Local Laws by County: A-H

Some local county-by-county legislation also pertains to hunting, inland fishing and trapping activities in North Carolina. Follow­ing is a county-by-county listing of acts that might not violate the general laws and regulations, but that are prohib­ited by local legislation passed by the General Assembly. These laws do not reflect actions taken by the General Assembly after publication of this document.

Fox Hunting and Trapping

Fox hunting and trapping seasons, bag limits and restrictions vary by county in North Carolina. Some counties do not allow fox hunting or trapping at all, some allow only hunting. Before taking a fox, sportsmen should read the law for that county in the “Fox Seasons Hunting and Trapping Laws” publication available at ncwildlife.org/FoxSeasons or by calling 919-707-0050.

Hunting and Trapping

The following is unlawful in the counties indicated:

Alamance

• Hunt any wildlife with a firearm from the right-of-way of a public road.
• Hunt a deer or fox by use of dogs at any time.
• Unlawful to enter upon private lands of another to hunt or fish or with the intent to hunt or fish without the written permission of the owner or leasee. Written permission shall be dated and valid for one year. If permission is given to a hunt club to hunt by the owner or leasee of land, each member of the hunt club must carry a copy of the written permission along with certification from the hunt club designating the person to be a person of said club.

Alexander

• Hunt, take or kill or attempt to hunt, take or kill any animal or bird on or from the right-of-way of any public road.

Alleghany

• Discharge a firearm from, on or across a public road without written permission from adjoining landowners.
• Take any game or nongame animal or bird in Sam Brown Park.

Anson

• Unlawful to hunt on another’s land without having, on the person, written permission signed and dated by the owner, lessee, or club president (if applicable). Permission is good for one year unless otherwise stated. During the gun deer season, allowing a dog under one’s ownership, possession, or control to run upon or across another’s land constitutes hunting thereon.
• Hunt on, from or across any public road.
• Hunt deer with dogs; except that dogs may be used to hunt deer during the last five weeks of the Gun Deer Season east of N.C. 742. This is calculated by counting back five weeks from the last day of the gun season. (Note: If the gun deer season ends on Jan. 1, this season will be Nov. 28 – Jan. 1. If the gun deer season ends on Jan. 2, this season will be Nov. 29 – Jan. 2)
• Hunt deer with dogs unless the dog has a collar with owner’s identification.
• Import and release a fox.

Ashe

• Hunt with a loaded gun or other lethal weapon from the right-of-way of a state-maintained road, or discharge a gun or lethal weapon across any such road.
• Exceed a season bag limit of 20 raccoons.

Avery

• Take any wildlife, except bobcats, on Grandfather Mountain above the Yonahlossee Road (U.S. 221) on one side, or 4,000 feet elevation on the other.

Beaufort

• Hunt migratory wildfowl north of the Pamlico River channel between Broad Creek and Washington City Limits.
• To discharge, or attempt to discharge, a firearm or bow and arrow, from, on, or across the roadway or right-of-way of any public road.

Bertie

• Hunt, take or kill any wild animal or wild bird, or attempt to hunt, take or kill any wild animal or wild bird, with the use of a firearm or bow and arrow from, on, across or over the roadway or right-of-way of any public road, street or highway.
• Discharge a firearm or bow and arrow from, on, across, or over the roadway of any public road, street, or highway, or to possess a firearm or bow and arrow outside the passenger compartment of a vehicle while on the roadway or right-of-way.
• To hunt, fish, or trap on the land of another without the written permission of the landowner or the landowner’s lessee. Written permission shall contain complete contact information for the landowner or the landowner’s lessee.
• To take deer from any vessel in the Roanoke River, or its tributaries, except for those portions of the river and its tributaries that are adjacent to the border with Washington County whether the vessel is under power or not.

Bladen

• Hunt deer with the aid of a boat or floating device on the Cape Fear River or its tributaries.
• Possess a firearm aboard a motor-propelled vessel on the Cape Fear River during open deer season.
• Hunt any game from a public road adjoining posted land without having in possession written permission of the owner or lessee.
• Hunt, take or kill any bird or animal or to attempt to hunt, take or kill any bird or animal on property adjacent to Bladen Lakes State Forest without written permission of the owner or lessee.
• Hunt, take or kill any bird or animal or attempt to hunt, take or kill any bird or animal on, from or across the right-of-way of any public road adjacent to property adjacent to Bladen Lakes State Forest without written permission of the owner or lessee.

