Local Laws by County: I-Z

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:

Iredell

• Hunt, any animal or bird on or from the right-of-way of any public road.
• Hunt, fish or trap on land of another without written permission.

Jackson

• Unlawful to 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 state-maintained road, street or highway.
• Unlawful to shine a light intentionally upon a deer or in search of deer between ½ hour after sunset and ½ hour before sunrise.

Johnston

• It is unlawful to take wildlife or attempt to take wildlife on the land of another, or to 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 or fishing season, of the landowner or lessee, or the landowner’s or lessee’s designee. The written permission shall not be valid for more than one year and may be valid for a shorter period stated in the permission.
• Take wildlife or attempt to take wildlife on the land of another while under the influence of an impairing substance.
• Hunt with a loaded firearm on a state-maintained road.
• Discharge a firearm on or across a state-maintained road.
• Hunt deer with dogs or allow a dog to chase deer.
• Hunt deer with a rifle on another’s land or on an adjoining public road without written permission of the owner.

Jones

• Hunt, with firearms, any animal or bird on, or from, or across the right-of-way of any paved public road or highway.

Lee

• Hunt with any weapon while on the land of another without written permission dated within one year.
• Hunt with any weapon, any wild animal or bird, or discharge a firearm on, from or across the right-of-way of any public road.

Lenoir

• Release hunting dogs onto posted land without written consent of the owner.
• Hunt on or from the right-of-way of a public road.

Macon

• Hunt, take or kill white-tailed deer from, on or across the right-of-way of any public road, street or highway.
• 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.

Madison

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

Martin

• It is unlawful to hunt with or discharge a firearm on, from, or across the right-of-way of any highway or public road. It is unlawful to possess a loaded firearm outside the passenger compartment of a vehicle while on the roadway or highway right-of-way, unless the person is the owner or lessee of the land abutting the right-of-way or has on his person the written permission of the owner or lessee of the land abutting the right-of-way to hunt the land, dated within the last 12 months, or the person has a concealed carry permit and is only carrying a loaded, concealed weapon.
• Discharge a rifle of greater than .22-caliber, except from an elevated position in which the rifle is a minimum of eight feet above the ground.
• 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.

McDowell

• Discharge a firearm from the right-of-way of a state-numbered road for the purpose of taking big game animals. This does not apply to those portions along N.C. 105 bordered on both sides by game lands.

Mecklenburg

• Hunt deer with any rifle, except that a blackpowder rifle may be used during the primitive-weapons season.
• Hunt with a firearm from a public road or highway right-of-way.

Mitchell

• Hunt, take or kill any wild bird or wild animal except bear or boar with a firearm from, on or across a public road right-of-way.

Moore

• In Sandhill and Mineral Springs townships: (1) hunt any game animal on another’s land without possession of written per­mission of the owner or lessee; (2) hunt with a rifle of greater than .22 rimfire caliber or capable of firing .22 centerfire ammunition (ie. .223, .22-250, .222 etc are not legal firearms under this law), except that a blackpowder rifle may be used when positioned at least eight feet above the ground. Please refer to township maps for Moore County on County GIS website.
• Shine a light on deer between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise.
• Hunt deer on the land of another without written permission dated within one year.
• Hunt, take or kill deer on, from or across a right-of-way of any public road.
• Hunt deer with dogs unless each dog bears a collar, tag or other identification with the owner’s full name and address.

Nash

• Take migratory waterfowl on, from or over the Rocky Mount Tar River Reservoir or within 500 yards thereof, except within “Zone E” with permission of the affected landowner and subject to the rules and regulations of the City of Rocky Mount. See rockymountnc.gov/parks/hunting.html for more detail.
• Discharge a firearm from, onto or across a public road.
• Hunt deer with a rifle, except from a stand at least six feet above the ground.
• It is unlawful to hunt on OR discharge any rifle on or across the right-of-way of any road.
• Hunt on the land of another without written permission from the owner or lessee.

New Hanover

• Hunt a fox with dogs in Federal Point township south of the Intracoastal Waterway.

Northampton

• Take deer with the aid of a boat in or within 100 yards of the Roanoke River below U.S. 301.
• 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.
• Discharge a rifle larger than .22-caliber on another’s land or from the right-of-way of a public road across such land without written permission of the owner or lessee and unless positioned at least eight feet above the ground. (This section does not apply to property owned or managed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.)
• Possess a firearm on a motor-propelled vessel (except an out­board with the motor removed and stored) on Meherrin River during the open deer season.
• 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.

Onslow

• Hunt any wild animal or bird from the right-of-way of any public road without written permission of the owner or lessee of the land that abuts the road.

Orange

• Hunt deer from a public road.
• Hunt with firearms from the right-of-way of a public road.
• Hunt or fish on the land of another without having on one’s person, written permission, signed and dated for the current hunting season, by the landowner or lessee.
• Unlawful to hunt while under the influence of alcohol or other impairing substances.

Pamlico

• 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 bear with dogs.
• Take any wild animal or wild bird from or across the right-of-way of N.C. 55 and N.C. 306.

