
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Sum | Firearm | Blackpowder | Bow | Crossbow | Game lands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,366 | 93 | 970 | 2,429 | 1,556 | 414 | 184 | 275 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 1,238 | 92 | 932 | 2,262 | 1,476 | 391 | 170 | 225 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 1,261 | 123 | 1,041 | 2,425 | 1,722 | 268 | 165 | 270 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 959 | 71 | 723 | 1,753 | 1,250 | 232 | 139 | 132 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 872 | 77 | 659 | 1,608 | 1,048 | 277 | 137 | 146 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 798 | 73 | 650 | 1,521 | 955 | 261 | 176 | 129 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 810 | 75 | 628 | 1,513 | 928 | 317 | 132 | 136 | 0 |
NCWRC 2025-26 deer harvest by county and earlier county PDFs on the harvest statistics page; long series from the NCWRC county deer harvest 1976-2025 table. Checked October 25, 2026.
County-only hunting rules for Catawba County
Before you hunt Catawba County, read these 1 local act the legislature passed for the county.
- Hunt, take or kill or attempt to hunt, take or kill any animal or bird on or from the right-of-way of any public road.
Sunday hunting is legal, but guns rest from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and no migratory birds may be taken. Skipping hunter orange is an infraction with a $25 fine. Fox dates here come from local acts not shown on this page.
Local laws statewide · Sunday restrictions · State law summary
Local acts from the digest local laws by county; Sunday rules from G.S. 103-2; hunter orange from G.S. 113-291.8; zone lists from the 2026-27 digest. Checked October 25, 2026.
Bear, turkey and waterfowl in Catawba County
Bear season
For bear, Catawba County belongs to the Piedmont BMU (group 3), with dates Nov 21, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027. Reported bear harvest in Catawba County was 0 in 2025, out of 4,495 statewide.
Spring turkey
Spring gobbler season runs Apr 17 to May 15, 2027, with youth days Apr 10 to Apr 11, 2027; there is no fall turkey season. Hunters reported 242 spring turkeys from Catawba County in 2026, 184 of them adult gobblers. Its spring turkey series begins in 1998. Off game lands, hunters took 242 turkeys in 2026.
| Spring | Adults | Juveniles | Birds | Game lands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 184 | 58 | 242 | 0 |
| 2025 | 168 | 48 | 216 | 0 |
| 2024 | 210 | 39 | 249 | 0 |
| 2023 | 212 | 41 | 253 | 0 |
| 2022 | 133 | 66 | 199 | 0 |
| 2021 | 177 | 15 | 192 | 0 |
| 2020 | 215 | 62 | 277 | 0 |
Migratory birds
For ducks, Catawba County is Inland zone. For Canada geese, Catawba County is Resident Population Zone.
Piedmont BMU harvest · Bear area list · Waterfowl zones
Bear units and dates from the 2026-2027 Season Dates at a Glance and the digest bear seasons; bear harvest from the NCWRC BMU county table, 2025 sex and land split from the 2025 county detail, method from the 2025 method table; turkey dates from the digest and harvest from the spring 2026 county table; waterfowl zones from the migratory bird digest page and the digest zone maps. Checked October 25, 2026.
Catawba County legal hunting light
Times below take the Charlotte table, add the Catawba County offset of +2 minutes, then apply the half-hour rule for game and the sunset rule for migratory birds.
| Date | Moment | Sunrise | Sunset | Game hours | Waterfowl and dove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:59 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 8:18 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 7:04 a.m. | 7:38 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 8:08 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:32 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 6:58 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 5:51 p.m. | 6:28 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 7:11 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:30 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:51 p.m. | 7:00 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:32 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:49 a.m. | 8:00 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
Sunrise and sunset from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission digest table for Charlotte with county offsets; hours rule G.S. 113-291.1; checked October 25, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Catawba County contacts, processors and shops
Businesses with a Catawba County address come first; the closest ones in bordering counties fill each group.
Biologist and offices
The district biologist sheet names Clint Barden for Catawba County. The nearest wildlife facility is NCWRC Morganton Depot, 26 miles away in Morganton.
Processors
Taxidermy
Hunting preserves
Gun and archery shops
Biologists and supervisors from the NCWRC district biologist sheet (updated Aug. 17, 2026); offices from the NCWRC facilities layer; processors and taxidermists from the NCWRC Cervid Health Cooperator list, NC Hunters for the Hungry and directory listings; shops from directory listings and store locators. Checked October 25, 2026; call ahead. All North Carolina hunting services.
