Gun season for deer opens in Western North Carolina

ASHEVILLE - Deer hunting season with guns opens Nov. 20 in Western North Carolina and runs through Dec. 9, just in time for Thanksgiving and possibly some venison on the table along with the turkey and stuffing.

Deer season has been open since Sept. 9 starting with archery and black powder, but gun season is when everyone, from hunters to hikers, need to be extra cautious of sharing the forests.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, which oversees hunting and fishing, has an ongoing “Home From the Hunt” campaign to remind hunters that the sport has inherent risks and to be aware of their surroundings and positively identify their target before pulling the trigger.

“Don’t let the excitement of having a deer or other game in your sights overtake the absolute necessity of practicing safe firearm and hunting techniques,” said Chet Clark, the commission’s eastern outreach manager.

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“There could be homes, vehicles or even people in front of or behind your target, so it’s important to take the time to make absolutely certain that it’s safe to pull the trigger,” he said.

Hunters should use binoculars, not a rifle scope, to first identify a target and then take aim only when ready to fire at something that is legal to shoot.

The four primary rules of firearms safety:

Always point a firearm in a safe direction.

Treat every firearm as if it were loaded and never assume a firearm is unloaded.

Keep your finger out of the trigger guard and off the trigger until ready to shoot.

Be sure of your target­–and what’s in front of and behind it.

Hunters are required to wear an outer garment such as a cap or vest in blaze orange that is visible from all sides when hunting bear, feral hogs, deer, rabbit, squirrel, grouse, pheasant or quail with a firearm.

Hunters are also required to wear blaze orange while hunting with a bow on Sunday during the black powder and gun seasons.

MORE: What is killing deer in Western North Carolina other than hunters?

Even though other forest users including hikers, dog walkers and mountain bikers aren’t required to, the wildlife commission strongly advises everyone in the woods during hunting season wear blaze orange or bright colors for extra visibility and safety.

Dogs should also wear a brightly colored vest or bandana around their necks.

Jon Shaw, state deer biologist with the wildlife commission said there are about 250,000 deer hunters statewide and about 1 million deer, most in the eastern part of the state. But the mountains are a growing deer haven.

"Overall in WNC the deer herd is healthy and we’re seeing an increasing deer population, and we expect it to continue to increase," Shaw said.

Last year was an all-time low for hunting and hunting-related incidents, Clark said. Of those 22 incidents, eight were firearms-related and none were fatal. Falls from tree stands are the No. 1 cause of hunting-related deaths.

A new hunting rule is went into effect Oct. 1. The Outdoor Heritage Enhanced law makes changes to a 2015 law that allowed Sunday hunting with firearms on private property.

Previously, hunting on Sundays was only allowed on private land with archery equipment. The new law now allows for Sunday hunting with firearms on private property within 500 yards of a residence owned by the hunter.

However, it still restricts hunting within 500 yards of a place of religious worship and bans hunting with dogs.

Learn more

For more information on hunting seasons, licenses, Hunting Heritage Apprentice Permits and the Hunter Education Program, visit www.ncwildlife.org or call 919-707-0031.