Bladen County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,597 deer in Bladen County in the 2025-26 season: 1,322 antlered bucks and 1,167 does (NCWRC). That is 3 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 32nd of North Carolina's 100. The count was 9% above 2024-25 (2,379). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 4,842 in 1990-91.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Bladen CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,597 (1,322 antlered bucks, 108 antlerless males, 1,167 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3, 72nd of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 1.67 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,411 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 4,842 in 1990-91 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 4, Coastal; Cape Fear unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 169 deer |
| Land area | 875 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 game lands, 49,205 acres |
| Towns | Elizabethtown, Bladenboro, East Arcadia, Clarkton and White Lake |
How many deer are killed in Bladen County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,411; the most was 2,597 in 2025-26 and the fewest 2,046 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 14% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,597 | 3 |
| 2024-25 | 2,379 | 2.7 |
| 2023-24 | 2,351 | 2.7 |
| 2022-23 | 2,516 | 2.9 |
| 2021-22 | 2,553 | 2.9 |
| 2020-21 | 2,408 | 2.8 |
| 2019-20 | 2,429 | 2.8 |
| 2018-19 | 2,046 | 2.3 |
| 2017-18 | 2,553 | 2.9 |
| 2016-17 | 2,282 | 2.6 |
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 | 1,322 | 108 | 1,167 | 2,446 | 64 | 73 | 14 | 169 | 2,428 |
| 2024-25 | 1,270 | 91 | 1,018 | 2,245 | 54 | 63 | 17 | 149 | 2,230 |
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 875 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Bladen County in 2026-27?
Bladen 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 Bladen County?
| Game land | Acres in Bladen County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Bladen Lakes State Forest Game Land | 33,677 | 132 |
| Suggs Mill Pond Game Land | 9,352 | 17 |
| Whitehall Plantation Game Land | 6,176 | 26 |
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 Bladen County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bladen County | Southeastern | 2,597 | 3 | 14% |
| Columbus County | Southeastern | 2,921 | 3.1 | 96% |
| Cumberland County | Southeastern CWD Management Area | 1,103 | 1.7 | 17% |
| Pender County | Southeastern | 3,271 | 3.8 | 36% |
| Robeson County | Southeastern | 2,004 | 2.1 | 108% |
| Sampson County | Southeastern CWD Management Area | 1,942 | 2.1 | 5% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Bladen County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 2,597 deer taken in Bladen County in the 2025-26 season: 1,322 antlered bucks, 108 antlerless males and 1,167 does. 2,446 were taken with a gun, 64 with blackpowder, 73 with a bow and 14 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Bladen County in 2026-27?
Bladen 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 Bladen County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Bladen Lakes State Forest Game Land (33,677 acres in the county), Suggs Mill Pond Game Land (9,352 acres in the county) and Whitehall Plantation Game Land (6,176 acres in the county) in Bladen County.
Has the deer harvest in Bladen County gone up or down?
From 2,282 in 2016-17 to 2,597 in 2025-26, 14% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 4,842 in 1990-91.
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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 Columbus County Cumberland County Pender County Robeson County