Rockingham County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 4,033 deer in Rockingham County in the 2025-26 season: 2,142 antlered bucks and 1,727 does (NCWRC). That is 7.1 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 3rd of North Carolina's 100. The count was 21% above 2024-25 (3,329). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 4,033 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Rockingham CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 4,033 (2,142 antlered bucks, 164 antlerless males, 1,727 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 7.1, 6th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 4.62 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 3,292 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 4,033 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Central (gun opens Nov. 14) |
| NCWRC district | District 5, Piedmont; N. Piedmont unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 30 deer |
| Land area | 565.6 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 game land, 1,704 acres |
| Towns | Reidsville, Eden, Wentworth, Madison and Mayodan |
How many deer are killed in Rockingham County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 3,292; the most was 4,033 in 2025-26 and the fewest 2,900 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 39% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 4,033 | 7.1 |
| 2024-25 | 3,329 | 5.9 |
| 2023-24 | 3,646 | 6.4 |
| 2022-23 | 3,107 | 5.5 |
| 2021-22 | 3,009 | 5.3 |
| 2020-21 | 3,667 | 6.5 |
| 2019-20 | 3,147 | 5.6 |
| 2018-19 | 2,906 | 5.1 |
| 2017-18 | 3,179 | 5.6 |
| 2016-17 | 2,900 | 5.1 |
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 | 2,142 | 164 | 1,727 | 2,650 | 656 | 350 | 377 | 30 | 4,003 |
| 2024-25 | 1,701 | 139 | 1,489 | 2,331 | 455 | 293 | 250 | 37 | 3,292 |
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 565.6 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Rockingham County in 2026-27?
Rockingham 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 Rockingham County?
| Game land | Acres in Rockingham County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Dan River Game Land | 1,704 | 30 |
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 Rockingham County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockingham County | Central | 4,033 | 7.1 | 39% |
| Alamance County | Central | 2,769 | 6.5 | 36% |
| Caswell County | Central | 2,920 | 6.9 | 22% |
| Forsyth County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 1,475 | 3.6 | 8% |
| Guilford County | Central | 2,251 | 3.5 | 21% |
| Stokes County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,192 | 7.1 | 14% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Rockingham County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 4,033 deer taken in Rockingham County in the 2025-26 season: 2,142 antlered bucks, 164 antlerless males and 1,727 does. 2,650 were taken with a gun, 656 with blackpowder, 350 with a bow and 377 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Rockingham County in 2026-27?
Rockingham 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 Rockingham County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Dan River Game Land (1,704 acres in the county) in Rockingham County.
Has the deer harvest in Rockingham County gone up or down?
From 2,900 in 2016-17 to 4,033 in 2025-26, 39% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 4,033 in 2025-26.
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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 Forsyth County Guilford County