Onslow County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,378 deer in Onslow County in the 2025-26 season: 1,108 antlered bucks and 1,126 does (NCWRC). That is 3.1 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 37th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 1% above 2024-25 (2,347). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,269 in 1993-94.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Onslow CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,378 (1,108 antlered bucks, 144 antlerless males, 1,126 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.1, 71st of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 1.68 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,079 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,269 in 1993-94 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 2, Coastal; S. Pamlico unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 110 deer |
| Land area | 762.1 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 game lands, 7,122 acres |
| Towns | Jacksonville, North Topsail Beach, Holly Ridge, Swansboro and Richlands |
How many deer are killed in Onslow County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,079; the most was 2,378 in 2025-26 and the fewest 1,526 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 16% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,378 | 3.1 |
| 2024-25 | 2,347 | 3.1 |
| 2023-24 | 2,363 | 3.1 |
| 2022-23 | 1,999 | 2.6 |
| 2021-22 | 2,131 | 2.8 |
| 2020-21 | 1,860 | 2.4 |
| 2019-20 | 2,018 | 2.6 |
| 2018-19 | 1,526 | 2 |
| 2017-18 | 2,114 | 2.8 |
| 2016-17 | 2,052 | 2.7 |
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 | 1,108 | 144 | 1,126 | 1,911 | 121 | 239 | 107 | 110 | 2,268 |
| 2024-25 | 1,091 | 150 | 1,106 | 1,947 | 123 | 192 | 85 | 81 | 2,266 |
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 762.1 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Onslow County in 2026-27?
Onslow 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 Onslow County?
| Game land | Acres in Onslow County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Stones Creek Game Land | 4,137 | 64 |
| White Oak River Game Land | 2,595 | 40 |
| Rocky Run Game Land | 390 | 6 |
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 Onslow County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Onslow County | Southeastern | 2,378 | 3.1 | 16% |
| Carteret County | Southeastern | 944 | 1.9 | 36% |
| Duplin County | Southeastern | 2,821 | 3.5 | 29% |
| Jones County | Southeastern | 1,882 | 4 | 24% |
| Pender County | Southeastern | 3,271 | 3.8 | 36% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Onslow County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 2,378 deer taken in Onslow County in the 2025-26 season: 1,108 antlered bucks, 144 antlerless males and 1,126 does. 1,911 were taken with a gun, 121 with blackpowder, 239 with a bow and 107 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Onslow County in 2026-27?
Onslow 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 Onslow County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Stones Creek Game Land (4,137 acres in the county), White Oak River Game Land (2,595 acres in the county) and Rocky Run Game Land (390 acres in the county) in Onslow County.
Has the deer harvest in Onslow County gone up or down?
From 2,052 in 2016-17 to 2,378 in 2025-26, 16% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,269 in 1993-94.
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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 Carteret County Duplin County Jones County Pender County