Scotland County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,215 deer in Scotland County in the 2025-26 season: 677 antlered bucks and 511 does (NCWRC). That is 3.8 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 75th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 13% above 2024-25 (1,073). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 1,215 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Scotland CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,215 (677 antlered bucks, 27 antlerless males, 511 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 3.8, 55th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 2.6 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 818 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 1,215 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 4, Coastal; Sandhills unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 86 deer |
| Land area | 319.1 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 game land, 27,026 acres; 258 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Laurinburg, Wagram and Gibson |
How many deer are killed in Scotland County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 818; the most was 1,215 in 2025-26 and the fewest 539 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 104% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,215 | 3.8 |
| 2024-25 | 1,073 | 3.4 |
| 2023-24 | 1,018 | 3.2 |
| 2022-23 | 787 | 2.5 |
| 2021-22 | 752 | 2.4 |
| 2020-21 | 774 | 2.4 |
| 2019-20 | 719 | 2.3 |
| 2018-19 | 539 | 1.7 |
| 2017-18 | 709 | 2.2 |
| 2016-17 | 596 | 1.9 |
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 | 677 | 27 | 511 | 1,093 | 40 | 48 | 34 | 86 | 1,129 |
| 2024-25 | 654 | 31 | 388 | 991 | 17 | 34 | 31 | 76 | 997 |
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 319.1 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Scotland County in 2026-27?
Scotland 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 Scotland County?
| Game land | Acres in Scotland County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Sandhills Game Land | 27,026 | 228 |
258 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 Scotland County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland County | Southeastern | 1,215 | 3.8 | 104% |
| Hoke County | Southeastern | 646 | 1.7 | 48% |
| Moore County | Southeastern | 3,360 | 4.8 | 33% |
| Richmond County | Southeastern | 2,270 | 4.8 | 21% |
| Robeson County | Southeastern | 2,004 | 2.1 | 108% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Scotland County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,215 deer taken in Scotland County in the 2025-26 season: 677 antlered bucks, 27 antlerless males and 511 does. 1,093 were taken with a gun, 40 with blackpowder, 48 with a bow and 34 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Scotland County in 2026-27?
Scotland 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 Scotland County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Sandhills Game Land (27,026 acres in the county) in Scotland County.
Has the deer harvest in Scotland County gone up or down?
From 596 in 2016-17 to 1,215 in 2025-26, 104% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 1,215 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 Hoke County Moore County Richmond County Robeson County