Franklin County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,411 deer in Franklin County in the 2025-26 season: 1,169 antlered bucks and 1,107 does (NCWRC). That is 4.9 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 36th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 5% above 2024-25 (2,294). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,554 in 2013-14.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Franklin CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,411 (1,169 antlered bucks, 135 antlerless males, 1,107 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.9, 34th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 2.97 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,065 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,554 in 2013-14 |
| Deer season zone | Northeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 3, Piedmont; N. Piedmont unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 9 deer |
| Land area | 491.8 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 game lands, 2,186 acres; 125 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Louisburg, Youngsville, Franklinton and Bunn |
How many deer are killed in Franklin County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,065; the most was 2,411 in 2025-26 and the fewest 1,774 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 15% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,411 | 4.9 |
| 2024-25 | 2,294 | 4.7 |
| 2023-24 | 2,338 | 4.8 |
| 2022-23 | 1,788 | 3.6 |
| 2021-22 | 2,083 | 4.2 |
| 2020-21 | 1,969 | 4 |
| 2019-20 | 1,838 | 3.7 |
| 2018-19 | 1,774 | 3.6 |
| 2017-18 | 2,064 | 4.2 |
| 2016-17 | 2,088 | 4.2 |
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 | 1,169 | 135 | 1,107 | 2,136 | 77 | 112 | 86 | 9 | 2,402 |
| 2024-25 | 1,140 | 118 | 1,036 | 2,065 | 56 | 101 | 72 | 15 | 2,279 |
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 491.8 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Franklin County in 2026-27?
Franklin 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 Franklin County?
| Game land | Acres in Franklin County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Shocco Creek Game Land | 2,029 | 24 |
| Sandy Creek Game Land | 157 | 8 |
125 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 Franklin County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin County | Northeastern | 2,411 | 4.9 | 15% |
| Granville County | Central | 3,125 | 5.9 | 64% |
| Halifax County | Northeastern | 3,657 | 5.1 | -7% |
| Johnston County | Northeastern | 2,716 | 3.4 | 85% |
| Nash County | Northeastern | 1,990 | 3.7 | 36% |
| Vance County | Northeastern | 1,398 | 5.5 | 5% |
| Wake County | Northeastern | 1,900 | 2.3 | 8% |
| Warren County | Northeastern | 1,476 | 3.4 | -19% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Franklin County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 2,411 deer taken in Franklin County in the 2025-26 season: 1,169 antlered bucks, 135 antlerless males and 1,107 does. 2,136 were taken with a gun, 77 with blackpowder, 112 with a bow and 86 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Franklin County in 2026-27?
Franklin 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 Franklin County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Shocco Creek Game Land (2,029 acres in the county) and Sandy Creek Game Land (157 acres in the county) in Franklin County.
Has the deer harvest in Franklin County gone up or down?
From 2,088 in 2016-17 to 2,411 in 2025-26, 15% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,554 in 2013-14.
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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.
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