Northampton County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 3,683 deer in Northampton County in the 2025-26 season: 1,624 antlered bucks and 1,834 does (NCWRC). That is 6.9 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 7th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 7% above 2024-25 (3,427). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 6,212 in 2008-09.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Northampton CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 3,683 (1,624 antlered bucks, 225 antlerless males, 1,834 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 6.9, 9th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 3.38 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 3,556 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 6,212 in 2008-09 |
| Deer season zone | Northeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 3, Coastal; Roanoke unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 92 deer |
| Land area | 536.7 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 game land, 5,167 acres; 240 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Rich Square, Conway, Gaston, Woodland and Lasker |
How many deer are killed in Northampton County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 3,556; the most was 4,213 in 2016-17 and the fewest 3,130 in 2022-23. 2025-26 was 13% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 3,683 | 6.9 |
| 2024-25 | 3,427 | 6.4 |
| 2023-24 | 3,425 | 6.4 |
| 2022-23 | 3,130 | 5.8 |
| 2021-22 | 3,176 | 5.9 |
| 2020-21 | 3,499 | 6.5 |
| 2019-20 | 3,439 | 6.4 |
| 2018-19 | 3,446 | 6.4 |
| 2017-18 | 4,120 | 7.7 |
| 2016-17 | 4,213 | 7.8 |
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 | 1,624 | 225 | 1,834 | 3,380 | 153 | 102 | 48 | 92 | 3,591 |
| 2024-25 | 1,496 | 224 | 1,707 | 3,173 | 103 | 120 | 31 | 83 | 3,344 |
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 536.7 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Northampton County in 2026-27?
Northampton 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 Northampton County?
| Game land | Acres in Northampton County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Upper Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land | 5,167 | 154 |
240 acres of national wildlife refuge lie in the county, measured on the federal maps. National forest land in North Carolina is managed as game land under NCWRC's rules.
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 Northampton County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northampton County | Northeastern | 3,683 | 6.9 | -13% |
| Bertie County | Northeastern | 3,085 | 4.4 | -3% |
| Halifax County | Northeastern | 3,657 | 5.1 | -7% |
| Hertford County | Northeastern | 1,597 | 4.5 | -10% |
| Warren County | Northeastern | 1,476 | 3.4 | -19% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Northampton County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 3,683 deer taken in Northampton County in the 2025-26 season: 1,624 antlered bucks, 225 antlerless males and 1,834 does. 3,380 were taken with a gun, 153 with blackpowder, 102 with a bow and 48 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Northampton County in 2026-27?
Northampton 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 Northampton County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Upper Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land (5,167 acres in the county) in Northampton County.
Has the deer harvest in Northampton County gone up or down?
From 4,213 in 2016-17 to 3,683 in 2025-26, 13% lower. The most since NCWRC's records began was 6,212 in 2008-09.
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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 Bertie County Halifax County Hertford County Warren County