Brunswick

• Set or possess a trap or snare on another’s land not under written lease.
• Set a leghold steel trap between March 1 and Jan. 1 or the last day of the deer-hunting season, whichever is later.
• Hunt from the right-of-way of a public road, except by the owner or lessee of the abutting land or by a person with the permission of such owner or lessee.
• Shine a light intentionally upon any wild animal, including, but not limited to, deer, coyotes, or feral swine, from the right-of-way of any public road, street, or highway between the hours of one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise.

Buncombe

• Hunt deer on or from the right-of-way of I-26 or I-40.

Burke

• Hunt from the right-of-way of public roads any bird or animal except bear, without permission of the owner or lessee of the adjacent land.

Cabarrus

• Take deer with a centerfire rifle, except from a permanent or por­table stationary stand at least nine feet above ground level and with the written permission of the landowner or lessee in one’s possession.
• Hunt, take or kill with the use of firearms any bird or game animal from, on or across the right-of-way of any numbered highway.
• Discharge a centerfire rifle on the property of another with-out having in one’s possession the written permission of the landowner or lessee.

Caldwell

• Take any wildlife, except bobcats, on Grandfather Mountain above the Yonahlossee Road (U.S. 221).
• Hunt from the right-of-way of public roads any bird or animal except bear, without written permission of the owner or lessee of the adjacent land. Bear and boar may be hunted from any unpaved road.

Camden

• Hunt deer with a rifle, except from a stand eight feet high located on land owned or leased by the hunter or on another’s land with the owner’s permission.
• Set a Conibear®-type 330 or 220 trap or a No. 2 leghold steel trap, except in water where beaver or otter may be lawfully taken.
• Hunt from the right-of-way of S.R. 1239 or of S.R. 1224 from the county line to S.R. 1239.
• Hunt or discharge a firearm from, on or across S.R. 1205.
• To discharge or cause to be discharged any firearm within one-half mile of any public or private school, toward any public or private school, or to cause any projectile discharged from a firearm to enter any public or private school grounds for any reason.

Carteret

• Set a steel trap or Conibear®-type trap, or take an animal therefrom, on another’s land without a written lease authorizing trapping.
• Take migratory waterfowl within 500 yards of another’s perma­nent hunting location without permission of the landholder upon whose land the waterfowl is taken.
• Hunt deer from a public road adjoining lands of others without written permission of the owners or lessees.

Caswell

• Hunt deer from the surface or right-of-way of a public road.
• It is unlawful for a person to take wildlife or attempt to take wildlife on the land of another, or fish on the land of another, without having on one’s person while hunting or fishing the written permission, signed and dated for the current hunting and fishing season.
• It is unlawful for a person to take wildlife or attempt to take wildlife while under the influence of an impairing substance.

Catawba

• Hunt, take or kill or attempt to hunt, take or kill any animal or bird on or from the right-of-way of any public road.

Chatham

• Hunt with a firearm from the surface or right-of-way of a public road.
• Hunt with a firearm or bow and arrow or possess same, except with express written permission, dated within the previous 12 months, of the landowner or lessee.
• Permit a minor under 16 to possess a firearm, unless the child is under the supervision of parents or guardian.
• Possess a loaded firearm on the land of another while under the influence of an impairing substance.

Cherokee

• To take or kill any wild animal or wild bird with the use of a fire­arm or to discharge a firearm from, on, or across the right-of-way of a public road, street, highway or other public vehicular area.

Chowan

• Hunt waterfowl on N.C. 32 or on any road south thereof between the Albemarle Sound bridge and the Edenton City Limits.
• Take a bird or animal within Arrowhead Beach subdivision, Cape Colony subdivision or Chowan Beach subdivision.
• Hunt deer, except by still hunting, south of U.S. 17 and U.S. 17 Business and east of a line from the intersection of U.S. 17 Business and the western city limits of Edenton due south to Albemarle Sound.
• Hunt on the land of another without written permission of owner or lessee; permission to be dated within one year.
• Hunt with or possess a centerfire rifle on the land of another or discharge same on, over or across another’s land without having on one’s person, written permission dated within one year.
• Hunt with or discharge a firearm or bow and arrow from, to or across any state-maintained road or right-of-way.
• To hunt with a centerfire rifle, unless the barrel of the rifle is at least eight feet above ground level.

