Updated
Updated · carolinasportsman.com · Jun 28
NCWRC Adds 2-Day Deer Season in 7 Counties as North Carolina Tightens CWD Rules
Updated
Updated · carolinasportsman.com · Jun 28

NCWRC Adds 2-Day Deer Season in 7 Counties as North Carolina Tightens CWD Rules

2 articles · Updated · carolinasportsman.com · Jun 28

Summary

  • Aug. 22-23 will bring a special early antlered-deer season in seven North Carolina counties under CWD management, with any lawful weapon allowed.
  • NCWRC said the move is meant to slow chronic wasting disease by shifting buck harvest earlier, before rut-driven movement and contact increase spread risk.
  • Five northwestern counties — Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes and Yadkin — will also start blackpowder and gun seasons a week earlier than usual.
  • Statewide carcass-disposal rules now replace transport restrictions from CWD areas, requiring non-edible deer parts to go to a lined landfill, be buried 3 feet deep 300 feet from water, or remain in the county of origin.
  • July 1 opens applications for extra harvest tags on private land in CWD management or surveillance areas, while out-of-state deer import restrictions remain and the full rules post Aug. 1.

Insights

Wisconsin's deer herds were decimated by CWD. Can North Carolina's new hunting rules prevent a similar fate?
New rules force hunters to bury or landfill deer remains. Will this burden actually stop the 'zombie deer' disease?
With a CWD vaccine showing promise in labs, could science soon offer a better solution than relying on hunters?