Pasquotank

• Use a firearm carelessly and heedlessly, so as to endanger or be likely to endanger any person or property, or any discharge of a firearm that results in a projectile crossing the property of another person without their permission.
• 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.
• To have possession of a loaded shotgun or centerfire rifle while on the right-of-way of any public road or highway while outside the confines of the passenger area of a vehicle, without the written permission of the owner or lessee of the land that abuts the road or highway. To have possession of a loaded shotgun or centerfire rifle while on the traveled surface of any public road or highway when outside the confines of the passenger area of a vehicle.
• To hunt, take or kill any bird or game animal from or on the right-of-way of any public road or highway, without first securing the written permission of the owner or lessee of the land that abuts the road or highway.
• Hunt with a centerfire rifle except from a platform which raises the lower level of the barrel to a minimum of eight feet above ground level. For the purposes of this section, the term “hunt” has the same meaning as “to hunt” as specified in G.S. 113-130.

Pender

• Take deer with the aid of a boat or floating device in or within 100 yards of the Black River, Long Creek, Morgan Creek or Turkey Creek between N.C. 210 and the Northeast Cape Fear River.
• Discharge a firearm while hunting from the right-of-way of a state-maintained road onto or across any adjoining land without permission of the owner.

Perquimans

• Take a wild animal or bird in Snug Harbor subdivision in Bethel Township or in Longbeach Estates.
• Hunt with a rifle larger than .22-caliber without written per­mission of the landowner.
• Hunt on the right-of-way of a public road.
• Hunt with or possess a firearm or bow and arrow on another’s land without the permission of the landowner or lessee.
• Hunt with a centerfire rifle, except from a stand at least five feet above the ground level.
• Hunt on land of another without the written permission of the owner or lessee of the land, dated for the current hunting season.

Person

• Hunt deer from a public road.

Pitt

• Hunt with a firearm from or on, or across a public road or the right-of-way thereof.
• Hunt while under the influence of an impairing substance.
• Hunt with a firearm within 300 feet of any residency or occu­pied building without the written, signed and dated permis­sion of the owner or lessee of the land. Permission must be renewed annually.
• Hunt or to discharge a firearm on or across posted land without the written, signed and dated permission of the owner or lessee. Permission must be renewed annually.
• Release dogs on posted land without the written signed and dated permission of the owner or lessee of the land. Permission must be renewed annually.

Polk

• Hunt with a firearm from or on a public road or the right-of-way thereof.
• Unlawful to possess or consume alcohol within 50 feet of any river in Polk County.

Randolph

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

Richmond

• Take deer with dogs west of Little River and that portion east of Little River, bounded by N.C. 73 to the north, by Hough Road to the east and by Grassy Island Road to the south.
• Hunt deer from a public road.
• Hunt with firearms from the right-of-way of any public road north of U.S. 74 and west of U.S. 220.
• Discharge a firearm or bow and arrow or attempt to discharge a firearm or bow and arrow, from, on, across or over the roadway or right-of-way of any public road. For purposes of this section, the term “public road” does not include any unpaved roads within the Wildlife Resources Commission’s Sandhills Game Land.

Robeson

• Hunt deer from or through the use of any boat or other floating device.
• Prohibits hunting, taking or killing any wild animal or wild bird, or attempting 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.
• Unlawfully hunt or fish on the land of another without written permission in one’s possession. Permission must be dated and signed by the owner or lessee within the past year.

Rockingham

• Hunt any wildlife from the right-of-way of any public road.
• NOTE: Entrance to private lands to hunt is regulated by local ordinance.
• 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.

Rowan

• Hunt, fish or trap on the land of another without written permission.
• Hunt with a loaded firearm or discharge the same on or across a state-maintained road.
• NOTE: Entrance to private lands to hunt is regulated by local ordinance.
• Discharge firearms or fireworks or to create noise using mechan­ical apparatus while in the no-wake zone around Eagle Point Nature Preserve on High Rock Reservoir.

Rutherford

• Hunt, take or kill any wild animal or wild bird on, or across the right-of-way of any public road.
• Discharge a firearm on, from or across the right-of-way of any public road.

Sampson

• Hunt with firearms any wild animal or wild bird from or discharge firearms from or across any state-maintained road without obtaining permission of the landowner or lessee of the land abutting the road.

Scotland

• Hunt with the use of a centerfire rifle or any firearm capable of firing a centerfire projectile, unless the person is positioned in a stationary and elevated position at least 10 feet above the ground.
• Possess a loaded shotgun or rifle, or discharge any firearm, from, onto or across the right-of-way of a primary or secondary high­way, except by an owner of land adjoining a secondary road or a person with an owner’s written permission to hunt on such adjoining land.
• Hunt on land of another without written permission from the owner or lessee dated within one year.
• The flashing or display of any artificial light from or attached to a motor-driven conveyance or from any means of conveyance attached to a motor-driven conveyance, between 30 minutes after sunset and 30 minutes before sunrise, in any area that is frequented or inhabited by wild game.

Stanly

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

Stokes

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

Surry

• Hunt any animal with a firearm from a public road, highway or street.

