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Piedmont county guide
Davidson County Hunting
A county-level brief on Davidson County in the Piedmont: 2026-27 dates by weapon, the local acts in the digest, deer reported since 2019-20, game lands and forest acres, and where to get a deer processed.
Photo: Donald Lee Pardue (CC BY 2.0)
The county line around Davidson County encloses 553 square miles of land; county offices sit in Lexington. At 177,809 people in 2024, density works out near 322 a square mile. NCWRC files it under Wildlife Management District 6 in the Piedmont Region. Its deer seasons are the Central ones; bear seasons come from the Piedmont BMU (group 2). This deer group takes in 19 counties. About 5,136 acres of the county lie inside game land boundaries (966 acres are USFS land).
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.
Davidson County deer zone, antlerless days and CWD
Mark Nov 14, 2026 for the Central gun opener in Davidson County; archery opens Sep 12 and blackpowder Oct 31. Antlerless deer are legal on every open day of all three weapon seasons. On Sep 26 to Sep 27, 2026 youth may take deer of either sex with any legal weapon. Davidson County is not a CWD management or surveillance county.
| Hunt | Open | Does legal |
|---|---|---|
| Archery only | Sep 12–Oct 30, 2026 | Every open day |
| Muzzleloader | Oct 31–Nov 13, 2026 | Every open day |
| Gun | Nov 14–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 |
Davidson County is pooled into the rest-of-state line of the CWD chart, which shows no positives.
Towns with urban archery
Urban archery (Jan 9 to Feb 14, 2027) is open inside Denton.
Spotlighting
No deer spotlighting at any time after dusk.
Deer limit
Four antlerless and two antlered per season.
Harvest report
Punch the Big Game Harvest Report Card, then register by noon next day.
All Central counties · Deer zone map · CWD management areas
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.
Davidson County calendar from August to May
Davidson County hunts deer on the Central dates and bear on the Piedmont BMU dates. The 54 rows below are the dated hunts the 2026-27 digest puts there.
| Game | Season | Where | Begins | Through | Right now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Central | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth Deer Hunting Days | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Blackpowder | Central | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Central | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Urban Archery Season | Urban archery towns only | Jan 9, 2027 | Feb 14, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Group 2 | Piedmont BMU group 2 | Nov 14, 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 | |
| Red fox | Firearms season | East of I-77; local acts vary | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Firearms season | East of I-77; local acts vary | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 1, 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.
Davidson County: game lands, forests and refuges
4 public tracts on our North Carolina list reach into Davidson County; Uwharrie Ranger District (Uwharrie National Forest) is the largest at 53,011 acres. Their week schedules break down to 3 open 7 days a week. National forest land adds 966 acres by the USFS ownership layer, all of it hunted as game land. GIS puts 2,191 acres of open ground inside ten miles of Lexington. Look for a game land dove field in Davidson County in September.
- Game lands: 3Uwharrie Game Land (52,709 ac*, 7 days), Yadkin River Game Land (11,636 ac*, 7 days), Linwood Game Land (169 ac, 7 days)
- Ranger districts in Davidson (1)Uwharrie Ranger District (Uwharrie National Forest) (53,011 ac*)
- USFS land in countyUwharrie National Forest (957 ac in Davidson)
Next-door options: Perkins Game Land 1,696 ac, 14 miles out; Second Creek Game Land 1,106 ac, 25 miles out; Paynes Branch Game Land 211 ac, 32 miles out.
Land by type · All game lands · Game land hunting days · National forests
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.
