North Carolina publishes deer harvest in a form FDR could rank for 21 public hunting areas. Pisgah is highest at 94.0 deer harvested per square mile in 2025. Sandy Mush has 22.2 in 2025 and Van Swamp has 13.1 in 2025. The rankings describe reported harvest and do not measure access or hunting pressure.
KEY FINDINGS
- Pisgah has the highest harvest per square mile at 94.0. The agency reported 702 deer on 4,780 acres in 2025.
- 21 public hunting areas are ranked. Ranks compare areas measured in 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
North Carolina public land rankings
Best public land in North Carolina
Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Season measured 2025. Captured October 18, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Download all ranked rows (CSV)
Public hunting areas
Top 15 of 21 ranked public hunting areas by deer harvest per square mile. Each row shows its own newest year.
15 of 21 areas shown
| 1 | Pisgah | 4,780 | 2025 | 702 | 94.0 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Sandy Mush | 2,767 | 2025 | 96 | 22.2 | |
| 3 | Van Swamp | 5,504 | 2025 | 113 | 13.1 | |
| 4 | Stones Creek | 3,450 | 2025 | 64 | 11.9 | |
| 5 | Needmore | 5,000 | 2025 | 86 | 11.0 | |
| 6 | Pond Mountain | 2,272 | 2025 | 37 | 10.4 | |
| 7 | Bertie County | Bertie County | 3,884 | 2025 | 63 | 10.4 |
| 8 | Whitehall Plantation | 1,663 | 2025 | 26 | 10.0 | |
| 9 | Johns River | 3,892 | 2025 | 53 | 8.7 | |
| 10 | Neuse River | 4,860 | 2025 | 51 | 6.7 | |
| 11 | Mitchell River | 2,306 | 2025 | 21 | 5.8 | |
| 12 | Three Top Mountain | 2,289 | 2025 | 14 | 3.9 | |
| 13 | Cold Mountain | 3,600 | 2025 | 20 | 3.6 | |
| 14 | Goose Creek | 7,308 | 2025 | 32 | 2.8 | |
| 15 | Green River | 14,331 | 2025 | 61 | 2.7 |
01Public hunting areas
21 areas ranked on harvest per square mile
Pisgah has the most deer harvested per square mile at 94.0 in 2025. Sandy Mush has 22.2 in 2025 and Van Swamp has 13.1 in 2025.
The top 15 run from 94.0 down to 2.7 deer harvested per square mile.
02Basis of this report
Sources and method
FDR divided the agency's deer harvest by the area's size to get harvest per square mile. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Ranks compare areas measured in 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
Success rate is the agency's published figure or harvest divided by hunters. Tied values share a rank and the order uses the unrounded values.
A ranking does not evaluate an individual property and does not confirm that it is open to hunting for you.
Sources
NOTES AND SOURCES
- Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Season measured 2025. Captured October 18, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Fully Drawn Research is an independent data analysis desk, not affiliated with any state wildlife agency, transportation agency, mapping provider or outfitter. FDR rankings are independent analysis of state agency numbers. A ranking does not evaluate an individual property.
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