Beaufort County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,746 deer in Beaufort County in the 2025-26 season: 1,277 antlered bucks and 1,317 does (NCWRC). That is 3.3 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 29th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 10% above 2024-25 (2,505). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,388 in 2008-09.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Beaufort CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,746 (1,277 antlered bucks, 152 antlerless males, 1,317 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.3, 65th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 1.8 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,500 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,388 in 2008-09 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 2, Coastal; S. Pamlico unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 77 deer |
| Land area | 832.7 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 game lands, 10,893 acres |
| Towns | Washington, Belhaven, Chocowinity, Aurora and Pantego |
How many deer are killed in Beaufort County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,500; the most was 2,746 in 2025-26 and the fewest 2,020 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 15% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,746 | 3.3 |
| 2024-25 | 2,505 | 3 |
| 2023-24 | 2,622 | 3.1 |
| 2022-23 | 2,411 | 2.9 |
| 2021-22 | 2,640 | 3.2 |
| 2020-21 | 2,467 | 3 |
| 2019-20 | 2,643 | 3.2 |
| 2018-19 | 2,020 | 2.4 |
| 2017-18 | 2,562 | 3.1 |
| 2016-17 | 2,386 | 2.9 |
How the last 2 seasons' deer were taken, and where:
| Season | Antlered bucks | Antlerless males | Does | Gun | Blackpowder | Bow | Crossbow | Game lands | Other land |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,277 | 152 | 1,317 | 2,484 | 126 | 105 | 31 | 77 | 2,669 |
| 2024-25 | 1,131 | 104 | 1,270 | 2,340 | 66 | 57 | 42 | 55 | 2,450 |
Sources: NCWRC reported deer harvest by county, 1976-2024; NCWRC 2024-25 reported deer harvest by county; NCWRC 2025-26 reported deer harvest by county. Per square mile uses the county's 832.7 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Beaufort County in 2026-27?
Beaufort County is in NCWRC's Southeastern deer zone. Its 2026-27 dates:
| Method | Antlered deer | Antlerless deer |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sept. 12 to Oct. 2, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Blackpowder | Oct. 3 to 16, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Gun | Oct. 17, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 | Same as antlered |
Source: NCWRC hunting and trapping season dates, 2026-27. On game lands, the game land's hunting days also apply.
Where is the public hunting land in Beaufort County?
| Game land | Acres in Beaufort County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Goose Creek Game Land | 6,044 | 32 |
| Voice of America Game Land | 2,819 | 4 |
| Van Swamp Game Land | 2,030 | 113 |
Acres measured by FilledTag on NCWRC game land boundaries, U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries.
How does Beaufort County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaufort County | Southeastern | 2,746 | 3.3 | 15% |
| Craven County | Southeastern | 3,034 | 4.3 | 30% |
| Hyde County | Southeastern | 955 | 1.6 | -19% |
| Martin County | Northeastern | 2,065 | 4.5 | 13% |
| Pamlico County | Southeastern | 1,063 | 3.2 | 19% |
| Pitt County | Northeastern | 2,899 | 4.4 | 21% |
| Washington County | Southeastern | 934 | 2.7 | -27% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Beaufort County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 2,746 deer taken in Beaufort County in the 2025-26 season: 1,277 antlered bucks, 152 antlerless males and 1,317 does. 2,484 were taken with a gun, 126 with blackpowder, 105 with a bow and 31 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Beaufort County in 2026-27?
Beaufort County is in the Southeastern deer zone: archery Sept. 12 to Oct. 2, 2026; blackpowder Oct. 3 to 16, 2026; gun Oct. 17, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 (NCWRC 2026-27 season dates).
Is there public hunting land in Beaufort County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Goose Creek Game Land (6,044 acres in the county), Voice of America Game Land (2,819 acres in the county) and Van Swamp Game Land (2,030 acres in the county) in Beaufort County.
Has the deer harvest in Beaufort County gone up or down?
From 2,386 in 2016-17 to 2,746 in 2025-26, 15% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,388 in 2008-09.
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Where these numbers come from
- Deer harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest by county, 1976-2024; NCWRC 2024-25 reported deer harvest by county; NCWRC 2025-26 reported deer harvest by county.
- Deer zones and dates: NCWRC hunting and trapping season dates, 2026-27.
- Public land: NCWRC game land boundaries; U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries. County land area: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries. Highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer.
FilledTag is not part of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Numbers are copied from NCWRC and the Census Bureau or measured from public maps; nothing here is estimated by FilledTag.
North Carolina hunting North Carolina deer harvest by county Craven County Hyde County Martin County Pamlico County