Harnett County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,871 deer in Harnett County in the 2025-26 season: 992 antlered bucks and 804 does (NCWRC). That is 3.1 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 56th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 9% above 2024-25 (1,720). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 1,920 in 2021-22.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Harnett CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,871 (992 antlered bucks, 75 antlerless males, 804 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.1, 70th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 1.98 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,693 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 1,920 in 2021-22 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 4, Coastal; Sandhills unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 3 deer |
| Land area | 595.1 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 game land, 69 acres |
| Towns | Lillington, Dunn, Angier, Erwin and Coats |
How many deer are killed in Harnett County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,693; the most was 1,920 in 2021-22 and the fewest 1,393 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 34% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,871 | 3.1 |
| 2024-25 | 1,720 | 2.9 |
| 2023-24 | 1,759 | 3 |
| 2022-23 | 1,680 | 2.8 |
| 2021-22 | 1,920 | 3.2 |
| 2020-21 | 1,766 | 3 |
| 2019-20 | 1,729 | 2.9 |
| 2018-19 | 1,441 | 2.4 |
| 2017-18 | 1,655 | 2.8 |
| 2016-17 | 1,393 | 2.3 |
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 | 992 | 75 | 804 | 1,603 | 75 | 118 | 75 | 3 | 1,868 |
| 2024-25 | 937 | 72 | 711 | 1,497 | 39 | 124 | 60 | 5 | 1,715 |
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 595.1 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Harnett County in 2026-27?
Harnett 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 Harnett County?
| Game land | Acres in Harnett County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Harris Game Land | 69 | 123 |
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 Harnett County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harnett County | Southeastern | 1,871 | 3.1 | 34% |
| Chatham County | Central | 2,481 | 3.6 | 12% |
| Cumberland County | Southeastern CWD Management Area | 1,103 | 1.7 | 17% |
| Johnston County | Northeastern | 2,716 | 3.4 | 85% |
| Lee County | Central | 704 | 2.8 | 56% |
| Moore County | Southeastern | 3,360 | 4.8 | 33% |
| Sampson County | Southeastern CWD Management Area | 1,942 | 2.1 | 5% |
| Wake County | Northeastern | 1,900 | 2.3 | 8% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Harnett County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,871 deer taken in Harnett County in the 2025-26 season: 992 antlered bucks, 75 antlerless males and 804 does. 1,603 were taken with a gun, 75 with blackpowder, 118 with a bow and 75 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Harnett County in 2026-27?
Harnett 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 Harnett County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Harris Game Land (69 acres in the county) in Harnett County.
Has the deer harvest in Harnett County gone up or down?
From 1,393 in 2016-17 to 1,871 in 2025-26, 34% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 1,920 in 2021-22.
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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 Chatham County Cumberland County Johnston County Lee County