Home › North Carolina › Towns › Highlands
Macon County, NCWRC district 9
North Carolina hunting around Highlands
Game lands, national forest and refuge ground measured in miles from Highlands, the Macon County deer and bear dates, CWD status, local acts and the processors that serve hunters.
Photo: Taken on Nantahala Game Land, 0.9 mi from Highlands (nearby stand-in). william_mckeehan (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Macon County, in the mountains, holds the town of Highlands. The closest edge of Nantahala Ranger District (Nantahala National Forest) lies under a mile away from Highlands, so it was picked as the base town. Its 2024 Census estimate stands at 1,119 residents. A 10-mile reach from Highlands gathers close to 62,671 mapped public acres over 4 properties. Closest on the list is Nantahala Game Land, whose closest boundary is under a mile away.
Town point and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer, population from the Census Vintage 2024 estimates; public acreage and boundary distances within 10 miles are a GIS measure over the NCWRC game land, USFS, USFWS and NPS boundaries. Checked October 25, 2026.
Highlands to game land, mile by mile
Sorted by nearest boundary, then by center distance. Each land page carries its hunting days, permit hunts and posted zones.
At 527,696 acres, Nantahala Game Land outweighs every other tract near Highlands. The nearest game land is Nantahala Game Land, open seven days per week (527,696 acres). For federal ground, Nantahala Ranger District (Nantahala National Forest) comes up first.
| Name | Direction | Land type | Manager | Nearest line | Center point | Size (ac) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nantahala Game Land west, 0.9 mi | W | 7-day game land | NCWRC | 0.9 mi | 24 mi | 527,696 | Permit hunts |
| Nantahala Ranger District (Nantahala National Forest) west, 0.9 mi Main area | W | Ranger district | USDA Forest Service | 0.9 mi | 20 mi | 245,487 | Drawn hunts |
| Pisgah Game Land northeast, 8.2 mi | NE | 7-day game land | NCWRC | 8.2 mi | 64 mi | 517,774 | Permit hunts |
| Pisgah Ranger District (Pisgah National Forest) northeast, 8.2 mi | NE | Ranger district | USDA Forest Service | 8.2 mi | 29 mi | 163,168 | Drawn hunts |
| Toxaway Game Land east, 14 mi | E | 7-day game land | NCWRC | 10+ mi | 14 mi | 5,633 | Permit hunts |
| Headwaters State Forest Game Land east, 26 mi | E | 6-day game land | NCWRC | 10+ mi | 26 mi | 6,208 | deer, bear |
| Needmore Game Land northwest, 26 mi | NW | 7-day game land | NCWRC | 10+ mi | 26 mi | 5,237 | deer, bear |
| Cold Mountain Game Land northeast, 29 mi | NE | 7-day game land | NCWRC | 10+ mi | 29 mi | 3,630 | deer, bear |
| William H. Silver Game Land north, 34 mi | N | 7-day game land | NCWRC | 10+ mi | 34 mi | 2,030 | deer, bear |
| DuPont State Forest Game Land east, 35 mi | E | Permit-only game land | NCWRC | 10+ mi | 35 mi | 11,949 | Permit hunts |
Lands, acreage and designations from the NCWRC regulations digest, NCWRC game land GIS and federal hunting pages (lands.json); boundary distances inside 10 miles from places.json; center distances are straight lines from the Census point for Highlands. Checked October 25, 2026. Statewide public land map.
Highlands deer processors, taxidermists and gun shops
North Carolina licenses taxidermists but publishes no list of them, so taxidermists come from the cooperator list and directory listings. Call before you drive. Nearest CWD sampling business: Steve's Taxidermy & Studio.
| Kind | 15 mi | 35 mi | Closest listing | Distance | In |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer cutting | 0 | 2 | K&B Processing | 28 mi NW | Bryson City |
| Taxidermists | 1 | 3 | Wilderness Taxidermy & Outfitters | 8.9 mi NW | Franklin |
| Hunting shops | 2 | 21 | Mountain Firearms | 13 mi NW | Franklin |
Deer cutting
Taxidermists
Hunting shops
Processors from NC Hunters for the Hungry, the NCWRC Cervid Health Cooperator layer and Yellow Pages; taxidermists from the cooperator layer and Yellow Pages; shops from Yellow Pages, Academy store pages and NCWRC CWD freezer hosts; guides and preserves from Yellow Pages. Checked October 25, 2026; hours were not checked.
