The North Carolina hunting seasons listed below are for the 2022-2023 hunting season.
If you are a predator hunter check out these specific guides:
Hunting coyotes in North Carolina.
Hunting fox in North Carolina.
Hunting bobcats in North Carolina.
North Carolina hunting season for Black Bear.
2022-2023 season.
| SpeciesOpen DatesWestern Bear Seasons (Mountain Bear Mgmt. Unit) | Oct. 17 – Nov. 19, 2022 and Dec. 12, 2022 – Jan. 2, 2023: In and west of Surry, Wilkes, Caldwell, Burke, and Cleveland countiesPiedmont Bear Seasons (Piedmont Bear Mgmt. Unit) | Nov. 12, 2022 – Jan. 2, 2023: Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Granville, Guilford, Lee, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly, and Union counties. Oct. 15, 2022 – Jan. 2, 2023: Franklin, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Moore, Richmond, Scotland, Vance, Wake and Warren counties. Nov. 19, 2022 – Jan. 2, 2023: Alexander, Catawba, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Stokes, and Yadkin counties. |
| Eastern Bear Seasons (Coastal Bear Mgmt. Unit) | Zone 1: Zone 2: Zone 3: Zone 4: Zone 5: Nov. 12 – Nov. 27, 2022 and Dec. 10 – Dec. 25, 2022: Dare, Hyde, and Tyrrell counties. Nov. 11 – Nov. 20, 2022 and Dec. 10 – Dec. 25, 2022: Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Gates, Pasquotank*, and Perquimans counties. *Per local law, bear season opens Nov. 12, 2022 in these 3 counties. Nov. 12 – Nov. 20, 2022 and Dec. 10 – Dec. 25, 2022: Beaufort, Bertie, Craven, Hertford, Jones, Martin, and Washington counties. Nov. 19 – Dec. 18, 2022: Edgecombe, Greene, Halifax, Lenoir, Nash, Northampton, Pitt, Wayne, and Wilson counties. Nov. 14, 2022 – Jan. 2, 2023: Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico*, Pender, Robeson, and Sampson counties. *The use of dogs for hunting bears is prohibited in Pamlico county. |
North Carolina hunting seasons for deer.
| Locations | Type of Season | Open Date | |
| Northeastern & Southeastern Deer Season | Archery: Blackpowder: Gun: | Sept. 10 – Sept. 30, 2022 Oct. 1 – Oct. 14, 2022 Oct. 15, 2022 – Jan. 2, 2023 | |
| Central Deer Season | Archery: Blackpowder: Gun: | Sept. 10 – Oct. 28, 2022 Oct. 29 – Nov. 11, 2022 Nov. 12, 2022 – Jan. 2, 2023 | |
| Northwestern Deer Season | Archery: Blackpowder: Gun: | Sept. 10 – Nov. 4, 2022 Nov. 5 – Nov. 18, 2022 Nov. 19, 2022 – Jan. 2, 2023Western Deer SeasonArchery: Blackpowder: Gun:Sept. 10 – Oct. 2, 2022; Oct. 16 – Nov. 20, 2022; Dec. 11, 2022 – Jan. 2, 2023 (antlered deer only) Oct. 3 – Oct. 15, 2022 Nov. 21 – Dec.10, 2022Gun Either-Sex Deer SeasonsIntroductory Season: Conservative Season: Moderate Season: Maximum Season: No Season: | Nov. 26, 2022: Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, and Transylvania counties. Nov. 21 – Nov. 26, 2022: Avery, Burke, Caldwell, McDowell, Mitchell, and Yancey counties. Nov. 19 – Dec. 2, 2022: Cleveland, Polk, and Rutherford counties. Entire Gun Season: All other counties and in Buncombe County east of NC 191 south of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, west of US 25 and north of NC 280 and in Henderson County east of NC 191 and north and west of NC 280. Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties. |
| Urban Archery Deer Season (open in participating cities only- refer to the Regulations Digest for a list and contact information) | Archery Only: | Jan. 14– Feb. 19, 2023Youth Deer Hunting Day On this day, youth under the age of 18 may use any legal weapon to hunt deer of either-sex. Refer to the Regulations Digest for a description of legal weapons. Youth ages 16 and 17 must be properly licensed to hunt deeAny Legal Weapon:Sept. 24, 2022 |
North Carolina hunting seasons for Turkeys.
