NC Sets August Antlered Deer Special in 7 Counties

NCWRC will hold a two-day Special Early Season for antlered deer on Aug. 22–23, 2026 in seven NC counties within CWD Management Areas (Cumberland, Forsyth, Sampson, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes, Yadkin). Any legal weapon is allowed, but baiting remains prohibited before Sept. 1. In the Northwestern CWD Area, blackpowder and gun seasons start a week earlier. The agency also updated statewide deer carcass disposal rules to reduce CWD spread and opened applications (July 1) for additional CWDMAP tags on private property, with regulations published in the Aug. 1 Regulations Digest.