As with a stock prospectus, past performance is no indication of future results. Still, looking at last season's statistics provides hints about where hunters can head for the best success in each of the state's nine wildlife districts.

In District 1, the top county in terms of total deer harvest was Bertie, with a total of 4,131, which was 6.7 deer per square mile. The second-place county was Hyde with total of 2,130, which was 4.5 deer per mile.

A combination of agricultural lands, managed pine timberlands, thick swamps and river bottomlands creates extensive areas of excellent deer habitat in these two counties. There are many timber company lands that are leased to hunting clubs, as well as private farms and landholdings. Guided hunting operations are becoming more prevalent, catering to out-of-state hunters from northern states where the seasons are short, the bag limits low and the weather is cold. Many Tar Heel hunters are also traveling to Hyde County, where traditional waterfowl guiding operations are extending their hunts to take advantage of the abundance of deer as a secondary "crop" to agricultural operations on land they own or lease.

Bertie County Game Land consists of 1,316 acres along the Cashie River. Much of the game land is accessible by boat. It is hunted by still-hunters and by hound hunters who have access from adjoining uplands.

The 25,506-acre Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land allows deer hunting by permit only. But applying for a permit is well worth the trouble. The bottomlands have a high deer density and many quality bucks are taken from the game land each season. There is no road access to several of the tracts and boats are the principal means of access.

TOP 10 NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES
Harvest Per Square Mile
North Dakota
1. Alleghany	152
2. Northampton	102
3. Halifax	9.8
4. Caswell	8.1
5. Vance	7.8
6. Anson	7.7
7. Granville	7.6
8. Currituck	7.5
9. Davie	7.2
10. Ashe	7.0

The tiny 614-acre Pungo River Game Land in Hyde County is accessible by boat and has lots of deer in its swamps. The better bet for deer hunters in terms of sheer acreage is the Gull Rock Game Land, with 31,057 acres of upland habitat and swamps. Deer are taken at Gull Rock by both hound hunting and still-hunting. Roads provide good access over much of the game land.

In District 2, Pender County had the highest total deer harvest with 3,383 or 4.7 deer per square mile. Duplin County was second, with a total harvest of 2,841 or 4.2 deer per square mile.

The 22,622-acre Angola Bay Game Land on the Pender-Duplin line and the 64,743-acre Holly Shelter Game Land in Pender County hold plenty of deer, which are taken by both still-hunters and hound hunters.

Halifax County led the District 3 deer harvest with 5,484 or 9.8 deer per square mile, followed by Northampton County with a harvest of 5,482 or 10.2 deer per square mile. The only game land in Northampton County is a sliver of the Roanoke Wetland Game Land, which requires a special hunt permit. Agriculture and forestry contribute to the high deer densities in these two counties and most of the deer hunting is done on land leased from major landholders.

Bladen County led the deer harvest in District 4, with 2,981 or 4.1 deer per square mile, followed by Columbus County with a harvest of 2,731 or 3.5 deer per square mile.

In Bladen County, the 32,363-acre Bladen Lakes State Forest has a good deer population. The 9,280-acre Suggs Millpond Game Land in Bladen and Cumberland counties is another good bet, but a special hunt permit is required.

In District 5, Caswell County led the harvest, with 2,506 deer or 8.1 per square mile, followed by Granville County with 2,562 or 7.6 per square mile.