| SpeciesOpen DatesWild Turkey Spring Season (male or bearded turkey only)Apr. 9 – May 7, 2022 Apr. 8 – May 6, 2023Wild Turkey Youth-only Season (male or bearded turkey only)Apr. 2 – 8, 2022 Apr. 1 – 7, 2023 |
North Carolina hunting seasons for small game.
| Species2022-2023 Seasons | Regulations2019-2020 | Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ArmadilloNo Closed Season | Hunting RegulationsTrapping Regulations | General Information | ||
| BeaverRefer to Regulations Digest | Hunting RegulationsTrapping Regulations | General Information | ||
| BobcatOct. 17, 2022 – Feb. 28, 2023 | Hunting RegulationsTrapping Regulations | General Information | ||
| CoyoteNo Closed Season | Hunting RegulationsTrapping Regulations | General Information 5-County Coyote Hunting & Depredation Permits CrowAug. 3, 2022 – Feb. 25, 2023June 7 – July 29, 2023Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of each week. Crows may also be hunted on Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Independence Day; except when these days fall on a Sunday. | Hunting Regulations | |
| Feral SwineNo Closed Season | Hunting Regulations | General Information | ||
| FoxRefer to “Fox Hunting & Trapping Seasons” publication at www.ncwildlife.org/foxseasons. | Fox Seasons by County | General InformationGray FoxRed Fox | ||
| GroundhogNo Closed Season | Hunting RegulationsTrapping Regulations | General Information | ||
| GrouseOct. 17, 2022 – Feb. 28, 2023 | Hunting Regulations | General Information | ||
| NutriaNo Closed Season | Hunting RegulationsTrapping Regulations | General Information | ||
| OpossumOct. 17, 2022 – Feb. 28, 2023 | Hunting RegulationsTrapping Regulations | General Information(PDF) | ||
| Pheasant (Male Only)Nov. 19, 2022 – Feb. 1, 2023 | Hunting Regulations | |||
| QuailNov. 19, 2022 – Feb. 28, 2023 | Hunting Regulations | General Information | ||
| Rabbit (Includes Box-Trapping)Oct. 17, 2022 – Feb. 28, 2023 | Hunting Regulations | General InformationAppalachian CottontailEastern CottontailMarsh | ||
| RaccoonOct. 17, 2022 – Feb. 28, 2023 | Hunting RegulationsTrapping Regulations | General Information | ||
| Skunk (striped)No Closed Season | Hunting Regulations Trapping Regulations | General Information(PDF) | ||
| Squirrel – Gray and RedOct. 17, 2022 – Feb. 28, 2023Squirrel – FoxOct. 17, 2022 – Jan. 31, 2023 | Hunting Regulations | General InformationNorthern Flying Squirrel (PDF)Fox Squirrel (PDF)Southern Flying Squirrel (PDF) | ||
| Controlled Hunting Preserves | Regulations | General Information | ||
| Extended Falconry | Regulations |
North Carolina hunting seasons for Waterfowl.
| Species | 2021-22 Season Dates | 2019-20 Regulations | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterfowl – General (includes ducks, geese, swans and youth waterfowl days) | Seasons / Limits Youth Waterfowl Day(s) Extended Falconry Seasons | Migratory Game Bird Regulations | Additional Info(including license requirements, non-toxic shot requirements, baiting information and various reports) |
| Canada Goose | Seasons / Limits | Migratory Birds Regulations | Goose Zone Map NE Goose Hunt Zone Permits (PDF) Additional Info (including license requirements, non-toxic shot requirements, baiting information and various reports) |
| Light Goose | Seasons / Limits | Migratory Game Bird Regulations | Light Goose Conservation Season Permit Information |
| Tundra Swan | Seasons / Limits | Migratory Game Bird Regulations | Tundra Swan Permit information (PDF) Additional Info (including license requirements, non-toxic shot requirements, baiting information and var |
North Carolina hunting season for webless Migratory game birds,
| Species | 2020-21 Season Dates | 2019-20 Regulations | Additional Information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Woodcock | Seasons/Limits Extended Falconry Seasons | Migratory Game Bird Regulations | Additional Info (including public hunting opportunities and various reports)SnipeSeasons/LimitsMigratory Game Bird Regulations | Additional Info (including public hunting opportunities and various reports) |
| Rails (includes Sora & Clapper, King & Virginia Rail) | Seasons/Limits Extended Falconry Seasons | Migratory Game Bird Regulations | Additional Info (including public hunting opportunities and various reports) | |
| Doves (includes mourning and white-winged dove) | Seasons/Limits Extended Falconry Seasons |