Pamlico County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,063 deer in Pamlico County in the 2025-26 season: 536 antlered bucks and 477 does (NCWRC). That is 3.2 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 77th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 7% below 2024-25 (1,139). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 1,139 in 2024-25.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Pamlico CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,063 (536 antlered bucks, 50 antlerless males, 477 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.2, 68th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 1.81 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 947 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 1,139 in 2024-25 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 2, Coastal; S. Pamlico unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 15 deer |
| Land area | 336.5 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 game lands, 5,362 acres |
| Towns | Grantsboro, Minnesott Beach, Arapahoe, Alliance and Bayboro |
How many deer are killed in Pamlico County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 947; the most was 1,139 in 2024-25 and the fewest 753 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 19% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,063 | 3.2 |
| 2024-25 | 1,139 | 3.4 |
| 2023-24 | 1,035 | 3.1 |
| 2022-23 | 940 | 2.8 |
| 2021-22 | 955 | 2.8 |
| 2020-21 | 877 | 2.6 |
| 2019-20 | 865 | 2.6 |
| 2018-19 | 753 | 2.2 |
| 2017-18 | 948 | 2.8 |
| 2016-17 | 893 | 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 | 536 | 50 | 477 | 974 | 49 | 25 | 15 | 15 | 1,048 |
| 2024-25 | 593 | 60 | 486 | 1,062 | 24 | 37 | 16 | 14 | 1,125 |
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 336.5 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Pamlico County in 2026-27?
Pamlico 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 Pamlico County?
| Game land | Acres in Pamlico County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Goose Creek Game Land | 4,419 | 32 |
| Light Ground Pocosin Game Land | 943 | 1 |
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 Pamlico County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pamlico County | Southeastern | 1,063 | 3.2 | 19% |
| Beaufort County | Southeastern | 2,746 | 3.3 | 15% |
| Craven County | Southeastern | 3,034 | 4.3 | 30% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Pamlico County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,063 deer taken in Pamlico County in the 2025-26 season: 536 antlered bucks, 50 antlerless males and 477 does. 974 were taken with a gun, 49 with blackpowder, 25 with a bow and 15 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Pamlico County in 2026-27?
Pamlico 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 Pamlico County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Goose Creek Game Land (4,419 acres in the county) and Light Ground Pocosin Game Land (943 acres in the county) in Pamlico County.
Has the deer harvest in Pamlico County gone up or down?
From 893 in 2016-17 to 1,063 in 2025-26, 19% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 1,139 in 2024-25.
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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 Beaufort County Craven County