Wilson County deer harvest: North Carolina, 2016-17 to 2025-26
Hunters reported 1,611 deer in Wilson County in the 2025-26 season: 813 antlered bucks and 745 does (NCWRC). That is 4.4 deer per square mile of land; by total the county ranked 60th of North Carolina's 100. The count was 3% above 2024-25 (1,560). NCWRC's records go back to 1979-80; the most in one season was 1,611 in 2025-26.
Data updated October 2026. Harvest: NCWRC reported deer harvest to the 2025-26 season. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Wilson CountyNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 1,611 (813 antlered bucks, 53 antlerless males, 745 does) |
|---|---|
| Per square mile of land | 4.4, 47th of 100 |
| Antlered bucks per square mile | 3.07 (NCWRC) |
| Average, 10 seasons | 1,269 deer a season |
| Most in one season since 1979 | 1,611 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 | 367.6 square miles (Census) |
| Public land mapped here | No game land |
| Towns | Wilson, Elm City, Black Creek, Saratoga and Stantonsburg |
How many deer are killed in Wilson County each season?
The average over the last 10 seasons was 1,269; the most was 1,611 in 2025-26 and the fewest 1,026 in 2016-17. 2025-26 was 57% above 2016-17.
| Season | Deer reported | Per square mile |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,611 | 4.4 |
| 2024-25 | 1,560 | 4.2 |
| 2023-24 | 1,342 | 3.7 |
| 2022-23 | 1,247 | 3.4 |
| 2021-22 | 1,232 | 3.4 |
| 2020-21 | 1,334 | 3.6 |
| 2019-20 | 1,245 | 3.4 |
| 2018-19 | 1,027 | 2.8 |
| 2017-18 | 1,061 | 2.9 |
| 2016-17 | 1,026 | 2.8 |
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 | 813 | 53 | 745 | 1,506 | 39 | 37 | 29 | 0 | 1,611 |
| 2024-25 | 776 | 53 | 731 | 1,456 | 31 | 51 | 22 | 0 | 1,560 |
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 367.6 square miles of land (Census).
When is deer season in Wilson County in 2026-27?
Wilson 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 Wilson County?
No game land boundary falls in Wilson County. The closest game lands with a page here: Tar River Game Land (about 23 miles), Sandy Creek Game Land (about 28 miles) and Lower Fishing Creek Game Land (about 31 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 Wilson County compare with its neighbors?
| County | Zone | Deer, 2025-26 | Per square mile | Change since 2016-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilson County | Northeastern | 1,611 | 4.4 | 57% |
| Edgecombe County | Northeastern | 2,845 | 5.6 | 8% |
| Greene County | Northeastern | 1,249 | 4.7 | 26% |
| Johnston County | Northeastern | 2,716 | 3.4 | 85% |
| Nash County | Northeastern | 1,990 | 3.7 | 36% |
| Pitt County | Northeastern | 2,899 | 4.4 | 21% |
| Wayne County | Northeastern | 2,236 | 4 | 59% |
Questions hunters ask
How many deer were killed in Wilson County, NC last season?
NCWRC reports 1,611 deer taken in Wilson County in the 2025-26 season: 813 antlered bucks, 53 antlerless males and 745 does. 1,506 were taken with a gun, 39 with blackpowder, 37 with a bow and 29 with a crossbow.
When is deer season in Wilson County in 2026-27?
Wilson 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 Wilson County?
No game land boundary falls in Wilson County. The closest game lands with a page here: Tar River Game Land (about 23 miles), Sandy Creek Game Land (about 28 miles) and Lower Fishing Creek Game Land (about 31 miles).
Has the deer harvest in Wilson County gone up or down?
From 1,026 in 2016-17 to 1,611 in 2025-26, 57% higher. The most since NCWRC's records began was 1,611 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.
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