North Carolina deer harvest by county: 2025-26 and every season since 1976-77
North Carolina hunters reported 199,770 deer in the 2025-26 season, the county totals in NCWRC's reports added up. Randolph County led with 5,349, then Anson (4,254) and Rockingham (4,033). Per square mile, Alleghany County was highest at 11. The most in one season since NCWRC's records began in 1976-77 was 199,770 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest, 1976-77 to 2025-26.
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How many deer are killed in North Carolina each season?
| Season | Deer reported | On game lands with a page here |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 199,770 | 7,262 |
| 2024-25 | 188,800 | 6,491 |
| 2023-24 | 189,803 | 6,750 |
| 2022-23 | 163,831 | |
| 2021-22 | 168,427 | |
| 2020-21 | 169,973 | |
| 2019-20 | 161,941 | |
| 2018-19 | 143,529 | |
| 2017-18 | 161,854 | |
| 2016-17 | 149,811 | |
| 2015-16 | 162,558 | |
| 2014-15 | 153,629 | |
| 2013-14 | 188,130 | |
| 2012-13 | 167,249 | |
| 2011-12 | 173,553 | |
| 2010-11 | 175,157 | |
| 2009-10 | 169,273 | |
| 2008-09 | 176,297 | |
| 2007-08 | 171,986 | |
| 2006-07 | 154,273 |
Source: NCWRC reported deer harvest by county, 1976-2024; NCWRC 2025-26 reported deer harvest by county; game land totals from NCWRC reported deer harvest by game land, 2023-24 to 2025-26.
Which North Carolina counties have the most deer harvested?
| Rank | County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Antlered | Per square mile | Deer, 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Randolph County | Central | 5,349 | 2,636 | 6.8 | 2,935 |
| 2 | Anson County | Central | 4,254 | 1,948 | 8 | 3,448 |
| 3 | Rockingham County | Central | 4,033 | 2,142 | 7.1 | 2,900 |
| 4 | Cleveland County | Northwestern | 3,948 | 2,116 | 8.5 | 1,833 |
| 5 | Rutherford County | Northwestern | 3,802 | 2,028 | 6.7 | 1,689 |
| 6 | Union County | Central | 3,783 | 1,860 | 6 | 2,644 |
| 7 | Northampton County | Northeastern | 3,683 | 1,624 | 6.9 | 4,213 |
| 8 | Halifax County | Northeastern | 3,657 | 1,814 | 5.1 | 3,937 |
| 9 | Davidson County | Central | 3,527 | 1,923 | 6.4 | 2,224 |
| 10 | Stanly County | Central | 3,371 | 1,630 | 8.5 | 2,294 |
| 11 | Moore County | Southeastern | 3,360 | 1,733 | 4.8 | 2,518 |
| 12 | Wilkes County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,328 | 1,859 | 4.4 | 2,840 |
| 13 | Pender County | Southeastern | 3,271 | 1,689 | 3.8 | 2,405 |
| 14 | Rowan County | Central | 3,203 | 1,690 | 6.3 | 1,916 |
| 15 | Stokes County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,192 | 1,575 | 7.1 | 2,793 |
| 16 | Iredell County | Northwestern | 3,133 | 1,758 | 5.5 | 1,953 |
| 17 | Granville County | Central | 3,125 | 1,479 | 5.9 | 1,907 |
| 18 | Surry County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,094 | 1,693 | 5.8 | 2,232 |
