North Carolina deer hunters will see several changes this fall as wildlife officials step up efforts to slow the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease, also known as CWD.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission announced new hunting regulations for the 2026-27 deer season that give hunters more opportunities to harvest deer in areas where the disease has been confirmed.
One of the biggest changes is a new special early season for antlered deer on Aug. 22-23 in CWD management areas, including Sampson and Cumberland counties. Hunters in the northwestern CWD management area will also see earlier blackpowder and gun seasons.
The agency has also changed its rules for disposing of deer carcasses. Hunters across the state must now properly dispose of non-edible deer parts by taking them to a lined landfill, burying them at least three feet underground and away from water, or leaving them within the county where the deer was harvested.
Beginning July 1, landowners and hunters in CWD management and surveillance areas can also apply for additional deer harvest tags through the state’s CWD Management Assistance Program.
Wildlife officials say the changes are designed to slow the spread of the disease while keeping hunting opportunities available.
Since Chronic Wasting Disease was first detected in North Carolina in 2022, nearly 100,000 deer have been tested. The disease has now been confirmed in seven counties.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been no reported cases of CWD infecting people. However, the CDC recommends hunters do not eat meat from a deer that tests positive for the disease.