Columbus County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,921 deer in Columbus County in the 2025-26 season: 1,381 antlered bucks and 1,418 does (NCWRC). That is 3.1 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 22nd of North Carolina's 100. The count was 6% below 2024-25 (3,098). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,382 in 1990-91.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Columbus CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,921 (1,381 antlered bucks, 122 antlerless males, 1,418 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.1, 69th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 1.73 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,210 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,382 in 1990-91 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 4, Coastal; Cape Fear unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 58 deer |
| Land area | 938.2 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 game lands, 16,032 acres; 224 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Whiteville, Tabor City, Bolton, Sandyfield and Boardman |
How many deer are killed in Columbus County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,210; the most was 3,098 in 2024-25 and the fewest 1,491 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 96% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,921 | 3.1 |
| 2024-25 | 3,098 | 3.3 |
| 2023-24 | 2,805 | 3 |
| 2022-23 | 2,176 | 2.3 |
| 2021-22 | 2,250 | 2.4 |
| 2020-21 | 1,916 | 2 |
| 2019-20 | 2,033 | 2.2 |
| 2018-19 | 1,618 | 1.7 |
| 2017-18 | 1,792 | 1.9 |
| 2016-17 | 1,491 | 1.6 |
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 | 1,381 | 122 | 1,418 | 2,711 | 102 | 73 | 35 | 58 | 2,863 |
| 2024-25 | 1,523 | 133 | 1,442 | 2,942 | 67 | 60 | 29 | 63 | 3,035 |
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 938.2 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Columbus County in 2026-27?
Columbus 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 Columbus County?
| Game land | Acres in Columbus County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus County Game Land | 9,609 | 55 |
| Juniper Creek Game Land | 6,423 | 81 |
224 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 Columbus County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus County | Southeastern | 2,921 | 3.1 | 96% |
| Bladen County | Southeastern | 2,597 | 3 | 14% |
| Brunswick County | Southeastern | 2,141 | 2.5 | 32% |
| Pender County | Southeastern | 3,271 | 3.8 | 36% |
| Robeson County | Southeastern | 2,004 | 2.1 | 108% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Columbus County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 2,921 deer taken in Columbus County in the 2025-26 season: 1,381 antlered bucks, 122 antlerless males and 1,418 does. 2,711 were taken with a gun, 102 with blackpowder, 73 with a bow and 35 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Columbus County in 2026-27?
Columbus 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 Columbus County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Columbus County Game Land (9,609 acres in the county) and Juniper Creek Game Land (6,423 acres in the county) in Columbus County.
Has the deer harvest in Columbus County gone up or down?
From 1,491 in 2016-17 to 2,921 in 2025-26, 96% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,382 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 Bladen County Brunswick County Pender County Robeson County