Moore County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 3,360 deer in Moore County in the 2025-26 season: 1,733 antlered bucks and 1,475 does (NCWRC). That is 4.8 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 11th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 7% below 2024-25 (3,598). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,690 in 2023-24.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Moore CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 3,360 (1,733 antlered bucks, 152 antlerless males, 1,475 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.8, 36th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 3.01 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,981 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,690 in 2023-24 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 6, Coastal; Sandhills unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 30 deer |
| Land area | 697.6 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 game land, 4,612 acres |
| Towns | Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Aberdeen, Foxfire and Carthage |
How many deer are killed in Moore County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,981; the most was 3,690 in 2023-24 and the fewest 2,266 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 33% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 3,360 | 4.8 |
| 2024-25 | 3,598 | 5.2 |
| 2023-24 | 3,690 | 5.3 |
| 2022-23 | 2,798 | 4 |
| 2021-22 | 3,098 | 4.4 |
| 2020-21 | 2,898 | 4.2 |
| 2019-20 | 2,917 | 4.2 |
| 2018-19 | 2,266 | 3.2 |
| 2017-18 | 2,671 | 3.8 |
| 2016-17 | 2,518 | 3.6 |
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 | 1,733 | 152 | 1,475 | 2,829 | 172 | 191 | 168 | 30 | 3,330 |
| 2024-25 | 1,915 | 142 | 1,541 | 3,111 | 150 | 185 | 152 | 37 | 3,561 |
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 697.6 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Moore County in 2026-27?
Moore 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 Moore County?
| Game land | Acres in Moore County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Sandhills Game Land | 4,612 | 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 Moore County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moore County | Southeastern | 3,360 | 4.8 | 33% |
| Chatham County | Central | 2,481 | 3.6 | 12% |
| Cumberland County | Southeastern CWD Management Area | 1,103 | 1.7 | 17% |
| Harnett County | Southeastern | 1,871 | 3.1 | 34% |
| Hoke County | Southeastern | 646 | 1.7 | 48% |
| Lee County | Central | 704 | 2.8 | 56% |
| Montgomery County | Central | 2,984 | 6.1 | 32% |
| Randolph County | Central | 5,349 | 6.8 | 82% |
| Richmond County | Southeastern | 2,270 | 4.8 | 21% |
| Scotland County | Southeastern | 1,215 | 3.8 | 104% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Moore County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 3,360 deer taken in Moore County in the 2025-26 season: 1,733 antlered bucks, 152 antlerless males and 1,475 does. 2,829 were taken with a gun, 172 with blackpowder, 191 with a bow and 168 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Moore County in 2026-27?
Moore 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 Moore County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Sandhills Game Land (4,612 acres in the county) in Moore County.
Has the deer harvest in Moore County gone up or down?
From 2,518 in 2016-17 to 3,360 in 2025-26, 33% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,690 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 Cumberland County Harnett County Hoke County