Edgecombe County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,845 deer in Edgecombe County in the 2025-26 season: 1,469 antlered bucks and 1,262 does (NCWRC). That is 5.6 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 25th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 7% above 2024-25 (2,668). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,603 in 1993-94.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Edgecombe CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,845 (1,469 antlered bucks, 114 antlerless males, 1,262 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 5.6, 28th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 3.46 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,644 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,603 in 1993-94 |
| Deer season zone | Northeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 3, Coastal; Roanoke unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 24 deer |
| Land area | 505.4 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 game lands, 1,325 acres |
| Towns | Tarboro, Princeville, Pinetops, Leggett and Macclesfield |
How many deer are killed in Edgecombe County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,644; the most was 2,874 in 2023-24 and the fewest 2,272 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 8% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,845 | 5.6 |
| 2024-25 | 2,668 | 5.3 |
| 2023-24 | 2,874 | 5.7 |
| 2022-23 | 2,558 | 5.1 |
| 2021-22 | 2,565 | 5.1 |
| 2020-21 | 2,750 | 5.4 |
| 2019-20 | 2,594 | 5.1 |
| 2018-19 | 2,272 | 4.5 |
| 2017-18 | 2,674 | 5.3 |
| 2016-17 | 2,638 | 5.2 |
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 | 1,469 | 114 | 1,262 | 2,577 | 169 | 63 | 36 | 24 | 2,821 |
| 2024-25 | 1,325 | 113 | 1,230 | 2,435 | 140 | 51 | 42 | 22 | 2,646 |
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 505.4 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Edgecombe County in 2026-27?
Edgecombe County is in NCWRC's Northeastern 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 Edgecombe County?
| Game land | Acres in Edgecombe County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Fishing Creek Game Land | 1,171 | 23 |
| Tar River Game Land | 154 | 5 |
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 Edgecombe County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgecombe County | Northeastern | 2,845 | 5.6 | 8% |
| Halifax County | Northeastern | 3,657 | 5.1 | -7% |
| Martin County | Northeastern | 2,065 | 4.5 | 13% |
| Nash County | Northeastern | 1,990 | 3.7 | 36% |
| Pitt County | Northeastern | 2,899 | 4.4 | 21% |
| Wilson County | Northeastern | 1,611 | 4.4 | 57% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Edgecombe County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 2,845 deer taken in Edgecombe County in the 2025-26 season: 1,469 antlered bucks, 114 antlerless males and 1,262 does. 2,577 were taken with a gun, 169 with blackpowder, 63 with a bow and 36 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Edgecombe County in 2026-27?
Edgecombe County is in the Northeastern 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 Edgecombe County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Lower Fishing Creek Game Land (1,171 acres in the county) and Tar River Game Land (154 acres in the county) in Edgecombe County.
Has the deer harvest in Edgecombe County gone up or down?
From 2,638 in 2016-17 to 2,845 in 2025-26, 8% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,603 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 Halifax County Martin County Nash County Pitt County