Stokes County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 3,192 deer in Stokes County in the 2025-26 season: 1,575 antlered bucks and 1,487 does (NCWRC). That is 7.1 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 15th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 30% above 2024-25 (2,452). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,192 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Stokes CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 3,192 (1,575 antlered bucks, 130 antlerless males, 1,487 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 7.1, 7th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 4.69 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,787 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,192 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Northwestern CWD Management Area (gun opens Nov. 14) |
| NCWRC district | District 7, Piedmont; N. Foothill unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 22 deer |
| Land area | 449.3 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 2 game lands, 188 acres |
| Towns | King, Walnut Cove and Danbury |
How many deer are killed in Stokes County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,787; the most was 3,192 in 2025-26 and the fewest 1,947 in 2022-23. 2025-26 was 14% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 3,192 | 7.1 |
| 2024-25 | 2,452 | 5.5 |
| 2023-24 | 2,879 | 6.4 |
| 2022-23 | 1,947 | 4.3 |
| 2021-22 | 2,441 | 5.4 |
| 2020-21 | 3,108 | 6.9 |
| 2019-20 | 3,017 | 6.7 |
| 2018-19 | 2,989 | 6.7 |
| 2017-18 | 3,052 | 6.8 |
| 2016-17 | 2,793 | 6.2 |
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 | 1,575 | 130 | 1,487 | 1,869 | 656 | 285 | 382 | 22 | 3,170 |
| 2024-25 | 1,158 | 114 | 1,180 | 1,530 | 527 | 162 | 233 | 11 | 2,441 |
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 449.3 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Stokes County in 2026-27?
Stokes County is in NCWRC's Northwestern 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. 30, 2026 | Sept. 12 to Oct. 30, 2026 |
| Blackpowder | Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026 | Oct. 31 to Nov. 13, 2026 |
| Gun | Nov. 14, 2026 to Jan. 1, 2027 | Nov. 14, 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 Stokes County?
| Game land | Acres in Stokes County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Hill Farm Game Land | 157 | 22 |
| Paynes Branch Game Land | 31 |
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 Stokes County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stokes County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,192 | 7.1 | 14% |
| Forsyth County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 1,475 | 3.6 | 8% |
| Guilford County | Central | 2,251 | 3.5 | 21% |
| Rockingham County | Central | 4,033 | 7.1 | 39% |
| Surry County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,094 | 5.8 | 39% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Stokes County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 3,192 deer taken in Stokes County in the 2025-26 season: 1,575 antlered bucks, 130 antlerless males and 1,487 does. 1,869 were taken with a gun, 656 with blackpowder, 285 with a bow and 382 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Stokes County in 2026-27?
Stokes County is in the Northwestern CWD Management Area deer zone: special early season Aug. 22 to 23, 2026; 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 Stokes County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Hill Farm Game Land (157 acres in the county) and Paynes Branch Game Land (31 acres in the county) in Stokes County.
Has the deer harvest in Stokes County gone up or down?
From 2,793 in 2016-17 to 3,192 in 2025-26, 14% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,192 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 Forsyth County Guilford County Rockingham County Surry County