Orange County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,886 deer in Orange County in the 2025-26 season: 945 antlered bucks and 874 does (NCWRC). That is 4.7 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 54th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 8% below 2024-25 (2,051). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 2,482 in 2010-11.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Orange CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,886 (945 antlered bucks, 67 antlerless males, 874 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.7, 39th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 4.43 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,810 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 2,482 in 2010-11 |
| Deer season zone | Central (gun opens Nov. 14) |
| NCWRC district | District 5, Piedmont; N. Piedmont unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 11 deer |
| Land area | 397.5 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 game lands, 580 acres |
| Towns | Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough |
How many deer are killed in Orange County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,810; the most was 2,183 in 2023-24 and the fewest 1,456 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 30% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,886 | 4.7 |
| 2024-25 | 2,051 | 5.2 |
| 2023-24 | 2,183 | 5.5 |
| 2022-23 | 1,649 | 4.1 |
| 2021-22 | 1,857 | 4.7 |
| 2020-21 | 1,855 | 4.7 |
| 2019-20 | 1,723 | 4.3 |
| 2018-19 | 1,666 | 4.2 |
| 2017-18 | 1,773 | 4.5 |
| 2016-17 | 1,456 | 3.7 |
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 | 945 | 67 | 874 | 1,259 | 184 | 251 | 192 | 11 | 1,875 |
| 2024-25 | 1,113 | 67 | 871 | 1,375 | 185 | 256 | 235 | 12 | 2,039 |
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 397.5 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Orange County in 2026-27?
Orange County is in NCWRC's Central deer zone. Its 2026-27 dates:
| Method | Antlered deer | Antlerless deer |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sept. 12 to Oct. 30, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Blackpowder | Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026 | Same as antlered |
| Gun | Nov. 14, 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 Orange County?
| Game land | Acres in Orange County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Buckhorn Game Land | 491 | 8 |
| Jordan Game Land | 89 | 283 |
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 Orange County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange County | Central | 1,886 | 4.7 | 30% |
| Alamance County | Central | 2,769 | 6.5 | 36% |
| Caswell County | Central | 2,920 | 6.9 | 22% |
| Chatham County | Central | 2,481 | 3.6 | 12% |
| Durham County | Central | 927 | 3.2 | 40% |
| Person County | Central | 2,604 | 6.6 | 26% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Orange County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,886 deer taken in Orange County in the 2025-26 season: 945 antlered bucks, 67 antlerless males and 874 does. 1,259 were taken with a gun, 184 with blackpowder, 251 with a bow and 192 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Orange County in 2026-27?
Orange County is in the Central deer zone: archery Sept. 12 to Oct. 30, 2026; blackpowder Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026; gun Nov. 14, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 (NCWRC 2026-27 season dates).
Is there public hunting land in Orange County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Buckhorn Game Land (491 acres in the county) and Jordan Game Land (89 acres in the county) in Orange County.
Has the deer harvest in Orange County gone up or down?
From 1,456 in 2016-17 to 1,886 in 2025-26, 30% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 2,482 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 Alamance County Caswell County Chatham County Durham County