Macon County deer zone from Highlands
Macon County hunts deer on the Western C dates of the NCWRC season zones. Bowhunters start Sep 12; muzzleloaders take over Nov 14; rifles and shotguns come in Nov 28. The antlerless gun window is Nov. 28, 2026 only. Macon County is outside every CWD management and surveillance area this season. Macon County is a dusk county for the deer spotlighting rule.
| Segment | First day | Last day | Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | All days |
| Blackpowder | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | Limited |
| Gun | Nov 28, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | Limited |
| Youth days | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | Youth only |
| Western youth days | Nov 26, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | Youth only |
Deer zones and dates from the 2026-2027 Season Dates at a Glance and the digest deer seasons; urban archery from the digest deer regulations; CWD counts from the NCWRC CWD testing chart; light-shining hours from 15A NCAC 10B. Checked October 25, 2026.
Deer numbers behind Highlands
1,232 deer came from Macon County in 2025-26, the 73rd highest county total. By land type: 273 on game lands, 959 elsewhere.
| Season | Total | Bucks | Gun | Bow and crossbow | Blackpowder | Game lands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 920 | 667 | 462 | 412 | 46 | 187 |
| 2023-24 | 913 | 700 | 552 | 328 | 33 | 242 |
| 2024-25 | 1,252 | 870 | 661 | 353 | 238 | 246 |
| 2025-26 | 1,232 | 889 | 735 | 314 | 183 | 273 |
Reported harvest (Big Game Harvest Report Card) from the NCWRC 2025-26 deer harvest by county; earlier seasons from the NCWRC harvest statistics page. Checked October 25, 2026.
County rules to know in Highlands
The digest lists these Macon County local laws; the plain items are acts that are prohibited:
- Hunt, take or kill white-tailed deer from, on or across the right-of-way of any public road, street or highway.
- Shine a light intentionally upon any wild animal, including, but not limited to, deer, coyotes, or feral swine, from the right-of-way of any public road, street, or highway between the hours of one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise.
From the digest local laws by county; checked October 25, 2026.
Every dated hunt near Highlands
Dove, squirrel, rabbit and quail run statewide, while the deer zone, bear unit, I-95 duck line and goose zone set the rest for Highlands.
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Western C | Sep 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth Deer Hunting Days | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Blackpowder | Western C | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Western youth days | Western zone | Nov 26, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Western C | Nov 28, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Part 1 | Mountain BMU | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 21, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Part 2 | Mountain BMU | Dec 12, 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.
Highlands: bear dates, turkeys, ducks
Bear season comes from the Mountain BMU: Oct 3 to Nov 21, 2026 and Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027. Bear management areas near Highlands: Nantahala Game Land (Standing Indian) and Nantahala Game Land (Wayah). Bear check-ins for Macon County totaled 82 in 2025. Gobblers open Apr 17, 2027 and close May 15; North Carolina has no fall turkey hunt. The spring 2026 turkey count for Macon County was 160 (142 adult gobblers). Ducks: Inland zone. Canada geese: Resident Population Zone. Macon County holds a January fox season.
| Year | Bear count | Turkey count |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 66 | 133 |
| 2022 | 95 | 115 |
| 2023 | 91 | 134 |
| 2024 | 106 | 148 |
| 2025 | 82 | 132 |
Bear units and dates from the digest bear seasons; bear harvest from the NCWRC bear harvest by county; spring turkey from the NCWRC spring 2026 turkey harvest; waterfowl zones from the digest migratory bird seasons. Checked October 25, 2026.
Wildlife commission offices for Highlands hunters
NCWRC depots are work centers for game land and wildlife staff, not license counters; licenses come through Go Outdoors North Carolina online, by phone or at a wildlife service agent.
NCWRC Franklin Depot, 14 mi off to the northwest
National Forests in North Carolina Nantahala Ranger District, 14 mi away, northwest
District biologist: Justin McVey
From the NCWRC facilities layer, the NCWRC district biologist sheet and the federal office pages listed in services.json, checked October 25, 2026.
