Martin County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,065 deer in Martin County in the 2025-26 season: 989 antlered bucks and 965 does (NCWRC). That is 4.5 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 46th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 13% above 2024-25 (1,835). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 2,562 in 2008-09.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Martin CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,065 (989 antlered bucks, 111 antlerless males, 965 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.5, 42nd of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 2.43 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,720 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 2,562 in 2008-09 |
| Deer season zone | Northeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 1, Coastal; Roanoke unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 87 deer |
| Land area | 456.4 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 game land, 9,958 acres |
| Towns | Williamston, Jamesville, Robersonville, Parmele and Oak City |
How many deer are killed in Martin County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,720; the most was 2,065 in 2025-26 and the fewest 1,459 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 13% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,065 | 4.5 |
| 2024-25 | 1,835 | 4 |
| 2023-24 | 1,755 | 3.8 |
| 2022-23 | 1,702 | 3.7 |
| 2021-22 | 1,521 | 3.3 |
| 2020-21 | 1,618 | 3.5 |
| 2019-20 | 1,620 | 3.5 |
| 2018-19 | 1,459 | 3.2 |
| 2017-18 | 1,795 | 3.9 |
| 2016-17 | 1,828 | 4 |
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 | 989 | 111 | 965 | 1,930 | 77 | 44 | 14 | 87 | 1,978 |
| 2024-25 | 804 | 116 | 915 | 1,747 | 55 | 20 | 13 | 74 | 1,761 |
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 456.4 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Martin County in 2026-27?
Martin 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 Martin County?
| Game land | Acres in Martin County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land | 9,958 | 133 |
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 Martin County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin County | Northeastern | 2,065 | 4.5 | 13% |
| Beaufort County | Southeastern | 2,746 | 3.3 | 15% |
| Bertie County | Northeastern | 3,085 | 4.4 | -3% |
| Edgecombe County | Northeastern | 2,845 | 5.6 | 8% |
| Halifax County | Northeastern | 3,657 | 5.1 | -7% |
| Pitt County | Northeastern | 2,899 | 4.4 | 21% |
| Washington County | Southeastern | 934 | 2.7 | -27% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Martin County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 2,065 deer taken in Martin County in the 2025-26 season: 989 antlered bucks, 111 antlerless males and 965 does. 1,930 were taken with a gun, 77 with blackpowder, 44 with a bow and 14 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Martin County in 2026-27?
Martin 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 Martin County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Lower Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land (9,958 acres in the county) in Martin County.
Has the deer harvest in Martin County gone up or down?
From 1,828 in 2016-17 to 2,065 in 2025-26, 13% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 2,562 in 2008-09.
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 Beaufort County Bertie County Edgecombe County Halifax County