Gates County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,325 deer in Gates County in the 2025-26 season: 560 antlered bucks and 658 does (NCWRC). That is 3.9 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 69th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 4% above 2024-25 (1,272). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 2,896 in 1988-89.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Gates CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,325 (560 antlered bucks, 107 antlerless males, 658 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.9, 53rd of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 1.79 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,310 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 2,896 in 1988-89 |
| Deer season zone | Northeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 1, Coastal; Albemarle unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 46 deer |
| Land area | 340.6 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 game land, 23,225 acres; 13,122 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Gatesville |
How many deer are killed in Gates County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,310; the most was 1,699 in 2016-17 and the fewest 1,116 in 2021-22. 2025-26 was 22% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,325 | 3.9 |
| 2024-25 | 1,272 | 3.7 |
| 2023-24 | 1,203 | 3.5 |
| 2022-23 | 1,129 | 3.3 |
| 2021-22 | 1,116 | 3.3 |
| 2020-21 | 1,273 | 3.7 |
| 2019-20 | 1,296 | 3.8 |
| 2018-19 | 1,171 | 3.4 |
| 2017-18 | 1,615 | 4.7 |
| 2016-17 | 1,699 | 5 |
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 | 560 | 107 | 658 | 1,228 | 38 | 34 | 25 | 46 | 1,279 |
| 2024-25 | 542 | 117 | 613 | 1,204 | 29 | 27 | 12 | 52 | 1,220 |
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 340.6 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Gates County in 2026-27?
Gates 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 Gates County?
| Game land | Acres in Gates County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Chowan Swamp Game Land | 23,225 | 103 |
13,122 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 Gates County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gates County | Northeastern | 1,325 | 3.9 | -22% |
| Camden County | Northeastern | 345 | 1.4 | 19% |
| Chowan County | Northeastern | 588 | 3.4 | -22% |
| Hertford County | Northeastern | 1,597 | 4.5 | -10% |
| Pasquotank County | Northeastern | 396 | 1.7 | -3% |
| Perquimans County | Northeastern | 694 | 2.8 | -21% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Gates County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,325 deer taken in Gates County in the 2025-26 season: 560 antlered bucks, 107 antlerless males and 658 does. 1,228 were taken with a gun, 38 with blackpowder, 34 with a bow and 25 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Gates County in 2026-27?
Gates 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 Gates County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Chowan Swamp Game Land (23,225 acres in the county) in Gates County.
Has the deer harvest in Gates County gone up or down?
From 1,699 in 2016-17 to 1,325 in 2025-26, 22% lower. The most since NCWRC's records began was 2,896 in 1988-89.
Get a North Carolina hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for North Carolina are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, North Carolina included.
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 Camden County Chowan County Hertford County Pasquotank County