Lenoir County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,594 deer in Lenoir County in the 2025-26 season: 801 antlered bucks and 734 does (NCWRC). That is 4 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 62nd of North Carolina's 100. The count was 19% above 2024-25 (1,344). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 1,594 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Lenoir CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,594 (801 antlered bucks, 59 antlerless males, 734 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4, 51st of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 2.41 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,288 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 1,594 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 2, Coastal; Neuse unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 0 deer |
| Land area | 399.1 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No game land |
| Towns | Kinston, La Grange and Pink Hill |
How many deer are killed in Lenoir County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,288; the most was 1,594 in 2025-26 and the fewest 1,045 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 30% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,594 | 4 |
| 2024-25 | 1,344 | 3.4 |
| 2023-24 | 1,333 | 3.3 |
| 2022-23 | 1,243 | 3.1 |
| 2021-22 | 1,283 | 3.2 |
| 2020-21 | 1,315 | 3.3 |
| 2019-20 | 1,178 | 3 |
| 2018-19 | 1,045 | 2.6 |
| 2017-18 | 1,323 | 3.3 |
| 2016-17 | 1,225 | 3.1 |
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 | 801 | 59 | 734 | 1,435 | 53 | 63 | 43 | 0 | 1,594 |
| 2024-25 | 701 | 38 | 605 | 1,203 | 41 | 61 | 39 | 0 | 1,344 |
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 399.1 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Lenoir County in 2026-27?
Lenoir 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 Lenoir County?
No game land boundary falls in Lenoir County. The closest game lands with a page here: Dover Bay Game Land (about 18 miles), Neuse River Game Land (about 25 miles) and Angola Bay Game Land (about 38 miles).
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 Lenoir County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenoir County | Southeastern | 1,594 | 4 | 30% |
| Craven County | Southeastern | 3,034 | 4.3 | 30% |
| Duplin County | Southeastern | 2,821 | 3.5 | 29% |
| Greene County | Northeastern | 1,249 | 4.7 | 26% |
| Jones County | Southeastern | 1,882 | 4 | 24% |
| Pitt County | Northeastern | 2,899 | 4.4 | 21% |
| Wayne County | Northeastern | 2,236 | 4 | 59% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Lenoir County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,594 deer taken in Lenoir County in the 2025-26 season: 801 antlered bucks, 59 antlerless males and 734 does. 1,435 were taken with a gun, 53 with blackpowder, 63 with a bow and 43 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Lenoir County in 2026-27?
Lenoir 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 Lenoir County?
No game land boundary falls in Lenoir County. The closest game lands with a page here: Dover Bay Game Land (about 18 miles), Neuse River Game Land (about 25 miles) and Angola Bay Game Land (about 38 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Lenoir County gone up or down?
From 1,225 in 2016-17 to 1,594 in 2025-26, 30% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 1,594 in 2025-26.
Get a North Carolina hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for North Carolina are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, North Carolina included.
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 Craven County Duplin County Greene County Jones County