Game and Furbearer Program Summary Report – 2025
Game and Furbearer Program Summary Report – 2025
Hunter Harvest Survey
Deer Hunter Observation Survey
DESCRIPTION: The Deer Hunter Observation Survey collects daily hunting effort and wild- life observations from volunteer deer hunters. Hunters record the number of animals seen, hours hunted, county, location type, and use of bait. They are asked to report sightings of deer, squirrels, turkeys, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, raccoons, bears and feral swine. Volunteer deer hunters can enter their observations on-line and by using the GoOutdoors App.
DESCRIPTION: The annual Hunter Harvest Survey estimates total hunters, hunting days and harvest for a variety of game species from a sample of North Carolina hunting license holders. The methods involve mailing a detailed survey to approx- imately 50,000 randomly selected hunters each year. The results provide annual estimates used to monitor annual hunter and harvest activity and long-term trends in the state.
% change from previous 3-year average
2024-25 Total Hunters
2024-25 Total Harvest
% change from previ- ous 3-year average
Species
KEY RESULTS: • During the 2024-25 seasons, there were an estimated 711,125 license holders with hunting privileges. Of these license holders, an esti- mated 264,123 hunters (37% of license hold- ers) actively hunted a game species during the season. • Response rate to the hunter harvest survey was 30%. • There was a 3-year average increase in esti- mated harvest of some species, including coyote, feral swine, duck, raccoon, bobcat, fox squirrel, and crow. • There was a 3-year average decrease in esti- mated harvest and hunters for ruffed grouse, woodcock, bobwhite quail, dove, rabbit, fox, and gray squirrel. HOW IS THIS INFORMATION USED FOR REGULATIONS AND MANAGEMENT: This survey has been conducted since 1949 and is the longest running survey of game species in North Carolina. The results provide an annual estimate of hunter and harvest estimates, which aids in monitoring impacts of regulation changes. The survey also helps us monitor long-term trends in the state, such as changes in the types of game species that hunters harvest, most notably a decline in small game hunters (e.g., squirrel, upland game birds) and an increase in big game hunters (e.g., deer, wild turkey). This annual sur- vey is a critical tool used to ensure that hunting regulations are appropriate to safeguard popula- tions and maximize hunter satisfaction.
KEY RESULTS: • During the 2024-25 deer hunting season, 1,015 volunteer deer hunters recorded wildlife observations on 17,434 hunting trips. • Over the past 11 years, statewide deer obser- vation rates have increased 2.7% annually across all 5 deer season zones with the high- est number of deer observed during the 2024-25 season. • For the 2024-25 season, the highest obser- vation rates for deer occurred in the North- eastern season (1,426 deer per 1,000 hours) and were lowest in the Western season (863 deer per 1,000 hours). • Adult does were seen at a higher rate (464 does per 1,000 hours), than either fawns (223 fawns per 1,000 hours), or antlered bucks (197 bucks per 1,000 hours). HOW IS THIS INFORMATION USED FOR REGULATIONS AND MANAGEMENT: While deer were the most observed animal type in 2024-25 (990 deer per 1,000 hours), this survey provides an annual index used to monitor wildlife population trends for many wildlife species. Sur- vey results are also used in conjunction with esti- mates from the agency’s other wildlife monitoring surveys (e.g., hunter and trapper harvest surveys). It offers a way to ensure that hunting regulations are appropriate, such as recent changes in fox squirrel hunting regulations that are well-sup- ported by these results (see full report at ncwild- life.gov/dhos).
Deer
-13%
188,339
-1%
204,584
Turkey (Spring 2024)
63,447
-15%
24,863
-9%
Dove Ducks
-18%
688,876 638,178 326,067 153,486 52,407 37,928 47,951 24,782 46,300 16,046
-17% 23% -13% -13% 23%
53,884 45,503 40,876 24,371 21,749 11,363
-4%
Gray Squirrel
-17% -23% -11%
Rabbit Coyote
Canada Geese
1%
5%
Raccoon
-13% -15% -21%
36%
7,250 5,913 5,450 5,193 5,039 3,548 2,005
Feral Swine
111%
Crow
4%
Bobwhite Quail
-6% -5%
-38%
Fox Squirrel
6,478 3,071 7,969
6%
Bobcat
28% -29%
43% -25%
Woodcock Fox (Gray & Red)
1,954
-20%
2,225
-12%
Ruffed Grouse
-42%
898
-25%
1,902
Deer observation rates by deer hunting season zone and statewide from 2014 through 2024.
Estimated number of bobwhite quail hunters and harvest, 1949–2024, North Caro- lina Annual Hunter Harvest Survey
Deer observation rates by county based on 5-year averages, North Carolina Deer Hunter Observation Survey, 2020-2024.
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