Wake County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,900 deer in Wake County in the 2025-26 season: 1,042 antlered bucks and 799 does (NCWRC). That is 2.3 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 53rd of North Carolina's 100. The count was 6% below 2024-25 (2,027). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 3,279 in 2013-14.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Wake CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,900 (1,042 antlered bucks, 59 antlerless males, 799 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 2.3, 82nd of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 3.27 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,909 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 3,279 in 2013-14 |
| Deer season zone | Northeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 3, Piedmont; N. Piedmont unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 329 deer |
| Land area | 834.6 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 game lands, 21,962 acres |
| Towns | Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Wake Forest and Garner |
How many deer are killed in Wake County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,909; the most was 2,244 in 2017-18 and the fewest 1,563 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 8% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,900 | 2.3 |
| 2024-25 | 2,027 | 2.4 |
| 2023-24 | 2,145 | 2.6 |
| 2022-23 | 1,708 | 2 |
| 2021-22 | 2,000 | 2.4 |
| 2020-21 | 1,846 | 2.2 |
| 2019-20 | 1,904 | 2.3 |
| 2018-19 | 1,563 | 1.9 |
| 2017-18 | 2,244 | 2.7 |
| 2016-17 | 1,757 | 2.1 |
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 | 1,042 | 59 | 799 | 1,190 | 71 | 338 | 301 | 329 | 1,571 |
| 2024-25 | 1,119 | 70 | 838 | 1,276 | 55 | 387 | 309 | 297 | 1,730 |
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 834.6 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Wake County in 2026-27?
Wake County is in NCWRC's Northeastern 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 Wake County?
| Game land | Acres in Wake County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Land | 13,313 | 450 |
| Harris Game Land | 6,956 | 123 |
| Jordan Game Land | 1,693 | 283 |
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 Wake County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wake County | Northeastern | 1,900 | 2.3 | 8% |
| Chatham County | Central | 2,481 | 3.6 | 12% |
| Durham County | Central | 927 | 3.2 | 40% |
| Franklin County | Northeastern | 2,411 | 4.9 | 15% |
| Granville County | Central | 3,125 | 5.9 | 64% |
| Harnett County | Southeastern | 1,871 | 3.1 | 34% |
| Johnston County | Northeastern | 2,716 | 3.4 | 85% |
| Nash County | Northeastern | 1,990 | 3.7 | 36% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Wake County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,900 deer taken in Wake County in the 2025-26 season: 1,042 antlered bucks, 59 antlerless males and 799 does. 1,190 were taken with a gun, 71 with blackpowder, 338 with a bow and 301 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Wake County in 2026-27?
Wake County is in the Northeastern 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 Wake County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Land (13,313 acres in the county), Harris Game Land (6,956 acres in the county) and Jordan Game Land (1,693 acres in the county) in Wake County.
Has the deer harvest in Wake County gone up or down?
From 1,757 in 2016-17 to 1,900 in 2025-26, 8% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 3,279 in 2013-14.
Get a North Carolina hunt plan when they open
Hunt plans for North Carolina are coming. Join the list and you'll hear first. The first 50 hunters in each new state get their plan free.
Until then, the free FilledTag app for iPhone has a map that works in every state, North Carolina included.
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 Chatham County Durham County Franklin County Granville County