Cumberland County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,103 deer in Cumberland County in the 2025-26 season: 621 antlered bucks and 435 does (NCWRC). That is 1.7 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 76th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 3% below 2024-25 (1,138). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 1,842 in 1993-94.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Cumberland CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,103 (621 antlered bucks, 47 antlerless males, 435 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 1.7, 87th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 1.78 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,034 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 1,842 in 1993-94 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern CWD Management Area (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 4, Coastal; Sandhills unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 5 deer |
| Land area | 652.6 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 game lands, 2,238 acres; 140 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Fayetteville, Spring Lake, Eastover, Hope Mills and Wade |
How many deer are killed in Cumberland County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,034; the most was 1,202 in 2021-22 and the fewest 806 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 17% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,103 | 1.7 |
| 2024-25 | 1,138 | 1.7 |
| 2023-24 | 916 | 1.4 |
| 2022-23 | 1,126 | 1.7 |
| 2021-22 | 1,202 | 1.8 |
| 2020-21 | 1,042 | 1.6 |
| 2019-20 | 1,071 | 1.6 |
| 2018-19 | 806 | 1.2 |
| 2017-18 | 990 | 1.5 |
| 2016-17 | 945 | 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 | 621 | 47 | 435 | 941 | 20 | 85 | 57 | 5 | 1,098 |
| 2024-25 | 669 | 45 | 424 | 990 | 33 | 78 | 37 | 7 | 1,131 |
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 652.6 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Cumberland County in 2026-27?
Cumberland County is in NCWRC's Southeastern CWD Management Area deer zone. Its 2026-27 dates:
| Method | Antlered deer | Antlerless deer |
|---|---|---|
| Special early season | Aug. 22 to 23, 2026 | As listed |
| Archery | Sept. 12 to Oct. 2, 2026 | Sept. 12 to Oct. 2, 2026 |
| Blackpowder | Oct. 3 to 16, 2026 | Oct. 3 to 16, 2026 |
| Gun | Oct. 17, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 | Oct. 17, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 |
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 Cumberland County?
| Game land | Acres in Cumberland County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Suggs Mill Pond Game Land | 1,767 | 17 |
| Rhodes Pond Game Land | 471 | 6 |
140 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 Cumberland County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County | Southeastern CWD Management Area | 1,103 | 1.7 | 17% |
| Bladen County | Southeastern | 2,597 | 3 | 14% |
| Harnett County | Southeastern | 1,871 | 3.1 | 34% |
| Hoke County | Southeastern | 646 | 1.7 | 48% |
| Moore County | Southeastern | 3,360 | 4.8 | 33% |
| 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 Cumberland County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,103 deer taken in Cumberland County in the 2025-26 season: 621 antlered bucks, 47 antlerless males and 435 does. 941 were taken with a gun, 20 with blackpowder, 85 with a bow and 57 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Cumberland County in 2026-27?
Cumberland County is in the Southeastern CWD Management Area deer zone: special early season Aug. 22 to 23, 2026; 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 Cumberland County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Suggs Mill Pond Game Land (1,767 acres in the county) and Rhodes Pond Game Land (471 acres in the county) in Cumberland County.
Has the deer harvest in Cumberland County gone up or down?
From 945 in 2016-17 to 1,103 in 2025-26, 17% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 1,842 in 1993-94.
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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 Harnett County Hoke County Moore County