Hoke County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 646 deer in Hoke County in the 2025-26 season: 371 antlered bucks and 243 does (NCWRC). That is 1.7 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 91st of North Carolina's 100. The count was 1% above 2024-25 (637). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 649 in 2022-23.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Hoke CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 646 (371 antlered bucks, 32 antlerless males, 243 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 1.7, 88th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 1.15 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 576 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 649 in 2022-23 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 4, Coastal; Sandhills unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 42 deer |
| Land area | 390.2 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 game lands, 3,760 acres |
| Towns | Raeford |
How many deer are killed in Hoke County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 576; the most was 649 in 2022-23 and the fewest 437 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 48% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 646 | 1.7 |
| 2024-25 | 637 | 1.6 |
| 2023-24 | 566 | 1.5 |
| 2022-23 | 649 | 1.7 |
| 2021-22 | 621 | 1.6 |
| 2020-21 | 645 | 1.7 |
| 2019-20 | 595 | 1.5 |
| 2018-19 | 444 | 1.1 |
| 2017-18 | 518 | 1.3 |
| 2016-17 | 437 | 1.1 |
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 | 371 | 32 | 243 | 560 | 18 | 43 | 25 | 42 | 604 |
| 2024-25 | 396 | 18 | 223 | 552 | 18 | 51 | 16 | 35 | 602 |
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 390.2 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Hoke County in 2026-27?
Hoke 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 Hoke County?
| Game land | Acres in Hoke County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Rockfish Creek Game Land | 2,690 | 25 |
| Nicholson Creek Game Land | 1,021 | 14 |
| Sandhills Game Land | 49 | 228 |
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 Hoke County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hoke County | Southeastern | 646 | 1.7 | 48% |
| Cumberland County | Southeastern CWD Management Area | 1,103 | 1.7 | 17% |
| Moore County | Southeastern | 3,360 | 4.8 | 33% |
| Richmond County | Southeastern | 2,270 | 4.8 | 21% |
| Robeson County | Southeastern | 2,004 | 2.1 | 108% |
| Scotland County | Southeastern | 1,215 | 3.8 | 104% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Hoke County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 646 deer taken in Hoke County in the 2025-26 season: 371 antlered bucks, 32 antlerless males and 243 does. 560 were taken with a gun, 18 with blackpowder, 43 with a bow and 25 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Hoke County in 2026-27?
Hoke 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 Hoke County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Rockfish Creek Game Land (2,690 acres in the county), Nicholson Creek Game Land (1,021 acres in the county) and Sandhills Game Land (49 acres in the county) in Hoke County.
Has the deer harvest in Hoke County gone up or down?
From 437 in 2016-17 to 646 in 2025-26, 48% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 649 in 2022-23.
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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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