Clay

• To take or kill any wild animal or wild bird with the use of a fire­arm or to discharge a firearm from, on, or across the right-of-way of a public road, street, highway or other public vehicular area.
• Shine a light intentionally upon any wild animal, including, but not limited to, deer, coyotes, or feral swine, from the right-of-way of any public road, street, or highway between the hours of one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise.

Cleveland

• Hunt from a public road right-of-way.

Columbus

• Set a steel trap between March 1 – Jan. 1.
• Hunt, take or kill any wild animal or wild bird with a firearm on, from or across the right-of-way of any public road or highway without obtaining written permission of the owner or lessee of the land abutting the road or the land across which the weapon is being discharged.

Craven

• Unless a person owns or possesses a leasehold, it is unlawful to hunt, take, kill or to shoot from, on, or across a road right-of-way on S.R. 1611, S.R. 1613, S.R. 1614, S.R. 1615, S.R. 1617, S.R. 1619 or on S.R. 1401 from Washington Post Road to N.C. 55.
• Hunt on or from a public road within an area posted against such by the Wildlife Resources Commission.
• Hunt on land within 100 yards of Trent River between the U.S. 70 bridge and a straight line from Haywards Creek to Ready Branch.
• Hunt on land within 100 yards of Brices Creek between Trent River and the S.R. 1004 bridge.
• Hunt from or shoot across S.R. 1600 (Broad Creek Road) east of N.C. 55 to its terminus near Broad Creek.
• Hunt on or from N.C. 306, S.R. 1004, U.S. 70 from S.R. 1225 to .6 mile east, or S.R. 1225 from S.R. 1226 to .6 mile south.
• Take any animal or bird on or from the right-of-way of S.R. 1144.
• Hunt, take or kill any animal or bird on or from the right-of-way of S.R. 1101 from S.R. 1004 to the U.S. Forestry Service boundary.
• Hunt, take or kill any bird or animal on, from or across the right-of-way of S.R. 1258 from its intersection with N.C. 55 to the intersection of S.R. 1251.
• Hunt, take or kill any bird or animal on, from or across the right-of-ways of S.R. 1230, S.R. 1229 and S.R. 1620.
• Unless a person owns or possesses a leasehold, it is unlawful to hunt, take or kill any animal or bird on or from the right-of-way of S.R. 1633, known as Brown Farm Road, S.R. 1637, known as Alligator Road, and state roads 1638 and 1639 known as Maul Swamp Road.
• Hunt, take or kill any wild animal or wild bird on, from or across the right-of-way of S.R. 1477.
• Hunt, take or kill any wild animal or bird on or from the right-of-way of S.R. 1459 from Riverside Church north to S.R. 1460.
• Hunt, take or kill any wild animal or bird on or from the right-of-way of S.R. 1460 from its intersection with S.R. 1459 west to the Pitt County line.
• Unless a person owns or possesses a leasehold interest in the real property adjacent to the portion of the road on which the person is located, it is unlawful for that person to discharge a firearm from, on or across the right-of-way of S.R. 1862 from Adams Creek Road to the end of the state-maintained portion of the road.

Cumberland

• Set a steel-jaw leghold trap on another person’s land, except for beaver or muskrat on lands of one with whom the trapper has a contract for trapping.
• Hunt with a firearm from or on a public road or the right-of-way thereof.