Transylvania

• Hunt, take or kill any wild animal or bird from, on or across the right-of-way of a public road, street, highway or other vehicular area.
• Hunt on the land of another without having written permission from the landowner or lessee dated within the previous 12 months.

Tyrrell

• To hunt, take, or kill, or to attempt to hunt, take or kill, any wild animal or wild bird with a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow on, from, or across the right-of-way of any state-maintained road or to discharge any firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow on, from, or across the right-of-way of any state-maintained road or high­way. This does not apply to hunters lawfully recovering dogs as long as weapons remain in a motor vehicle or to a person law­fully engaged in the act of taking bullfrogs with a rimfire weapon.
• To possess a loaded firearm while on the right-of-way of any state-maintained road or highway outside the confines of the passenger area of the vehicle.
• To hunt, take, or kill, or to attempt to hunt, take or kill, any wild animal or wild bird with a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow, or dogs or to possess a loaded firearm outside the confines of the passenger area of the vehicle, on the land of another, with­out the written permission of the landowner or lessee of the land, dated and valid for no more than one year. This law does not apply to a person who leases land for the purpose of hunt­ing while hunt­ing on that leased land or to a member of a hunt­ing club with a current and valid membership card while hunting on club land.
• Hunt with a gun or dog on another’s land without permission of the owner or lessee.

Union

• Hunt, take or kill a wild animal or wild bird from, on or across the right-of-way of any public road or highway.
• Discharge a firearm from, on or across the right-of-way of any state-maintained road.
• It is unlawful to hunt or fish on the land of another without having written permission on one’s person, signed and dated for the current hunting or fishing season, of the landowner or lessee, or the landowner’s or lessee’s designee. The written permission shall not be valid for more than one year and may be valid for a shorter period stated in the permission. The written permission shall be displayed upon request of any law enforcement officer of the Wildlife Resources Commission, by sheriffs and deputy sheriffs, and by other law enforcement officers with general subject matter jurisdiction.
• It is unlawful for a person to take wildlife or attempt to take wildlife on the land of another while under the influence of an impairing substance or after having consumed sufficient alcohol that the person has an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more.

Vance

• Hunt or discharge a firearm on any land that has been registered with the sheriff and posted, or on a highway abutting such land, without having in possession a valid entry permit. (Before hunting or discharging a firearm on any land or an abutting highway, it is the affirmative duty of the hunter or marksman to make appropriate inquiry about whether the land is registered and to look for posted signs that may indicate such status.)
• Hunt wild animals or wild birds from, on or across the right-of-way of any public road or highway.
• Discharge a centerfire rifle from, on or across the right-of-way of any public road or highway.

Wake

• Hunt deer with a dog on another’s land without written per­mission of the owner.
• Shoot at a deer from, on or across the right-of-way of a county road or state highway.
• Take any animal with a centerfire rifle, unless the person is positioned at least eight feet above the ground.
• Possess a loaded firearm or hunt on the land of another without written permission.
• Possess loaded shotguns or centerfire rifles upon highway right-of-ways.
• It is unlawful to hunt with firearms while under the influence of an impairing substance.

Warren

• 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 the highway.
• Take deer with a rifle on another’s land or from the right-of-way of a public road adjoining such land, without written permis­sion of the owner.

Washington

• Use a firearm, bow and arrow or crossbow on, from or across the right-of-way of any state-maintained road.
• Possess a loaded shotgun or centerfire rifle while on the right-of-way of any state-maintained road or highway outside the confines of the passenger area of a vehicle (not applicable to the owner of the land).
• Hunt, take or kill a wild animal or wild bird with firearms and dogs, or to possess a loaded firearm outside the confines of the passenger area of a vehicle on the land of another, without the permission of the landowner or lessee.
• Hunt, take or kill any wild animal or wild bird with a firearm, bow and arrow or crossbow on, from or across the right-of-way of any state-maintained road or highway.

Watauga

• Hunt, take or kill any species of wild animal or wild bird by loaded firearm or lethal weapon from the right-of-way of any state-main­tained road or to discharge a firearm or weapon across any such road.

Wayne

• Set a steel trap or Conibear®-type trap, or take an animal there­from, on another’s land without a written lease authorizing trapping.
• Hunt deer with dogs or allow dogs to chase deer.
• Hunt with a loaded gun or discharge same on or across a state-maintained road.
• Hunt deer with a rifle on another’s land, or from a public road adjoining such land, without written permission of the landowner.
• 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.

Wilkes

• Shoot a raccoon while training coon dogs during closed season.
• Hunt animals with a firearm from a public road, except that bear or wild boar may be taken from any unpaved road.
• Hunt, fish or trap on land of another without written permission.

Wilson

• Hunt from a public road right-of-way.
• Hunt deer with rifles, except from a stationary stand that is elevated at least eight feet above the ground.
• Hunt on the land of another without having, on one’s person, written permission, signed and dated for the current hunting season by the landowner or lessee.

Yadkin

• Import and release a fox.
• Hunt animals with a firearm from a public road.
• Hunt, fish or trap on the land of another without written permission.