The Village of Bald Head Island will begin deer management operations for 2026 on January 5, 2026. Operations will take place four days a week, Monday through Thursday, between the hours of 12:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. for three consecutive weeks (1/5, 1/12, and 1/19).
The Village submitted its operations plan to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) and requested that a depredation permit be issued to “take” up to 100 deer. This number was determined using the most recent winter deer census count data from the BHI Conservancy, indicating a deer population of approximately 239 deer. The breakdown included: 117 does, 60 fawns, and 62 bucks.
The Village has obtained a permit from WRC as requested and will be following specific operational protocols, including:
- Adhering to the American Veterinary Medical Association’s sharpshooting guidance and WRC regulations.
- Strict firearm safety and backstop protocols will always be followed.
- Operations will utilize equipment and ammunition permitted by WRC and will be operated to maintain discretion and public safety.
- A high level of coordination and communication will be maintained between Village personnel assigned to the operation and the Village’s Public Safety Command during all nighttime activities.
- Access will be restricted to approved routes and zones. Permission has been granted by all property owners to access undeveloped areas of the island (State of NC, BHI Club, BHA).
- Carcass handling will comply with WRC guidance.
- All harvested deer will be transported to a local donation center for processing, and the processed venison will be donated and distributed to support community food programs for those in need.
Those interested in learning more about the Village’s Deer Management Program can go to the Village website HERE, where we offer background, FAQs, and resources.