Washington County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 934 deer in Washington County in the 2025-26 season: 405 antlered bucks and 442 does (NCWRC). That is 2.7 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 82nd of North Carolina's 100. The count was 5% below 2024-25 (988). NCWRC's records go back to 1976-77; the most in one season was 1,745 in 2010-11.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Washington CountyGame landsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 934 (405 antlered bucks, 87 antlerless males, 442 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 2.7, 76th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 1.35 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,076 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1976 | 1,745 in 2010-11 |
| Deer season zone | Southeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 1, Coastal; N. Pamlico unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 62 deer |
| Land area | 346.5 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | 3 game lands, 4,314 acres; 18,283 acres of national wildlife refuge |
| Towns | Plymouth, Roper and Creswell |
How many deer are killed in Washington County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,076; the most was 1,283 in 2016-17 and the fewest 934 in 2025-26. 2025-26 was 27% below 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 934 | 2.7 |
| 2024-25 | 988 | 2.9 |
| 2023-24 | 994 | 2.9 |
| 2022-23 | 976 | 2.8 |
| 2021-22 | 1,109 | 3.2 |
| 2020-21 | 1,139 | 3.3 |
| 2019-20 | 1,094 | 3.2 |
| 2018-19 | 1,001 | 2.9 |
| 2017-18 | 1,240 | 3.6 |
| 2016-17 | 1,283 | 3.7 |
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 | 405 | 87 | 442 | 862 | 37 | 25 | 10 | 62 | 872 |
| 2024-25 | 418 | 75 | 495 | 908 | 36 | 26 | 18 | 55 | 933 |
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 346.5 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Washington County in 2026-27?
Washington 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 Washington County?
| Game land | Acres in Washington County | Deer on the whole game land, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|
| Van Swamp Game Land | 3,475 | 113 |
| Bachelor Bay Game Land | 611 | 1 |
| Lantern Acres Game Land | 228 | 40 |
18,283 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 Washington County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | Southeastern | 934 | 2.7 | -27% |
| Beaufort County | Southeastern | 2,746 | 3.3 | 15% |
| Bertie County | Northeastern | 3,085 | 4.4 | -3% |
| Hyde County | Southeastern | 955 | 1.6 | -19% |
| Martin County | Northeastern | 2,065 | 4.5 | 13% |
| Tyrrell County | Southeastern | 479 | 1.2 | -13% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Washington County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 934 deer taken in Washington County in the 2025-26 season: 405 antlered bucks, 87 antlerless males and 442 does. 862 were taken with a gun, 37 with blackpowder, 25 with a bow and 10 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Washington County in 2026-27?
Washington 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 Washington County?
Yes. NCWRC's map puts Van Swamp Game Land (3,475 acres in the county), Bachelor Bay Game Land (611 acres in the county) and Lantern Acres Game Land (228 acres in the county) in Washington County.
Has the deer harvest in Washington County gone up or down?
From 1,283 in 2016-17 to 934 in 2025-26, 27% lower. The most since NCWRC's records began was 1,745 in 2010-11.
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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 Beaufort County Bertie County Hyde County Martin County