Cherokee County, North Carolina
Unit info
- Game species
- White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey, Black Bear
- Group
- Mountain
- Area
- N/A
- Public land
- N/A
Black Bear — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 49
Draw odds for Black Beararen't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 1,339
Draw odds for White-tailed Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
Eastern Wild Turkey — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 178
Draw odds for Eastern Wild Turkeyaren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
Season & harvest data is published for Black Bear, White-tailed Deer, Eastern Wild Turkey so far. Wild Turkey also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.
About this unit
AI-compiled · sourcedCherokee County occupies the extreme southwestern tip of North Carolina, where the Nantahala National Forest covers the majority of the county's rugged mountain terrain and provides some of the most accessible public land hunting in the Southern Appalachians. The Valley River and Hiwassee River drainages hold good populations of mountain whitetails and black bears competing for mast crops across a landscape where ridges regularly top 4,000 feet. Wild turkey hunting in the coves and hardwood flats rounds out a true three-species mountain hunting destination.
Rugged Southern Appalachian mountains with ridgelines exceeding 4,000 feet; Nantahala National Forest dominates the landscape; Valley River and Hiwassee River drainages; mixed oak-hickory ridges and cove hardwood hollows
Low to moderate - rugged terrain limits casual hunters; national forest access rewards backcountry hunters willing to commit to the mountain landscape
OTC state license; standard NC mountain deer regulations on Nantahala NF; check-station requirements may apply on designated WMAs
Black bear population significant throughout Nantahala NF with mast crop quality closely tied to harvest success; wild turkey in cove hardwoods and agricultural valleys near Murphy and Andrews
Nantahala National Forest backcountry black bear hunting in rugged Southern Appalachian terrain; mountain whitetail rut in oak-hickory coves at elevation
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about Cherokee County— or drop a tip or trick: access points, where game holds, glassing spots, conditions, crowding, gear that worked. This is where the unit's species-specific intel gets built, hunter by hunter.
Nothing posted yet about Cherokee County.
Be the first — ask a question (“Best public access on the north end?”) or share a tip (“Glass the burn scars off the main ridge at first light”).
Boundaries: NCWRC county-based deer management units. Community info last updated 15d ago.