Rabbit
General huntingWhere authorized; check individual game lands
Five daily; game-land schedules and hunting methods can differ.
THE SEASON ATLAS / NCNorth Carolina
North Carolina
hunting seasons.
Explore 2026 & 2027 season sources, publication status, and game species for your next hunt.
NC / UNITED STATES
PLAN WITH THE SEASONS
Your 2026 field calendar.
2026–27 regulations available
The agency has published a 2026–27 guide or season schedule. Only selected dates are transcribed here; check the original regulations and individual public-land rules.
Official 2026 information ↗1 verified date entry
Selected agency dates are indexed below. This is not a complete legal calendar. Unit rules, tags, sex and age restrictions, closures, and special hunts can change which dates apply. Use the source beside each entry.
North Carolina game species & hunting information.
These species and groups appear in agency hunting resources. Their presence in the state does not mean every public area offers a hunt. “Native” describes origin, “reintroduced” describes restoration, and “migratory” describes movement; these are not population counts. Origin is left unverified when the reviewed source does not establish it.
Big game
White-tailed deer
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Black bear
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Wild turkey
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Small game
Rabbit
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Gray squirrel
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Red squirrel
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Fox squirrel
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Upland birds
Bobwhite quail
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Ruffed grouse
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Pheasant
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Furbearers
Bobcat
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Raccoon
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Opossum
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Coyote
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Striped skunk
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed hunting target; local access, methods and limits apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Fox
Origin not verifiedCounty-specific fox laws and permission requirements apply. Public game-land rules can be more restrictive.
Agency species information ↗Beaver
Origin not verifiedCounty-specific fox laws and permission requirements apply. Public game-land rules can be more restrictive.
Agency species information ↗Other game
Groundhog
Origin not verifiedNo closed season on private land in the guide; game-land seasons, local permissions and method restrictions still apply.
Agency species information ↗Nutria
Origin not verifiedNo closed season on private land in the guide; game-land seasons, local permissions and method restrictions still apply.
Agency species information ↗Armadillo
Origin not verifiedNo closed season on private land in the guide; game-land seasons, local permissions and method restrictions still apply.
Agency species information ↗Feral swine
Origin not verifiedNo closed season on private land in the guide; game-land seasons, local permissions and method restrictions still apply.
Agency species information ↗Crow
Origin not verifiedAgency crow-hunting category; special dates and permitted days apply. Population origin not verified.
Agency species information ↗Migratory birds
Ducks
MigratoryOnly duck species authorized by the agency are included; closed species and species-specific bag limits are excluded. Some populations are resident.
Agency species information ↗Mergansers
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Coot
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Canada goose
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Snow goose
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Brant
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Dove
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗American woodcock
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Snipe
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Rails
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Gallinules
MigratoryManaged under migratory-bird regulations; resident populations may also occur. Species limits and local closures apply.
Agency species information ↗Tundra swan
MigratoryLimited swan permit required; confirm authorized area and current season.
Agency species information ↗Check the details.
Then head for the horizon.
Confirm the unit, season, license, method, bag limit, and current closures with North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Public-land rules may be more restrictive than statewide seasons.