| 19 | Bertie County | Northeastern | 3,085 | 1,378 | 4.4 | 3,165 |
| 20 | Craven County | Southeastern | 3,034 | 1,440 | 4.3 | 2,341 |
| 21 | Montgomery County | Central | 2,984 | 1,593 | 6.1 | 2,261 |
| 22 | Columbus County | Southeastern | 2,921 | 1,381 | 3.1 | 1,491 |
| 23 | Caswell County | Central | 2,920 | 1,522 | 6.9 | 2,387 |
| 24 | Pitt County | Northeastern | 2,899 | 1,502 | 4.4 | 2,394 |
| 25 | Edgecombe County | Northeastern | 2,845 | 1,469 | 5.6 | 2,638 |
| 26 | Duplin County | Southeastern | 2,821 | 1,443 | 3.5 | 2,180 |
| 27 | Ashe County | Northwestern | 2,793 | 1,508 | 6.6 | 2,716 |
| 28 | Alamance County | Central | 2,769 | 1,372 | 6.5 | 2,036 |
| 29 | Beaufort County | Southeastern | 2,746 | 1,277 | 3.3 | 2,386 |
| 30 | Johnston County | Northeastern | 2,716 | 1,471 | 3.4 | 1,471 |
| 31 | Person County | Central | 2,604 | 1,251 | 6.6 | 2,073 |
| 32 | Bladen County | Southeastern | 2,597 | 1,322 | 3 | 2,282 |
| 33 | Alleghany County | Northwestern | 2,585 | 1,310 | 11 | 1,801 |
| 34 | Chatham County | Central | 2,481 | 1,243 | 3.6 | 2,225 |
| 35 | Catawba County | Northwestern | 2,429 | 1,366 | 6.1 | 1,282 |
| 36 | Franklin County | Northeastern | 2,411 | 1,169 | 4.9 | 2,088 |
| 37 | Onslow County | Southeastern | 2,378 | 1,108 | 3.1 | 2,052 |
| 38 | Richmond County | Southeastern | 2,270 | 1,232 | 4.8 | 1,873 |
| 39 | Guilford County | Central | 2,251 | 1,163 | 3.5 | 1,858 |
| 40 | Wayne County | Northeastern | 2,236 | 1,208 | 4 | 1,407 |
| 41 | Burke County | Western | 2,161 | 1,281 | 4.3 | 1,240 |
| 42 | Watauga County | Northwestern | 2,142 | 1,187 | 6.9 | 1,484 |
| 43 | Brunswick County | Southeastern | 2,141 | 1,005 | 2.5 | 1,625 |
| 44 | Yadkin County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 2,099 | 1,159 | 6.3 | 1,502 |
| 45 | Lincoln County | Northwestern | 2,092 | 1,084 | 7.1 | 1,449 |
| 46 | Martin County | Northeastern | 2,065 | 989 | 4.5 | 1,828 |
| 47 | Cabarrus County | Central | 2,030 | 1,069 | 5.6 | 1,654 |
| 48 | Gaston County | Northwestern | 2,019 | 1,064 | 5.7 | 1,413 |
| 49 | Robeson County | Southeastern | 2,004 | 1,116 | 2.1 | 965 |
| 50 | Nash County | Northeastern | 1,990 | 1,048 | 3.7 | 1,465 |
| 51 | Madison County | Western | 1,963 | 1,144 | 4.4 | 1,201 |
| 52 | Sampson County | Southeastern CWD Management Area | 1,942 | 1,044 | 2.1 | 1,853 |
| 53 | Wake County | Northeastern | 1,900 | 1,042 | 2.3 | 1,757 |
| 54 | Orange County | Central | 1,886 | 945 | 4.7 | 1,456 |
| 55 | Jones County | Southeastern | 1,882 | 902 | 4 | 1,515 |
| 56 | Harnett County | Southeastern | 1,871 | 992 | 3.1 | 1,393 |
| 57 | Yancey County | Western | 1,758 | 924 | 5.6 | 1,214 |
| 58 | Caldwell County | Western | 1,668 | 1,033 | 3.5 | 695 |
| 59 | Buncombe County | Western | 1,626 | 1,030 | 2.5 | 720 |
| 60 | Wilson County | Northeastern | 1,611 | 813 | 4.4 | 1,026 |
| 61 | Hertford County | Northeastern | 1,597 | 716 | 4.5 | 1,767 |
