New Hanover County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 183 deer in New Hanover County in the 2025-26 season: 96 antlered bucks and 83 does (NCWRC). That is 1 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 98th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 2% below 2024-25 (187). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 198 in 2010-11.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
New Hanover CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 183 (96 antlered bucks, 4 antlerless males, 83 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 1, 97th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 1.06 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 168 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 198 in 2010-11 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 2, Coastal; Cape Fear unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 7 deer |
| Land area | 192.2 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 game lands, 2,327 acres |
| Towns | Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach and Kure Beach |
How many deer are killed in New Hanover County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 168; the most was 197 in 2022-23 and the fewest 129 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 42% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 183 | 1 |
| 2024-25 | 187 | 1 |
| 2023-24 | 187 | 1 |
| 2022-23 | 197 | 1 |
| 2021-22 | 158 | 0.8 |
| 2020-21 | 171 | 0.9 |
| 2019-20 | 157 | 0.8 |
| 2018-19 | 143 | 0.7 |
| 2017-18 | 166 | 0.9 |
| 2016-17 | 129 | 0.7 |
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 | 96 | 4 | 83 | 132 | 6 | 21 | 24 | 7 | 176 |
| 2024-25 | 88 | 6 | 93 | 143 | 3 | 20 | 21 | 11 | 176 |
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 192.2 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in New Hanover County in 2026-27?
New Hanover 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 New Hanover County?
| Game land | Acres in New Hanover County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Sutton Lake Game Land | 1,357 | 1 |
| Cape Fear River Wetlands Game Land | 970 | 45 |
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 New Hanover County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Hanover County | Southeastern | 183 | 1 | 42% |
| Brunswick County | Southeastern | 2,141 | 2.5 | 32% |
| Pender County | Southeastern | 3,271 | 3.8 | 36% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in New Hanover County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 183 deer taken in New Hanover County in the 2025-26 season: 96 antlered bucks, 4 antlerless males and 83 does. 132 were taken with a gun, 6 with blackpowder, 21 with a bow and 24 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in New Hanover County in 2026-27?
New Hanover 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 New Hanover County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Sutton Lake Game Land (1,357 acres in the county) and Cape Fear River Wetlands Game Land (970 acres in the county) in New Hanover County.
Has the deer harvest in New Hanover County gone up or down?
From 129 in 2016-17 to 183 in 2025-26, 42% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 198 in 2010-11.
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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 Brunswick County Pender County