Dare County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 103 deer in Dare County in the 2025-26 season: 50 antlered bucks and 47 does (NCWRC). That is 0.3 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 100th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 2% above 2024-25 (101). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 243 in 2011-12.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Dare CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 103 (50 antlered bucks, 6 antlerless males, 47 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 0.3, 100th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 0.17 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 113 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 243 in 2011-12 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 1, Coastal; N. Pamlico unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 20 deer |
| Land area | 383.2 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 game lands, 48,256 acres; 132,735 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Southern Shores and Duck |
How many deer are killed in Dare County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 113; the most was 133 in 2017-18 and the fewest 99 in 2020-21. 2025-26 was 10% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 103 | 0.3 |
| 2024-25 | 101 | 0.3 |
| 2023-24 | 122 | 0.3 |
| 2022-23 | 106 | 0.3 |
| 2021-22 | 126 | 0.3 |
| 2020-21 | 99 | 0.3 |
| 2019-20 | 105 | 0.3 |
| 2018-19 | 116 | 0.3 |
| 2017-18 | 133 | 0.3 |
| 2016-17 | 114 | 0.3 |
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 | 50 | 6 | 47 | 65 | 9 | 21 | 8 | 20 | 83 |
| 2024-25 | 61 | 7 | 33 | 69 | 9 | 17 | 6 | 29 | 72 |
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 383.2 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Dare County in 2026-27?
Dare 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 Dare County?
| Game land | Acres in Dare County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Dare Game Land | 45,420 | 20 |
| Roanoke Island Marshes Game Land | 1,860 | 0 |
| Buxton Woods Game Land | 976 | 2 |
132,735 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 Dare County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dare County | Southeastern | 103 | 0.3 | -10% |
| Currituck County | Northeastern | 391 | 1.5 | -16% |
| Hyde County | Southeastern | 955 | 1.6 | -19% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Dare County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 103 deer taken in Dare County in the 2025-26 season: 50 antlered bucks, 6 antlerless males and 47 does. 65 were taken with a gun, 9 with blackpowder, 21 with a bow and 8 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Dare County in 2026-27?
Dare 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 Dare County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Dare Game Land (45,420 acres in the county), Roanoke Island Marshes Game Land (1,860 acres in the county) and Buxton Woods Game Land (976 acres in the county) in Dare County.
Has the deer harvest in Dare County gone up or down?
From 114 in 2016-17 to 103 in 2025-26, 10% lower. The most since NCWRC's records began was 243 in 2011-12.
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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 Currituck County Hyde County