HUNTING SEASONS IN NORTH CAROLINA 2025–26: Deer Hunting, Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide

Plan your 2025–26 NC hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from whitetail deer to wild turkey to ducks. Whether you’re drawing a compound bow at first light in the Coastal Plain, slipping decoys for teal over flooded fields, or tracking coyote year‑round on private ground, North Carolina’s mountains, piedmont, and coastal marshes deliver premier big game and small game opportunities under clear regulations. What Is There to Hunt in North Carolina? North Carolina’s varied landscapes support: Big Game: Whitetail deer, wild turkey, black bear (quota-based permit), invasive wild hogs (no closed season) Small Game & Upland Birds: Cottontail rabbit, gray squirrel, bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse (mountains), woodcock Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks (mallard, teal, pintail), Canada geese, coots, rails, mourning dove Furbearers & Predators: Coyote, fox, raccoon, nutria, opossum From the Appalachian highlands to the Outer Banks, hunters pursue robust state animal populations across defined seasons. What Animals Can You Hunt Year‑Round in North Carolina? On private lands with landowner permission—and a valid license—you may harvest unprotected or nuisance species such as coyote, wild hogs, nutria, and raccoon year‑round with no closed season and no bag limits, aiding predator and invasive species control. Public Wildlife Management Areas enforce posted season dates and weapon restrictions. North Carolina Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26 Whitetail Deer Primitive Weapons (Statewide): Sept 15 – Oct 31, 2025 Archery: Oct 1 – Nov 30, 2025 & Dec 26 – Jan 14, 2026 Gun Season: Nov 15 – Nov 30, 2025 (Zone 1); Nov 22 – Dec 6 (Zone 2); Dec 1 – Dec 15 (Zone 3) Muzzleloader: Jan 9 – Jan 17, 2026 Antlerless-Only: Jan 2 – Jan 17, 2026 (remaining county tags) Bag limit: one legal buck per season; antlerless deer by special permit. Wild Turkey (Spring) Spring Youth Hunt: Mar 28–Apr 3, 2026 Spring General: Apr 4 – May 24, 2026 Fall Archery (select WMAs): Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025 Spring turkey licenses cover shotgun and bow; youth hunts promote safe mentoring. Black Bear Draw Permits Only: Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025 (quota hunts) Bear harvests require a lottery permit; successful hunters follow mandatory reporting and tagging procedures. North Carolina Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26 Small Game & Upland Birds Rabbit & Squirrel: Oct 1 – Feb 28, 2026 Bobwhite Quail: Nov 1 – Feb 28, 2026 (WMAs only) Ruffed Grouse & Woodcock: Oct 1 – Dec 31, 2025 (mountains) Mourning Dove: Sept 1 – Nov 20, 2025 & Dec 1 – Jan 31, 2026 Shotguns with non‑toxic shot required; upland dogs permitted on public lands under posted rules. Waterfowl & Migratory Birds Early Teal: Sept 5 – Sept 27, 2025 Duck & Goose: Nov 14 – Jan 31, 2026 (zones split) Youth Waterfowl Day: Oct 3, 2025 Rails & Coots: Sept 1 – Nov 9, 2025 (25 & 15/day) Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset; Federal Duck Stamp, HIP, and state waterfowl permit required The Albemarle–Pamlico estuary and inland impoundments draw migrating flocks; daily duck limit is 6 with sub‑limits. Bag Limits by Species Whitetail Deer: 1 buck; antlerless by county permit Wild Turkey: 2 per spring; 1 fall archery Black Bear: 1 per permit Ducks: 6/day; species sub‑limits apply Geese: 5/day Rails & Coots: 25 & 15/day Rabbit & Squirrel: 8/day each Coyote & Wild Hogs: No limits on private lands Bag limits safeguard sustainable big game and small game harvests. License & Tags Information for North Carolina Hunters (2025–26) All hunters must carry a valid North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission license and required permits: Resident Small Game License: $24; Combination License: $90 Nonresident Combination License: $260 Deer Tags: $36 each; antlerless tags extra Turkey Permit: $10 (spring); fall archery by draw Waterfowl Permit: $8; Federal Duck Stamp & HIP required Bear Permit: $16 (draw only) Furbearer License: $20; includes raccoon, opossum, nutria Licenses fund wildlife management, habitat conservation, and enforcement; draw applications open midsummer. Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader NCWRC authorizes: Archery: Compound, recurve bows, crossbows (in archery seasons) Firearms: Center‑fire rifles, shotguns (slugs & buckshot) during gun seasons Muzzleloaders: Single‑shot black‑powder firearms in January season Dogs & Bait: Permitted for waterfowl retrievers; predator control dogs on private lands Ensure compliance with caliber, draw weight, and non‑toxic shot requirements for each hunt. Regulations & Resources NCWRC regulations cover: Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset (some youth hunts vary) Zone Maps & Boundaries: Online for deer, turkey, and waterfowl zones Harvest Reporting: Mandatory for deer, turkey, bear within 48 hrs via Game Check NC Special Areas: Wildlife Management Areas, wildlife refuges, and Chronic Wasting Disease zones Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt. This guide was created based on information from North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC): https://www.ncwildlife.gov/hunting/fishing-hunting-trapping-regulations With structured seasons, clear bag limits, and accessible license systems, North Carolina delivers exceptional hunts for whitetail deer, turkey, ducks, and predators. Prepare your bow or rifle, secure proper tags, and experience the Tar Heel State’s rich wildlife heritage on your 2025–26 hunt.