Hunting in North Carolina
Official agency resources
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
- Buy a license ↗
https://www.ncwildlife.gov/hunting/license-types-and-fees
- Hunting regulations ↗
https://www.ncwildlife.gov/hunting/fishing-hunting-trapping-regulations
- Draw / lottery applications ↗
https://www.ncwildlife.gov/hunting/types-hunts
- GMU map ↗
https://www.ncwildlife.gov/hunting/where-hunt-shoot/game-lands-maps
- Harvest reporting ↗
https://www.ncwildlife.gov/hunting/after-hunt/big-game-harvest-reporting
- Hunter education ↗
https://www.ncwildlife.gov/outdoor-skills/take-hunter-education-course
Authoritative source
For season dates, bag limits, draw deadlines, license costs, and unit-specific rules in North Carolina, go straight to the issuing agency.
North Carolina Wildlife Resources CommissionGame species in North Carolina
See all species →Click any species to see every state where it's on the books.
Big Game
Wild Turkey
Upland Birds
Waterfowl
Small Game
Migratory
Unit boundaries
Game management unit boundaries for North Carolina are being verified against the state agency source. Outdoors won't publish them until the source has been hand-checked.
In the meantime, use the agency link above for the official unit maps and the parks below for huntable public land in North Carolina.
Huntable public lands in North Carolina
Wilderness areas, wildlife refuges, and state forest preserves where hunting is permitted.
Pisgah National Forest
National Forest
512,758 acres
Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
156,996.1 acres
Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
47,310.4 acres
Cedar Island National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
14,360.4 acres
Croatan National Forest
National Forest
159,885 acres
Forestry Sci. N.C. Lab. Experimental Area
Preserve
26.68 acres
Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
114,383.1 acres
Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
8,750.9 acres
Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge
National Recreation Area
Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge
National Wildlife Refuge
49,993.2 acres
Nantahala National Forest
National Forest
531,148 acres
Nantahala Purchase Unit
Conservation Area
17,571.46 acres