Davidson County deer numbers since 2019-20
Davidson County ranked 9th of 100 counties in 2025-26 with 3,527 reported deer. Since 2019-20 (2,562 deer) the county moved +38%, with 2023-24 on top. By weapon: 72% gun, 13% blackpowder and 15% bow or crossbow. Game land deer numbered 91 last season. That is 5.11 antlered bucks per square mile (13th in the state). Hunters checked in 1,468 does, roughly 42 in every hundred deer. The long series back to 1976 peaks at 3,856 in 2023, against 165 in 1976.
| Year | Bucks | Buttons | Does | Total | Gun | Blackpowder | Archery | Crossbow | Game land |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,923 | 136 | 1,468 | 3,527 | 2,555 | 443 | 220 | 309 | 91 |
| 2024-25 | 1,829 | 95 | 1,424 | 3,348 | 2,525 | 333 | 188 | 302 | 64 |
| 2023-24 | 2,101 | 146 | 1,609 | 3,856 | 2,885 | 346 | 237 | 388 | 95 |
| 2022-23 | 1,551 | 121 | 1,245 | 2,917 | 2,260 | 227 | 224 | 206 | 68 |
| 2021-22 | 1,463 | 95 | 1,057 | 2,615 | 1,875 | 323 | 197 | 220 | 61 |
| 2020-21 | 1,429 | 133 | 1,214 | 2,776 | 2,060 | 335 | 201 | 180 | 68 |
| 2019-20 | 1,325 | 80 | 1,157 | 2,562 | 1,846 | 375 | 183 | 158 | 47 |
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.
Davidson County local acts, Sundays and orange
Davidson County has 3 local laws on hunting, listed as the digest words them.
- Hunt, fish or trap on land of another without written permission.
- NOTE: Discharge of firearms or pellet guns from right-of-way of public roads is regulated by local ordinance.
- Hunt, take or kill a wild bird or wild animal with a firearm or discharge a firearm from, on or across the right-of-way of any numbered state-maintained road without written permission of the adjoining landowner.
On Sundays, firearms may not be used from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and migratory birds are closed all day. A landholder hunting on his own land is exempt from hunter orange. For fox, look up the county in the NCWRC fox seasons publication.
All county local acts · Hunting on Sunday · Statewide hunting laws
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.
Other big game and birds in Davidson County
Bears
Nov 14, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027: that is the Piedmont BMU (group 2) bear calendar Davidson County hunters use. NCWRC counted 1 bears from Davidson County in 2025 and 3 across every year in its table. Males made up 100% of the 2025 county bear harvest. In 2025 0 bears were taken with dogs.
Davidson wild turkey
Shotguns and bows only for spring turkey, Apr 17 to May 15, 2027. In 2026, Davidson County turkey hunters registered 328 birds. Records start for Davidson County in 1998 with 51 birds. The game land share of the 2026 birds was 13.
| Spring | Adult gobblers | Jakes | Sum | Game lands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 261 | 67 | 328 | 13 |
| 2025 | 218 | 74 | 292 | 15 |
| 2024 | 206 | 41 | 247 | 10 |
| 2023 | 222 | 40 | 262 | 17 |
| 2022 | 163 | 67 | 230 | 7 |
| 2021 | 215 | 39 | 254 | 9 |
| 2020 | 204 | 92 | 296 | 9 |
Duck and goose zones
Ducks follow the Inland zone dates in Davidson County. Goose zone: Resident Population Zone.
More on the Piedmont BMU · Bear area rules · Duck 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.
Davidson County legal hunting light
The digest prints one sunrise and sunset table for Charlotte and a minute offset for each county. For Davidson County the offset is -1 minutes.
| Day | Hunt | First sun | Last sun | Game shooting | Bird shooting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:56 a.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 7:01 a.m. | 7:35 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 8:05 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:35 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:29 a.m. | 6:46 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 6:46 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 6:55 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 7:08 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 5:42 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:27 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:29 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 6:59 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:46 a.m. | 7:57 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 8:27 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 7:57 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.
Services for Davidson County hunters
When Davidson County has no shop of a kind, the nearest one next door is shown.
NCWRC contacts for Davidson County
Wildlife questions in Davidson County go to District 6 biologist Rupert Medford. Drive 36 miles to reach NCWRC Troy Depot, the nearest Commission site; it is not a walk-in license counter.
Meat processing
Taxidermists
Hunting 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.
