Lee County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 704 deer in Lee County in the 2025-26 season: 361 antlered bucks and 324 does (NCWRC). That is 2.8 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 88th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 12% below 2024-25 (803). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 925 in 2023-24.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Lee CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 704 (361 antlered bucks, 19 antlerless males, 324 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 2.8, 74th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 2.32 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 658 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 925 in 2023-24 |
| Deer season zone | Central (gun opens Nov. 14) |
| NCWRC district | District 5, Piedmont; N. Piedmont unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 14 deer |
| Land area | 255.1 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 game land, 1,415 acres |
| Towns | Sanford and Broadway |
How many deer are killed in Lee County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 658; the most was 925 in 2023-24 and the fewest 451 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 56% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 704 | 2.8 |
| 2024-25 | 803 | 3.1 |
| 2023-24 | 925 | 3.6 |
| 2022-23 | 708 | 2.8 |
| 2021-22 | 706 | 2.8 |
| 2020-21 | 603 | 2.4 |
| 2019-20 | 583 | 2.3 |
| 2018-19 | 551 | 2.2 |
| 2017-18 | 547 | 2.1 |
| 2016-17 | 451 | 1.8 |
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 | 361 | 19 | 324 | 505 | 104 | 53 | 42 | 14 | 690 |
| 2024-25 | 427 | 22 | 354 | 614 | 90 | 58 | 41 | 22 | 781 |
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 255.1 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Lee County in 2026-27?
Lee County is in NCWRC's Central deer zone. Its 2026-27 dates:
| Method | Antlered deer | Antlerless deer |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sept. 12 to Oct. 30, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Blackpowder | Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Gun | Nov. 14, 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 Lee County?
| Game land | Acres in Lee County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Lee Game Land | 1,415 | 14 |
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 Lee County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County | Central | 704 | 2.8 | 56% |
| Chatham County | Central | 2,481 | 3.6 | 12% |
| Harnett County | Southeastern | 1,871 | 3.1 | 34% |
| Moore County | Southeastern | 3,360 | 4.8 | 33% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Lee County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 704 deer taken in Lee County in the 2025-26 season: 361 antlered bucks, 19 antlerless males and 324 does. 505 were taken with a gun, 104 with blackpowder, 53 with a bow and 42 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Lee County in 2026-27?
Lee County is in the Central deer zone: archery Sept. 12 to Oct. 30, 2026; blackpowder Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026; gun Nov. 14, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 (NCWRC 2026-27 season dates).
Is there public hunting land in Lee County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Lee Game Land (1,415 acres in the county) in Lee County.
Has the deer harvest in Lee County gone up or down?
From 451 in 2016-17 to 704 in 2025-26, 56% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 925 in 2023-24.
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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 Harnett County Moore County