White-tailed deer harvest figures dipped slightly in North Carolina from 23-24 to last season. Totals were 188,800, down from last year’s record 189,803, according to N.C. Wildlife Resources.
Locally, harvest numbers dropped in Chatham, Durham, Orange and Wake. Chatham had the biggest decline, going from 3,099 to 2,558. Totals were Orange 2051, Wake 2007, Durham 1009.
Randolph, home of the State Zoo, (5364) led the state harvest, followed by Anson (4338) and Union (4113), two counties along the S.C. border.
Butner Falls of the Neuse (401), Jordan (299) were the area gamelands leaders. Buckhorn gamelands near Cane Creek Reservoir reported 8 deer taken (6 antlered bucks), the highest number in recent years (2 in 2023-24). Deer hunting at Buckhorn is by permit only and hunters have to register for specific dates.
Turkey Numbers Decline
Spring wild turkey harvest numbers also declined statewide, from 24,074 last year to 22,736 in 2025. All four Triangle counties followed the pattern. Chatham had 190 turkeys taken, compared to 225 the previous year.