Wayne County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 2,236 deer in Wayne County in the 2025-26 season: 1,208 antlered bucks and 952 does (NCWRC). That is 4 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 40th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 3% above 2024-25 (2,171). NCWRC's records go back to 1977-78; the most in one season was 2,236 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Wayne CountyNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 2,236 (1,208 antlered bucks, 76 antlerless males, 952 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4, 52nd of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 2.88 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,805 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1977 | 2,236 in 2025-26 |
| Deer season zone | Northeastern (gun opens Oct. 17) |
| NCWRC district | District 3, Coastal; Neuse unit |
| On game lands, 2025-26 | 0 deer |
| Land area | 553.9 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No game land |
| Towns | Goldsboro, Mount Olive, Walnut Creek, Fremont and Pikeville |
How many deer are killed in Wayne County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,805; the most was 2,236 in 2025-26 and the fewest 1,304 in 2018-19. 2025-26 was 59% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 2,236 | 4 |
| 2024-25 | 2,171 | 3.9 |
| 2023-24 | 2,079 | 3.8 |
| 2022-23 | 1,744 | 3.1 |
| 2021-22 | 1,939 | 3.5 |
| 2020-21 | 1,921 | 3.5 |
| 2019-20 | 1,680 | 3 |
| 2018-19 | 1,304 | 2.4 |
| 2017-18 | 1,570 | 2.8 |
| 2016-17 | 1,407 | 2.5 |
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 | 1,208 | 76 | 952 | 2,037 | 59 | 100 | 40 | 0 | 2,236 |
| 2024-25 | 1,162 | 76 | 933 | 2,020 | 37 | 79 | 35 | 0 | 2,171 |
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 553.9 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Wayne County in 2026-27?
Wayne 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 Wayne County?
No game land boundary falls in Wayne County. The closest game lands with a page here: Dover Bay Game Land (about 37 miles), Rhodes Pond Game Land (about 39 miles) and Tar River Game Land (about 42 miles).
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 Wayne County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne County | Northeastern | 2,236 | 4 | 59% |
| Duplin County | Southeastern | 2,821 | 3.5 | 29% |
| Greene County | Northeastern | 1,249 | 4.7 | 26% |
| Johnston County | Northeastern | 2,716 | 3.4 | 85% |
| Lenoir County | Southeastern | 1,594 | 4 | 30% |
| Sampson County | Southeastern CWD Management Area | 1,942 | 2.1 | 5% |
| Wilson County | Northeastern | 1,611 | 4.4 | 57% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Wayne County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 2,236 deer taken in Wayne County in the 2025-26 season: 1,208 antlered bucks, 76 antlerless males and 952 does. 2,037 were taken with a gun, 59 with blackpowder, 100 with a bow and 40 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Wayne County in 2026-27?
Wayne 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 Wayne County?
No game land boundary falls in Wayne County. The closest game lands with a page here: Dover Bay Game Land (about 37 miles), Rhodes Pond Game Land (about 39 miles) and Tar River Game Land (about 42 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Wayne County gone up or down?
From 1,407 in 2016-17 to 2,236 in 2025-26, 59% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 2,236 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 Duplin County Greene County Johnston County Lenoir County