Chatham County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,481 deer in Chatham County in the 2025-26 season: 1,243 antlered bucks and 1,148 does (NCWRC). That is 3.6 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 34th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 3% below 2024-25 (2,558). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,463 in 1995-96.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Chatham CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,481 (1,243 antlered bucks, 90 antlerless males, 1,148 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.6, 57th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 2.31 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,595 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,463 in 1995-96 |
| Deer season zone | Central (gun opens Nov. 14) |
| NCWRC district | District 5, Piedmont; N. Piedmont unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 281 deer |
| Land area | 681.5 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 4 game lands, 40,705 acres |
| Towns | Pittsboro, Siler City and Goldston |
How many deer are killed in Chatham County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,595; the most was 3,099 in 2023-24 and the fewest 2,225 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 12% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,481 | 3.6 |
| 2024-25 | 2,558 | 3.8 |
| 2023-24 | 3,099 | 4.5 |
| 2022-23 | 2,388 | 3.5 |
| 2021-22 | 2,802 | 4.1 |
| 2020-21 | 2,689 | 3.9 |
| 2019-20 | 2,664 | 3.9 |
| 2018-19 | 2,398 | 3.5 |
| 2017-18 | 2,643 | 3.9 |
| 2016-17 | 2,225 | 3.3 |
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 | 1,243 | 90 | 1,148 | 1,716 | 354 | 234 | 177 | 281 | 2,200 |
| 2024-25 | 1,386 | 87 | 1,085 | 1,806 | 320 | 237 | 195 | 292 | 2,266 |
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 681.5 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Chatham County in 2026-27?
Chatham County is in NCWRC's Central deer zone. Its 2026-27 dates:
| Method | Antlered deer | Antlerless deer |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sept. 12 to Oct. 30, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Blackpowder | Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Gun | Nov. 14, 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 Chatham County?
| Game land | Acres in Chatham County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Jordan Game Land | 33,503 | 283 |
| Harris Game Land | 4,504 | 123 |
| Chatham Game Land | 2,672 | 68 |
| Lee Game Land | 26 | 14 |
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 Chatham County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chatham County | Central | 2,481 | 3.6 | 12% |
| Alamance County | Central | 2,769 | 6.5 | 36% |
| Durham County | Central | 927 | 3.2 | 40% |
| Harnett County | Southeastern | 1,871 | 3.1 | 34% |
| Lee County | Central | 704 | 2.8 | 56% |
| Moore County | Southeastern | 3,360 | 4.8 | 33% |
| Orange County | Central | 1,886 | 4.7 | 30% |
| Randolph County | Central | 5,349 | 6.8 | 82% |
| Wake County | Northeastern | 1,900 | 2.3 | 8% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Chatham County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 2,481 deer taken in Chatham County in the 2025-26 season: 1,243 antlered bucks, 90 antlerless males and 1,148 does. 1,716 were taken with a gun, 354 with blackpowder, 234 with a bow and 177 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Chatham County in 2026-27?
Chatham County is in the Central deer zone: archery Sept. 12 to Oct. 30, 2026; blackpowder Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026; gun Nov. 14, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 (NCWRC 2026-27 season dates).
Is there public hunting land in Chatham County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Jordan Game Land (33,503 acres in the county), Harris Game Land (4,504 acres in the county), Chatham Game Land (2,672 acres in the county) and Lee Game Land (26 acres in the county) in Chatham County.
Has the deer harvest in Chatham County gone up or down?
From 2,225 in 2016-17 to 2,481 in 2025-26, 12% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,463 in 1995-96.
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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 Alamance County Durham County Harnett County Lee County