| 62 | Lenoir County | Southeastern | 1,594 | 801 | 4 | 1,225 |
| 63 | Warren County | Northeastern | 1,476 | 695 | 3.4 | 1,829 |
| 64 | Forsyth County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 1,475 | 871 | 3.6 | 1,362 |
| 65 | Vance County | Northeastern | 1,398 | 688 | 5.5 | 1,327 |
| 66 | Polk County | Northwestern | 1,376 | 737 | 5.8 | 783 |
| 67 | Cherokee County | Western | 1,339 | 844 | 2.9 | 524 |
| 68 | Avery County | Western | 1,325 | 736 | 5.4 | 750 |
| 69 | Gates County | Northeastern | 1,325 | 560 | 3.9 | 1,699 |
| 70 | Mitchell County | Western | 1,277 | 725 | 5.8 | 891 |
| 71 | Alexander County | Northwestern | 1,255 | 652 | 4.8 | 689 |
| 72 | Greene County | Northeastern | 1,249 | 634 | 4.7 | 991 |
| 73 | Macon County | Western | 1,232 | 889 | 2.4 | 661 |
| 74 | Davie County | Northwestern | 1,222 | 699 | 4.6 | 956 |
| 75 | Scotland County | Southeastern | 1,215 | 677 | 3.8 | 596 |
| 76 | Cumberland County | Southeastern CWD Management Area | 1,103 | 621 | 1.7 | 945 |
| 77 | Pamlico County | Southeastern | 1,063 | 536 | 3.2 | 893 |
| 78 | McDowell County | Western | 1,027 | 659 | 2.3 | 582 |
| 79 | Hyde County | Southeastern | 955 | 359 | 1.6 | 1,183 |
| 80 | Carteret County | Southeastern | 944 | 447 | 1.9 | 695 |
| 81 | Henderson County | Western | 944 | 598 | 2.5 | 354 |
| 82 | Washington County | Southeastern | 934 | 405 | 2.7 | 1,283 |
| 83 | Durham County | Central | 927 | 469 | 3.2 | 664 |
| 84 | Haywood County | Western | 767 | 571 | 1.4 | 265 |
| 85 | Transylvania County | Western | 763 | 529 | 2 | 286 |
| 86 | Jackson County | Western | 759 | 549 | 1.5 | 217 |
| 87 | Clay County | Western | 711 | 440 | 3.3 | 337 |
| 88 | Lee County | Central | 704 | 361 | 2.8 | 451 |
| 89 | Mecklenburg County | Central | 697 | 386 | 1.3 | 831 |
| 90 | Perquimans County | Northeastern | 694 | 274 | 2.8 | 879 |
| 91 | Hoke County | Southeastern | 646 | 371 | 1.7 | 437 |
| 92 | Chowan County | Northeastern | 588 | 245 | 3.4 | 752 |
| 93 | Tyrrell County | Southeastern | 479 | 182 | 1.2 | 551 |
| 94 | Pasquotank County | Northeastern | 396 | 176 | 1.7 | 408 |
| 95 | Currituck County | Northeastern | 391 | 178 | 1.5 | 466 |
| 96 | Swain County | Western | 386 | 236 | 0.7 | 147 |
| 97 | Camden County | Northeastern | 345 | 132 | 1.4 | 290 |
| 98 | New Hanover County | Southeastern | 183 | 96 | 1 | 129 |
| 99 | Graham County | Western | 168 | 147 | 0.6 | 59 |
| 100 | Dare County | Southeastern | 103 | 50 | 0.3 | 114 |
Source: NCWRC reported deer harvest by county, 1976-2024; NCWRC 2025-26 reported deer harvest by county. Zones: NCWRC hunting and trapping season dates, 2026-27.
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Sources: NCWRC reported deer harvest by county, 1976-2024; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries. FilledTag is not part of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.