Graham 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
- 34
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
- 168
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
- 55
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 · sourcedGraham County is among the most rugged and remote hunting destinations in the eastern United States, with Nantahala National Forest and the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness covering the vast majority of its land area. Black bears are abundant here and Graham County consistently ranks among the top counties in the state for bear harvest. Hunters willing to pack into the backcountry are rewarded with genuine wilderness experiences on nationally significant public land.
Steep, heavily forested mountains reaching elevations above 5,000 feet. The Snowbird Mountains, Cheoah Mountains, and Unicoi range define the landscape, drained by the Little Tennessee River and Santeetlah Creek. Mixed hardwood coves give way to spruce-fir at the highest elevations.
Low overall due to extreme terrain; trailhead parking areas fill on opening weekends but pressure drops sharply with elevation gain into the interior.
OTC; deer taken on national forest land are subject to NC WRC regulations.
Graham County is one of NC top counties for black bear harvest totals. Wild turkeys occupy the lower coves and ridge-tops. Ruffed grouse and small game hunting in the Joyce Kilmer old-growth area offers a rare and memorable experience.
Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness bear hunting in true backcountry; among the highest percentages of public land of any NC mountain county.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about Graham 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 Graham 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.