Jones County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,882 deer in Jones County in the 2025-26 season: 902 antlered bucks and 897 does (NCWRC). That is 4 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 55th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 7% above 2024-25 (1,754). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 2,661 in 1993-94.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Jones CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,882 (902 antlered bucks, 83 antlerless males, 897 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4, 50th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 2.03 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,590 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 2,661 in 1993-94 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 2, Coastal; S. Pamlico unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 193 deer |
| Land area | 471.4 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 game land, 39,844 acres |
| Towns | Maysville, Pollocksville and Trenton |
How many deer are killed in Jones County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,590; the most was 1,882 in 2025-26 and the fewest 1,246 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 24% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,882 | 4 |
| 2024-25 | 1,754 | 3.7 |
| 2023-24 | 1,694 | 3.6 |
| 2022-23 | 1,523 | 3.2 |
| 2021-22 | 1,642 | 3.5 |
| 2020-21 | 1,627 | 3.5 |
| 2019-20 | 1,468 | 3.1 |
| 2018-19 | 1,246 | 2.6 |
| 2017-18 | 1,552 | 3.3 |
| 2016-17 | 1,515 | 3.2 |
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 | 902 | 83 | 897 | 1,764 | 83 | 21 | 14 | 193 | 1,689 |
| 2024-25 | 803 | 73 | 878 | 1,678 | 51 | 15 | 10 | 173 | 1,581 |
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 471.4 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Jones County in 2026-27?
Jones 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 Jones County?
| Game land | Acres in Jones County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Croatan Game Land | 39,844 | 616 |
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 Jones County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jones County | Southeastern | 1,882 | 4 | 24% |
| Carteret County | Southeastern | 944 | 1.9 | 36% |
| Craven County | Southeastern | 3,034 | 4.3 | 30% |
| Duplin County | Southeastern | 2,821 | 3.5 | 29% |
| Lenoir County | Southeastern | 1,594 | 4 | 30% |
| Onslow County | Southeastern | 2,378 | 3.1 | 16% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Jones County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,882 deer taken in Jones County in the 2025-26 season: 902 antlered bucks, 83 antlerless males and 897 does. 1,764 were taken with a gun, 83 with blackpowder, 21 with a bow and 14 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Jones County in 2026-27?
Jones 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 Jones County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Croatan Game Land (39,844 acres in the county) in Jones County.
Has the deer harvest in Jones County gone up or down?
From 1,515 in 2016-17 to 1,882 in 2025-26, 24% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 2,661 in 1993-94.
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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 Carteret County Craven County Duplin County Lenoir County