Deer Cooperator Programs

Chronic Wasting Disease Management Assistance Program (CWDMAP)

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s (NCWRC) Chronic Wasting Disease Management Assistance Program (CWDMAP) was created to assist landholders and hunters with additional opportunity to harvest deer and submit deer heads to aid with CWD surveillance efforts within North Carolina's CWD Primary Surveillance Areas (PSAs) or within 5 miles of a CWD positive.

(DMAP) Deer Management Assistance Program

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s (NCWRC) Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) was created to assist clubs in reaching their deer management and harvest goals through collection of biological data and issuance of antlered and/or antlerless tags.  Participating clubs must meet certain criteria to apply for DMAP, and deer harvested with program deer tags do not apply to seasonal bag limits.  In return, it is agreed that the club will collect predetermined data to assist the local wildlife biologist in making management decisions regarding the club’s deer herd and harvest.
Whatever your management objectives are, DMAP provides both flexibility and professional assistance to develop an effective deer management strategy.  Benefits of the program include:

  • Professional assistance from a North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission biologist
  • A structured data collection program to better evaluate the condition of your herd, to make science-based management decisions, and to track the long-term success of your program
  • Tags that that do not count towards season bag limits and are valid during any open deer season, regardless of the either-sex season in your county.

Application Requirements:

Applications can be submitted online via your Go Outdoors North Carolina account (see link below for instructions) or by calling 919-707-0050.  Prior to submitting applications, contact your District Biologist to discuss your deer management objectives, harvest history, herd status, and property details.

The following are general application requirements and instructions:

  • The minimum acreage requirement is 500 contiguous acres for properties in the Western and Northwestern Deer Season Zones, and 1,000 contiguous acres for properties in the Central, Northeastern, and Southeastern Deer Season Zones.  Multiple landowners with adjoining properties can apply together to meet this requirement.
  • New applicants must submit an 8½” x 11” map illustrating the location of the property.  A map does not have to be submitted for renewal applications, unless there has been a change in the property enrolled.
  • Applications must be received by August 1.

Program Guidelines:

Deer harvested on enrolled properties must be tagged with provided DMAP tags or be validated with the hunter’s big game harvest report card.  DMAP tags can be used at any time during any open deer season, and do not count towards season bag limits.

  • All harvests must be registered with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
  • Biological data must be collected from each deer harvested.  Data to be collected include sex, weight, harvest authorization #, harvest date, and antler measurements.
  • A jawbone must be removed from each harvested deer for age determination.  Datasheets and jawbones will be transferred to the assisting biologist at the end of the hunting season.

Related Links

(CDMAP) Community Deer Management Assistance Program

The Community Deer Management Assistance Program (CDMAP) is a voluntary program administered by the Wildlife Resources Commission.  The primary objective of CDMAP is to reduce or maintain deer numbers in residential or other highly-developed areas to minimize human-deer conflicts while preserving or improving herd health.  To help communities accomplish this, CDMAP provides additional opportunity for licensed hunters to harvest deer on enrolled properties with landowner permission.

Application Requirements:

Applications can be submitted online via your Go Outdoors North Carolina account (see link below for instructions) or by calling 919-707-0050.  Prior to submitting applications, contact your District Biologist to discuss your deer management objectives, harvest history, herd status, and property details.

Program Guidelines:

Deer harvested on enrolled properties must be tagged with provided DMAP tags or be validated with the hunter’s big game harvest report card.  DMAP tags can be used at any time during any open deer season, and do not count towards season bag limits.  All harvests must be registered with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.

Related Links

Deer Hunter Observation Survey

The annual volunteer Deer Hunter Observation Survey (DHOS) began in 2014. Volunteers are hunters who still/stand-hunt (hunt from a stationary position without the aid of dogs). If you would like to participate in the annual survey, please use the following form: Deer Hunter Observation Survey