Currituck

• Note: The Poplar Branch Township on the Outer Banks is included within the Maximum Antlerless Deer Season for Currituck County. During the Regular Gun Deer Season in that portion of Poplar Branch Township on the Outer Banks, there is an open season for hunting or taking antlered or antlerless deer using only shotguns, bow and arrow, and blackpowder firearms. The Eastern Deer Season dates and all restrictions that apply to the Bow-and-Arrow and Blackpowder seasons in Currituck County also apply to the Poplar Branch Township. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Currituck National Wildlife Refuge, included here, offers limited big game hunting; contact Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge or visit fws.gov/southeast/reading-room/?search=Currituck+hunt for more information.
• Hunt waterfowl within 500 yards of another’s licensed blind. NOTE: A Currituck Game Commission License is not required for temporary waterfowl blinds on game lands. However, unlicensed temporary blinds on game lands in this county shall not be hunted if a licensed float blind is established within 500 yards of the unlicensed blind before game land hunters have occupied the blind. Likewise, licensed float-blind hunters shall not establish a float-blind position within 500 yards of an unlicensed game land blind if game land hunters have occupied the blind first. Unlicensed float blinds on game lands must be used within five yards of the game lands shoreline and shall not be established within 500 yards of a licensed point, bush or float blind. Licensed float-blind hunters shall not establish a float-blind position within 500 yards of an established game land float-blind position if the game land hunters have established the game land float-blind position first.
• Hunt with a firearm from the right-of-way of S.R. 1140, S.R. 1218, S.R. 1227, S.R. 1229, S.R. 1248, S.R. 1249, S.R. 1250, S.R. 1251, S.R. 1252, S.R. 1253 or of U.S. 168 north of Moyock Creek.
• For more information on the Currituck Game Commission’s laws, rules and waterfowl blind licenses, please visit currituckgamecommission.com, or call 252-429-3472.

NOTE: Dare and Currituck counties require licensing of waterfowl blinds, and certain restrictions apply to hunting waterfowl in these two counties. For more information, contact: Dare County Game and Wildlife Commission, P. O. Box 1000, Manteo, N.C. 27954.

Dare

• Chase deer with dogs, or permit a dog to chase deer, between March 1 and June 30, except for the mainland and Durant Island.
• Hunt transitory waterfowl from an unlicensed blind, except on or within five yards of the shoreline of game lands.
• Use any trap that has a jaw spread that exceeds 7½ inches until after Jan. 2 of each year or the last day of deer hunting season, whichever is later.
• The Dare County Game and Wildlife Commission has recently updated its regulations regarding waterfowl blinds. For more information on the Dare County Game and Wildlife Commis­sion’s laws, rules and waterfowl blind licenses, call 252-475-5633.

Davidson

• Hunt, fish or trap on land of another without written permission.
• NOTE: Discharge of firearms or pellet guns from right-of-way of public roads is regulated by local ordinance.
• Hunt, take or kill a wild bird or wild animal with a firearm or discharge a firearm from, on or across the right-of-way of any numbered state-maintained road without written permission of the adjoining landowner.

Davie

• Import and release a fox.

Duplin

• For information concerning hunting from the roadway in Duplin County, contact the county attorney.

Durham

• Discharge a firearm in taking game animals from the right-of-way of a public road adjoining posted land, without permission of the owner or person in charge of such land.
• Discharge a centerfire rifle on another’s land, or on or across such land from a public road, without having in possession written permission of the owner or lessee.
• Take deer with dogs.
• Hunt deer from a public road.
• Hunt any wildlife with a firearm from a public road.

Edgecombe

• Hunt, take or transport deer from or with the aid of any boat or floating device on that portion of the Tar River from S.R. 1252 to N.C. 33.
• Hunt with a firearm from the right-of-way of a public road.
• Hunt or transport game, except migratory waterfowl, from or by a boat or floating device on Swift Creek.
• Hunt on the land of another without having on one’s person while hunting the written permission, signed and dated for the current hunting season, of the landowner or lessee, or the landowner’s or lessee’s designee.
• Hunt from any vessel in the Tar River from Springfield Road to the Dunbar Bridge, whether the vessel is under power or not, except that a vessel may be used for transportation to and from otherwise lawful hunting stands upon lands owned or leased by a person or upon which a person has written permission to hunt.

Franklin

• Hunt deer with a rifle on another’s land, or from the right-of-way of a public road adjoining such land, without written permis­sion from the owner to use a rifle.
• Hunt game from the right-of-way of any public road in that part of the county bounded on the north beginning at the Tar River at the Granville County line east to U.S. 1, then south along U.S. 1 to the intersection of N.C. 56, then east along N.C. 56 to the intersection of U.S. 401, then north along U.S. 401 to the inter­section of N.C. 39, then south along N.C. 39 to the intersection of N.C. 98, then east along N.C. 98 to the Nash County line.
• In all other portions of the county to hunt game from the right-of-way of any public road, without written permission of the owners of the lands abutting that road.