Catawba County town guides and neighbours
Catawba County has 1 town guide, seat first; each lists the public land within reach and the nearest shops.
- Newtonseat · 13,571 residents (2024)
Step over the Catawba County line into one of 5 counties.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Fires, permits and bans around Catawba County
- Burn permit: Year-round.
- NC high hazard counties (G.S. 106-942(a)), stricter year-round permit and land-clearing rules: Catawba County is not on this list.
- Who sets a ban: The Commissioner of Agriculture, during hazardous forest fire conditions or declared air pollution episodes, may prohibit all open burning regardless of whether a permit is required (G.S.
- Campfires while hunting: NC Wildlife Resources Commission game lands (15A NCAC 10D .0102(i)): no camping except on areas posted by the landowner for camping.
Ranges in and near Catawba County
Up to six Catawba County ranges appear as cards, and any more go in the table below them.
Covers archery, 3D archery
Covers rifle, handgun, silhouette
Covers rifle, sporting clays, shotgun
Covers skeet, shotgun
Nearest NCWRC public range: Foothills Public Shooting Complex in Cleveland County, about 26 miles from the county center. Range page
Shoots coming up here
| Date and event | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 30-31, 2026 — North Carolina Airgun Show | Gun show | Details |
| Nov 7-8, 2026 — C&E Hickory Gun Show | Gun show | Details |
| Nov 13-14, 2026 — 2026 Trojan Country Veterans Classic (10/15) | NASP | Enter |
| Dec 2-3, 2026 — 2026 4th Brigade AJROTC Best of the Best Championship | Youth | Enter |
| Dec 3-5, 2026 — 2026 Startown Christmas Shootout | NASP | Enter |
| Jan 1-2, 2027 — Maiden New Years Bash | NASP | Enter |
Ranges from the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Catawba County on the North Carolina events calendar
3 NCWRC classes (hunter education course), read October 25, 2026.
Class dates
| When | Course | Hours | Venue | Sign up | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 | Women's Hunter Education Course (Mountain Region) ⋅ hunter education course | 8:00 AM–2:00 PM | Catawba Valley Wildlife Club ⋅ Vale ⋅ Catawba Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Nov 16, 2026 | Hunter Education Certification (D8) ⋅ hunter education course | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Catawba County Sherriff's Office Annex ⋅ Sherrills Ford ⋅ Catawba Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Dec 14, 2026 | Hunter Education Certification (D8) ⋅ hunter education course | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Catawba County Sherriff's Office Annex ⋅ Sherrills Ford ⋅ Catawba Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
Catawba County hunting questions
Which public land is closest to Catawba County?
Kings Creek Game Land, about 28 miles from the centre, outside the county.
Are ducks and doves legal on a Catawba County Sunday?
No. Migratory birds are closed on Sundays.
Can I use bonus antlerless cards in Catawba County?
Only in the urban archery season inside Catawba.
How is a Catawba County deer registered?
Register by noon the next day through the app, 800-446-8663, online or a wildlife service agent.
When is bow season for deer in Catawba County?
Sep 12 to Nov 6, 2026; bows stay legal through the later seasons too.
Where can I take a Catawba County deer to be cut?
Try Fat Mike's Little Mountain Taxidermy and Deer Processing first.
Where does Catawba County sit among the 100 counties for deer?
35th of 100 counties in 2025-26.
What are the antlerless days in Catawba County?
Archery every open day, blackpowder every open day, gun every open day.
Where do I find Catawba County local hunting laws?
In the local laws by county section of the NCWRC digest, copied on this page.
Is Catawba County in a CWD management area?
No.
Answers from the 2026-27 NCWRC digest, the Season Dates at a Glance, harvest reporting rules, NCWRC harvest and CWD data and the sources above. Checked October 25, 2026.
Catawba County trip checklist
Game lands in and near Catawba County can set their own days, antlerless dates and posted zones; read the game land page before you go.
Sources: 2026-27 NCWRC regulations digest, Season Dates at a Glance, NCWRC hunting, Census and the agencies linked in each section. Checked October 25, 2026.
Other photos on this page: cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0); GlacierNPS (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Cindy Sue Causey (CC BY 2.0); watts_photos (Public Domain Mark 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); don r faulkner (CC BY-SA 2.0); Fyn Kynd (CC BY 2.0).