Sampson County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,942 deer in Sampson County in the 2025-26 season: 1,044 antlered bucks and 811 does (NCWRC). That is 2.1 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 52nd of North Carolina's 100. The count was 6% above 2024-25 (1,839). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,087 in 2007-08.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Sampson CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,942 (1,044 antlered bucks, 87 antlerless males, 811 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 2.1, 84th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 1.24 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,879 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,087 in 2007-08 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern CWD Management Area (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 4, Coastal; Cape Fear unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 23 deer |
| Land area | 945.9 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 game land, 197 acres; 1,448 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Clinton, Harrells, Newton Grove, Roseboro and Garland |
How many deer are killed in Sampson County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,879; the most was 2,136 in 2020-21 and the fewest 1,645 in 2023-24. 2025-26 was 5% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,942 | 2.1 |
| 2024-25 | 1,839 | 1.9 |
| 2023-24 | 1,645 | 1.7 |
| 2022-23 | 1,843 | 1.9 |
| 2021-22 | 1,909 | 2 |
| 2020-21 | 2,136 | 2.3 |
| 2019-20 | 1,869 | 2 |
| 2018-19 | 1,706 | 1.8 |
| 2017-18 | 2,051 | 2.2 |
| 2016-17 | 1,853 | 2 |
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 | 1,044 | 87 | 811 | 1,833 | 31 | 57 | 21 | 23 | 1,919 |
| 2024-25 | 1,059 | 77 | 703 | 1,779 | 20 | 30 | 10 | 17 | 1,822 |
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 945.9 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Sampson County in 2026-27?
Sampson County is in NCWRC's Southeastern CWD Management Area deer zone. Its 2026-27 dates:
| Method | Antlered deer | Antlerless deer |
|---|---|---|
| Special early season | Aug. 22 to 23, 2026 | As listed |
| Archery | Sept. 12 to Oct. 2, 2026 | Sept. 12 to Oct. 2, 2026 |
| Blackpowder | Oct. 3 to 16, 2026 | Oct. 3 to 16, 2026 |
| Gun | Oct. 17, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 | Oct. 17, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 |
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 Sampson County?
| Game land | Acres in Sampson County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Sampson Game Land | 197 |
1,448 acres of national wildlife refuge lie in the county, measured on the federal maps. National forest land in North Carolina is managed as game land under NCWRC's rules.
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 Sampson County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sampson County | Southeastern CWD Management Area | 1,942 | 2.1 | 5% |
| Bladen County | Southeastern | 2,597 | 3 | 14% |
| Cumberland County | Southeastern CWD Management Area | 1,103 | 1.7 | 17% |
| Duplin County | Southeastern | 2,821 | 3.5 | 29% |
| Harnett County | Southeastern | 1,871 | 3.1 | 34% |
| Johnston County | Northeastern | 2,716 | 3.4 | 85% |
| Pender County | Southeastern | 3,271 | 3.8 | 36% |
| Wayne County | Northeastern | 2,236 | 4 | 59% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Sampson County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,942 deer taken in Sampson County in the 2025-26 season: 1,044 antlered bucks, 87 antlerless males and 811 does. 1,833 were taken with a gun, 31 with blackpowder, 57 with a bow and 21 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Sampson County in 2026-27?
Sampson County is in the Southeastern CWD Management Area deer zone: special early season Aug. 22 to 23, 2026; 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 Sampson County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Sampson Game Land (197 acres in the county) in Sampson County.
Has the deer harvest in Sampson County gone up or down?
From 1,853 in 2016-17 to 1,942 in 2025-26, 5% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,087 in 2007-08.
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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 Cumberland County Duplin County Harnett County