Base towns in and around Davidson County
Use a Davidson County town page to see the closest game lands by distance.
- Lexingtonseat of government · 19,904 people · 2,191 mapped public acres nearby
- Southmont6,454 mapped public acres nearby
- Tyro6,053 mapped public acres nearby
- Yadkin College3,433 mapped public acres nearby
- High Pointpart of town here · 118,601 people
The Census adjacency file pairs Davidson County with 7 neighbours.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Davidson County burn ban and campfire rules
- Permits: Year-round.
- NC high hazard counties (G.S. 106-942(a)), stricter year-round permit and land-clearing rules: Davidson 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.
Where Davidson County hunters zero their guns
This guide counts 5 ranges in Davidson County, from gun clubs to indoor lanes and archery.
What you can shoot: sporting clays, 5-stand, shotgun
What you can shoot: handgun, rifle, shotgun
What you can shoot: trap, skeet, shotgun
What you can shoot: 5-stand, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, cowboy action
Of the ten NCWRC public ranges, Flintlock Valley Shooting Range is closest, roughly 27 miles from the county center. Full page
Ranges from the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Davidson County, dinners, classes and hunts
On file for this county: 2 upcoming events, 1 NCWRC class and 2 posted results (NWTF banquet, UKC club bench and HTX day, UKC club nite hunt and hunter education course).
Dates ahead
| When | Event | Location | Tickets or entry | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 30–31, 2026 | Yadkin River Coon Club UKC Coonhound Event ⋅ UKC club bench and HTX day | Lexington ⋅ Davidson Co. | Event details | Source |
| Jan 29, 2027 | Davidson County Habitat for the Hatch Banquet ⋅ NWTF banquet | Welcome ⋅ Davidson Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
Free NCWRC courses
| When | Course | Hours | Venue | Sign up | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 6, 2026 | Hunter Education Certificate (D6)* ⋅ hunter education course | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Wallburg Fire Department ⋅ Winston-Salem ⋅ Davidson Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
Recent winners
| Held | Event | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 18, 2026 | Yadkin River Coon Club UKC Nite Hunt (Hunt 1) ⋅ UKC club nite hunt | Nite Hunt 1st, cast winner: GRNITECH(4) GRCH'PR'Hank's Insane Legend TW, Tommy Williams Jr 225+ | Source |
| Jun 13, 2026 | Yadkin River Coon Club UKC Nite Hunt (Hunt 1) ⋅ UKC club nite hunt | Nite Hunt 1st, cast winner: 'PR'M&w's Daisy's Dead On Daffy TW, Adrian Martin, Irvin Weaver 225+ | Source |
Davidson County hunters ask
Is hunter orange needed for spring gobblers in Davidson County?
No. Turkey hunters are exempt from the hunter orange law.
Which goose zone covers Davidson County?
Resident Population Zone.
Can I bait on game lands in Davidson County?
No. Bait is banned on all game lands.
Which NCWRC depot or office is closest to Davidson County?
NCWRC Troy Depot, Mount Gilead, about 36 miles away.
When is urban archery in Davidson County?
Jan 9 to Feb 14, 2027, inside participating towns.
Which venison processors sit closest to Davidson County?
Jackson Farms Deer Processing, Coletown Deer Processing and Brooks and Sons Processing, nearest first.
When does deer gun season open in Davidson County?
Nov 14, 2026, under the Central dates, and it runs to Jan 1, 2027.
Can I shoot a doe in Davidson County during gun season?
Yes, on every open day.
How many deer were taken in Davidson County in 2025-26?
3,527 reported: 1,923 antlered bucks and 1,604 antlerless.
Must I test a Davidson County deer for CWD?
Testing is not mandatory this season; NCWRC offers free testing through cooperators and drop sites.
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.
Davidson County checks before the drive
Get written permission before hunting private land in Davidson County; several counties make it a local law.
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: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); gurdonark (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); alexfiles (CC BY-SA 2.0); YoungSue (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Judy Gallagher (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain).