Craven County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 3,034 deer in Craven County in the 2025-26 season: 1,440 antlered bucks and 1,447 does (NCWRC). That is 4.3 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 20th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 5% above 2024-25 (2,897). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,034 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Craven CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 3,034 (1,440 antlered bucks, 147 antlerless males, 1,447 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.3, 49th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 2.48 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,536 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,034 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 2, Coastal; S. Pamlico unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 288 deer |
| Land area | 706.5 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 game lands, 81,352 acres |
| Towns | New Bern, Havelock, Trent Woods, River Bend and Bridgeton |
How many deer are killed in Craven County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,536; the most was 3,034 in 2025-26 and the fewest 1,834 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 30% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 3,034 | 4.3 |
| 2024-25 | 2,897 | 4.1 |
| 2023-24 | 2,858 | 4 |
| 2022-23 | 2,544 | 3.6 |
| 2021-22 | 2,510 | 3.6 |
| 2020-21 | 2,445 | 3.5 |
| 2019-20 | 2,264 | 3.2 |
| 2018-19 | 1,834 | 2.6 |
| 2017-18 | 2,631 | 3.7 |
| 2016-17 | 2,341 | 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 | 1,440 | 147 | 1,447 | 2,650 | 165 | 131 | 88 | 288 | 2,746 |
| 2024-25 | 1,320 | 144 | 1,433 | 2,604 | 113 | 98 | 82 | 252 | 2,645 |
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 706.5 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Craven County in 2026-27?
Craven 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 Craven County?
| Game land | Acres in Craven County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Croatan Game Land | 72,506 | 616 |
| Neuse River Game Land | 5,947 | 51 |
| Dover Bay Game Land | 2,899 | 7 |
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 Craven County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craven County | Southeastern | 3,034 | 4.3 | 30% |
| Beaufort County | Southeastern | 2,746 | 3.3 | 15% |
| Carteret County | Southeastern | 944 | 1.9 | 36% |
| Jones County | Southeastern | 1,882 | 4 | 24% |
| Lenoir County | Southeastern | 1,594 | 4 | 30% |
| Pamlico County | Southeastern | 1,063 | 3.2 | 19% |
| Pitt County | Northeastern | 2,899 | 4.4 | 21% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Craven County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 3,034 deer taken in Craven County in the 2025-26 season: 1,440 antlered bucks, 147 antlerless males and 1,447 does. 2,650 were taken with a gun, 165 with blackpowder, 131 with a bow and 88 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Craven County in 2026-27?
Craven 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 Craven County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Croatan Game Land (72,506 acres in the county), Neuse River Game Land (5,947 acres in the county) and Dover Bay Game Land (2,899 acres in the county) in Craven County.
Has the deer harvest in Craven County gone up or down?
From 2,341 in 2016-17 to 3,034 in 2025-26, 30% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,034 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 Beaufort County Carteret County Jones County Lenoir County