Gaston

• Hunt, take or kill with a firearm or other deadly weapon, any wild animal or wild bird from or across the right-of-way of any public road, street or highway.

Gates

• Take deer with the aid of a boat or floating device, in or within 100 yards of the Chowan River, except in creeks and tributaries.
• Hunt on a public road adjoining posted land without prior written permission of the owner or lessee.
• Hunt with or discharge a centerfire rifle from, on or across a state-maintained road.
• Hunt with or possess a centerfire rifle on another’s land without written permission of the owner or lessee.
• Hunt with, or possess a firearm, bow and arrow, or dog on another’s land without permission of the owner or lessee.
• Take any game or furbearer by trapping on another person’s land between the end of trapping season and Jan. 2.
• Hunt with or possess a centerfire rifle or pistol in that part bor­dered to the north by U.S. 158, to the west by S.R. 1403/1400, to the south by S.R. 1404 and to the east by N.C. 32. It is also unlawful for any person to discharge or cause to be discharged a centerfire rifle or pistol toward Merchants Mill Pond State Park, or to cause any projectile to enter the park property for any reason.

Granville

• Hunt deer from the right-of-way of a public road.
• Hunt or possess a firearm or bow and arrow, without acquiring an entry permit, before entering on registered lands or remain­ing on an abutting portion of highway.
• Release a dog or dogs onto the property of another for the purpose of hunting deer without the written consent of the landowner or lessee.

Greene

• Hunt deer with a rifle, except from a position elevated at least eight feet above the ground and not affixed to a motor vehicle.
• Hunt, take, or kill wildlife from, on or across a public roadway while having a firearm or bow and arrow in the persons possession.

Guilford

• Hunt an animal with a firearm from a public road.

Halifax

• Take deer with the aid of a boat or floating device in Roanoke River between U.S. 17 and U.S. 301.
• Hunt with a firearm from the right-of-way of a public road.
• Discharge a firearm on or across a public road.
• It’s unlawful to leave any unattended or unoccupied equipment used for the taking of waterfowl on Roanoke Rapids Lake prior to 04:00 AM each day. All unattended or unoccupied equipment must be removed two hours after sunset each day unless remaining on the shoreline or attached to a dock as authorized by the landowner.

Harnett

• Hunt, take or kill with a firearm or other deadly weapon any wild animal or wild bird on, from or across the right-of-way of any public road, street, highway or thoroughfare.
• Use a centerfire rifle in hunting on the land of another without written permission dated within 12 months and carried on one’s person.

Haywood

• Discharge of a firearm from, on or across the right-of-way of any public road without written permission from the owner of the abutting lands.

Henderson

• Hunt or discharge a firearm on or from the right-of-way of any state road west of U.S. 280.

Hertford

• Take deer with the aid of a boat or floating device in or within 100 yards of the Chowan River, except in creeks and tributaries.
• Discharge a centerfire rifle or any rifle larger than .22-caliber on or from the right-of-way of a public road, street or highway.
• Hunt any wild animal or wild bird with the use of a firearm, from, on, across or over the roadway or right-of-way of any public road, street or highway.
• Hunt with or possess a centerfire rifle on another’s land without written permission of the owner or lessee.
• Possess a firearm aboard a motor-propelled vessel (except an outboard with the motor removed and stored) on Meherrin River between the Virginia state line and Murfreesboro city limit during the open deer season.

Hoke

• Hunt with or discharge a firearm from, onto or across a primary highway.
• Hunt with or discharge a firearm from, onto or across a second­ary road without having in possession written permission of the owner or lessee to hunt on abutting land.
• Hunt with a rifle larger than .22-caliber or capable of firing .22 centerfire, unless positioned at least 10 feet above the ground.
• Hunt with a gun or dog on the land of another without written permission of the owner or lessee dated within one year.

Hyde

• Hunt game animals with dogs, unless accompanied by a licensed hunting guide or with a permit from the owner of the land.
• Hunt migratory waterfowl from a public road.
• Hunt with a rifle from a public road.
• Hunt with guns or dogs or to hunt with a bow and arrow or crossbow upon the lands of another without permis­sion of the owner or lessee.