Shooting hours at Highlands
Times below take the Charlotte table, add the Highlands offset of +10 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 | 7:07 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 8:26 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:56 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 7:12 a.m. | 7:46 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 8:16 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:40 a.m. | 6:57 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 6:57 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 7:06 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:59 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 7:19 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:38 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:59 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:40 a.m. | 5:33 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 6:03 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:57 a.m. | 8:08 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 8:38 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 8:08 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.
Highlands area hunting events
Read October 25, 2026. 1 upcoming event and 6 NCWRC classes fall inside about 30 miles, covering NWTF banquet and hunter education course.
On the calendar
| Held | What | Miles away | Where | Register | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2027 | Nantahala Longbeards Banquet ⋅ NWTF banquet | 14 | Franklin ⋅ Macon Co. | Event details | Source |
Class dates
| When | Course | Miles away | Hours | Venue | Sign up | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2, 2026 | Hunter Education Certification Course (D9) ⋅ hunter education course | 29 | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | SCC Lauada ⋅ Bryson City ⋅ Swain Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Nov 3, 2026 | Hunter Education Certification (D9) ⋅ hunter education course | 22 | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Balsam Fire Department ⋅ Sylva ⋅ Jackson Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Nov 4, 2026 | Hunter Education Certification (D9) ⋅ hunter education course | 14 | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | SWCC ⋅ Franklin ⋅ Macon Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Nov 24, 2026 | Hunter Education Certification (D9) ⋅ hunter education course | 30 | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Brevard Fire Department ⋅ Brevard ⋅ Transylvania Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Dec 8, 2026 | Hunter Education Certification (D9) ⋅ hunter education course | 22 | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Balsam Fire Department ⋅ Sylva ⋅ Jackson Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Jan 26, 2027 | Hunter Education Certification (D9) ⋅ hunter education course | 30 | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Brevard Fire Department ⋅ Brevard ⋅ Transylvania Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
Gun ranges near Highlands
Highlands shooters have these three closest, each card with its access rule.
Firing lines: rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire
Firing lines: trap, skeet, sporting clays, 5-stand, shotgun
Firing lines: rifle, handgun
Straight-line miles from the town center; ranges checked October 25, 2026.
Highlands hunting FAQ
Where does a deer from Highlands go for cutting?
K&B Processing is 28 mi away. Hours vary by season.
Do Sunday limits apply to Highlands hunters?
Sunday hunting is legal under G.S. 103-2 with a midday firearm break and no migratory bird hunting.
What is the deadline to register a deer from Macon County?
Validate the Big Game Harvest Report Card, then register by noon the day after harvest through the Go Outdoors North Carolina app, by phone at 800-446-8663, online or at a wildlife service agent.
How many acres of public land can hunters based in Highlands reach in 10 miles?
The boundary overlay credits Highlands with roughly 62,671 acres in that radius.
Which public tract is the shortest drive from Highlands?
Closest is Nantahala Game Land, whose closest boundary is under a mile away. Second closest is Nantahala Ranger District (Nantahala National Forest).
What are the Macon County bear dates?
Macon County is in the Mountain BMU, open Oct 3 to Nov 21, 2026 and Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027. Hunters reported 82 bears from the county in 2025.
Which deer zone covers Highlands?
In the Western C zone, gun season is Nov 28, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027, after archery from Sep 12 and blackpowder from Nov 14. The gun antlerless window is Nov. 28, 2026 only.
Which goose zone applies near Highlands?
Ducks: Inland zone. Canada geese: Resident Population Zone. Migratory birds stop at sunset and are closed on Sundays.
Is chronic wasting disease an issue in Macon County?
No CWD area includes it.
Are there county-only hunting rules near Highlands?
The local laws section includes: Hunt, take or kill white-tailed deer from, on or across the right-of-way of any public road, street or highway.
Answers drawn from the sources listed in each section above; reporting from the digest deer regulations; Sunday rules from G.S. 103-2. Checked October 25, 2026.
Highlands trip checklist
Before leaving Highlands, confirm the game land hunting days, any permit hunt, and the Western C dates for Macon County.
Other photos on this page: hyku (CC BY 2.0); william_mckeehan (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Osajus Photography (CC BY 2.0); wackybadger (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain); watts_photos (Public Domain Mark 1.0).