Surry County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 3,094 deer in Surry County in the 2025-26 season: 1,693 antlered bucks and 1,278 does (NCWRC). That is 5.8 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 18th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 18% above 2024-25 (2,617). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,094 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Surry CountyGame landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 3,094 (1,693 antlered bucks, 123 antlerless males, 1,278 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 5.8, 25th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 4.65 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 2,633 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,094 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 | 14 deer |
| Land area | 532.6 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 1 game land, 1,819 acres |
| Towns | Mount Airy, Elkin, Pilot Mountain and Dobson |
How many deer are killed in Surry County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 2,633; the most was 3,094 in 2025-26 and the fewest 1,939 in 2022-23. 2025-26 was 39% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 3,094 | 5.8 |
| 2024-25 | 2,617 | 4.9 |
| 2023-24 | 2,679 | 5 |
| 2022-23 | 1,939 | 3.6 |
| 2021-22 | 2,818 | 5.3 |
| 2020-21 | 2,803 | 5.3 |
| 2019-20 | 3,020 | 5.7 |
| 2018-19 | 2,471 | 4.6 |
| 2017-18 | 2,653 | 5 |
| 2016-17 | 2,232 | 4.2 |
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 | 1,693 | 123 | 1,278 | 2,165 | 510 | 222 | 197 | 14 | 3,080 |
| 2024-25 | 1,451 | 113 | 1,053 | 1,812 | 492 | 146 | 167 | 15 | 2,602 |
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 532.6 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Surry County in 2026-27?
Surry 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 Surry County?
| Game land | Acres in Surry County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Mitchell River Game Land | 1,819 | 21 |
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 Surry County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surry County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,094 | 5.8 | 39% |
| Alleghany County | Northwestern | 2,585 | 11 | 44% |
| Forsyth County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 1,475 | 3.6 | 8% |
| Stokes County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,192 | 7.1 | 14% |
| Wilkes County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 3,328 | 4.4 | 17% |
| Yadkin County | Northwestern CWD Management Area | 2,099 | 6.3 | 40% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Surry County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 3,094 deer taken in Surry County in the 2025-26 season: 1,693 antlered bucks, 123 antlerless males and 1,278 does. 2,165 were taken with a gun, 510 with blackpowder, 222 with a bow and 197 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Surry County in 2026-27?
Surry 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 Surry County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Mitchell River Game Land (1,819 acres in the county) in Surry County.
Has the deer harvest in Surry County gone up or down?
From 2,232 in 2016-17 to 3,094 in 2025-26, 39% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,094 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 Alleghany County Forsyth County Stokes County Wilkes County