Hertford County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,597 deer in Hertford County in the 2025-26 season: 716 antlered bucks and 778 does (NCWRC). That is 4.5 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 61st of North Carolina's 100. The count was 8% above 2024-25 (1,478). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 2,775 in 2008-09.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Hertford CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,597 (716 antlered bucks, 103 antlerless males, 778 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.5, 41st of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 2.34 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,443 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 2,775 in 2008-09 |
| Deer season zone | Northeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 1, Coastal; Roanoke unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 56 deer |
| Land area | 353.2 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 game land, 9,541 acres; 131 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Ahoskie, Como, Cofield, Murfreesboro and Winton |
How many deer are killed in Hertford County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,443; the most was 1,767 in 2016-17 and the fewest 1,215 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 10% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,597 | 4.5 |
| 2024-25 | 1,478 | 4.2 |
| 2023-24 | 1,412 | 4 |
| 2022-23 | 1,336 | 3.8 |
| 2021-22 | 1,370 | 3.9 |
| 2020-21 | 1,281 | 3.6 |
| 2019-20 | 1,320 | 3.7 |
| 2018-19 | 1,215 | 3.4 |
| 2017-18 | 1,653 | 4.7 |
| 2016-17 | 1,767 | 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 | 716 | 103 | 778 | 1,446 | 60 | 52 | 39 | 56 | 1,541 |
| 2024-25 | 675 | 117 | 686 | 1,349 | 54 | 44 | 31 | 75 | 1,403 |
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 353.2 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Hertford County in 2026-27?
Hertford 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 Hertford County?
| Game land | Acres in Hertford County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Chowan Swamp Game Land | 9,541 | 103 |
131 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 Hertford County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hertford County | Northeastern | 1,597 | 4.5 | -10% |
| Bertie County | Northeastern | 3,085 | 4.4 | -3% |
| Chowan County | Northeastern | 588 | 3.4 | -22% |
| Gates County | Northeastern | 1,325 | 3.9 | -22% |
| Northampton County | Northeastern | 3,683 | 6.9 | -13% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Hertford County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,597 deer taken in Hertford County in the 2025-26 season: 716 antlered bucks, 103 antlerless males and 778 does. 1,446 were taken with a gun, 60 with blackpowder, 52 with a bow and 39 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Hertford County in 2026-27?
Hertford 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 Hertford County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Chowan Swamp Game Land (9,541 acres in the county) in Hertford County.
Has the deer harvest in Hertford County gone up or down?
From 1,767 in 2016-17 to 1,597 in 2025-26, 10% lower. The most since NCWRC's records began was 2,775 in 2008-09.
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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 Bertie County Chowan County Gates County Northampton County