Carteret County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 944 deer in Carteret County in the 2025-26 season: 447 antlered bucks and 447 does (NCWRC). That is 1.9 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 80th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 9% above 2024-25 (863). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 944 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Carteret CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 944 (447 antlered bucks, 50 antlerless males, 447 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 1.9, 86th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 1.1 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 735 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 944 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 2, Coastal; S. Pamlico unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 291 deer |
| Land area | 507.6 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 game lands, 61,061 acres; 14,153 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Newport, Morehead City, Beaufort, Emerald Isle and Peletier |
How many deer are killed in Carteret County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 735; the most was 944 in 2025-26 and the fewest 544 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 36% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 944 | 1.9 |
| 2024-25 | 863 | 1.7 |
| 2023-24 | 838 | 1.7 |
| 2022-23 | 741 | 1.5 |
| 2021-22 | 655 | 1.3 |
| 2020-21 | 677 | 1.3 |
| 2019-20 | 643 | 1.3 |
| 2018-19 | 544 | 1.1 |
| 2017-18 | 753 | 1.5 |
| 2016-17 | 695 | 1.4 |
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 | 447 | 50 | 447 | 817 | 62 | 41 | 24 | 291 | 653 |
| 2024-25 | 404 | 54 | 405 | 761 | 42 | 44 | 16 | 254 | 609 |
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 507.6 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Carteret County in 2026-27?
Carteret 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 Carteret County?
| Game land | Acres in Carteret County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Croatan Game Land | 53,936 | 616 |
| Carteret County Game Land | 7,125 | 98 |
14,153 acres of national wildlife refuge lie in the county, measured on the federal maps. National forest land in North Carolina is managed as game land under NCWRC's rules.
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 Carteret County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carteret County | Southeastern | 944 | 1.9 | 36% |
| Craven County | Southeastern | 3,034 | 4.3 | 30% |
| Jones County | Southeastern | 1,882 | 4 | 24% |
| Onslow County | Southeastern | 2,378 | 3.1 | 16% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Carteret County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 944 deer taken in Carteret County in the 2025-26 season: 447 antlered bucks, 50 antlerless males and 447 does. 817 were taken with a gun, 62 with blackpowder, 41 with a bow and 24 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Carteret County in 2026-27?
Carteret 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 Carteret County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Croatan Game Land (53,936 acres in the county) and Carteret County Game Land (7,125 acres in the county) in Carteret County.
Has the deer harvest in Carteret County gone up or down?
From 695 in 2016-17 to 944 in 2025-26, 36% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 944 in 2025-26.
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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 Jones County Onslow County