Pender County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 3,271 deer in Pender County in the 2025-26 season: 1,689 antlered bucks and 1,440 does (NCWRC). That is 3.8 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 13th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 7% above 2024-25 (3,070). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 4,152 in 2008-09.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Pender CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 3,271 (1,689 antlered bucks, 142 antlerless males, 1,440 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.8, 54th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 2.31 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,554 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 4,152 in 2008-09 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 2, Coastal; Cape Fear unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 320 deer |
| Land area | 871.3 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 4 game lands, 99,930 acres |
| Towns | Surf City, St. Helena, Burgaw, Topsail Beach and Watha |
How many deer are killed in Pender County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,554; the most was 3,271 in 2025-26 and the fewest 1,736 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 36% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 3,271 | 3.8 |
| 2024-25 | 3,070 | 3.5 |
| 2023-24 | 2,794 | 3.2 |
| 2022-23 | 2,587 | 3 |
| 2021-22 | 2,450 | 2.8 |
| 2020-21 | 2,300 | 2.6 |
| 2019-20 | 2,305 | 2.6 |
| 2018-19 | 1,736 | 2 |
| 2017-18 | 2,623 | 3 |
| 2016-17 | 2,405 | 2.8 |
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 | 1,689 | 142 | 1,440 | 2,969 | 90 | 136 | 76 | 320 | 2,951 |
| 2024-25 | 1,551 | 138 | 1,381 | 2,834 | 46 | 106 | 84 | 260 | 2,810 |
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 871.3 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Pender County in 2026-27?
Pender 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 Pender County?
| Game land | Acres in Pender County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Holly Shelter Game Land | 65,145 | 204 |
| Angola Bay Game Land | 27,358 | 79 |
| Cape Fear River Wetlands Game Land | 6,578 | 45 |
| Whitehall Plantation Game Land | 849 | 26 |
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 Pender County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pender County | Southeastern | 3,271 | 3.8 | 36% |
| Bladen County | Southeastern | 2,597 | 3 | 14% |
| Brunswick County | Southeastern | 2,141 | 2.5 | 32% |
| Columbus County | Southeastern | 2,921 | 3.1 | 96% |
| Duplin County | Southeastern | 2,821 | 3.5 | 29% |
| New Hanover County | Southeastern | 183 | 1 | 42% |
| Onslow County | Southeastern | 2,378 | 3.1 | 16% |
| Sampson County | Southeastern CWD Management Area | 1,942 | 2.1 | 5% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Pender County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 3,271 deer taken in Pender County in the 2025-26 season: 1,689 antlered bucks, 142 antlerless males and 1,440 does. 2,969 were taken with a gun, 90 with blackpowder, 136 with a bow and 76 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Pender County in 2026-27?
Pender 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 Pender County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Holly Shelter Game Land (65,145 acres in the county), Angola Bay Game Land (27,358 acres in the county), Cape Fear River Wetlands Game Land (6,578 acres in the county) and Whitehall Plantation Game Land (849 acres in the county) in Pender County.
Has the deer harvest in Pender County gone up or down?
From 2,405 in 2016-17 to 3,271 in 2025-26, 36% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 4,152 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 Bladen County Brunswick County Columbus County Duplin County