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North Carolina

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North Carolina › Hunting › Bear Regulations

Bear Regulations

Restrictions

It is unlawful to do any of the following:

  • Take a cub (less than 75 pounds) or a female bear with cub(s).
  • Hunt bear on a designated bear management area.

Mandatory Bear Tooth Submission

  • It is mandatory to submit at least one premolar tooth from your harvested bear by January 31st following the applicable bear hunting season.
  • After removing both upper premolar teeth (see the ad below and detailed bear tooth submission instructions on the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission website), place one tooth in the official bear tooth envelope you received by mail from the Commission. Keep the second tooth as a backup until you receive confirmation that your submission has been received.
  • If you lost the bear tooth envelope, call 919-707-0050 to have a new envelope sent to you.

Information on the use of dogs to hunt bears and the use of unprocessed foods is on the Hunting Regulations page.

The following additional restrictions apply to Designated Bear Management Areas:

  • Dogs may not be used to pursue bear, except during permit hunts that allow hunting bear with dogs.
  • It is unlawful to take feral swine on Designated Bear Management Areas except during the deer archery season, deer blackpowder season, deer gun season and any small game season using only weapons and manner of take prescribed for that hunting season.
  • Dogs may not be used to take feral swine.
  • Dogs shall not be trained or allowed to run unleashed between March 1 and the Monday on or nearest October 15 on designated Designated Bear Management Areas located in and west of the counties and parts of counties in Alamance County south of I-85, Orange County south of I-85, Chatham County, Lee County, Wake County south of N.C. 98; and in and west of Rockingham, Guilford, Randolph, and Montgomery counties and that part of Anson County west of N.C. 742.

Informational flyer for North Carolina bear hunters from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. The poster explains how to extract and submit a black bear premolar tooth after harvest, including steps for mailing, keeping a backup tooth, and earning an age report and cooperator hat. It features images of a bear’s tooth extraction, an orange NC Black Bear Cooperator hat, and a QR code for demonstration.
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission reminder for bear hunters — if you harvest a black bear, you must submit a premolar tooth by January 31 after the season. Hunters who participate receive an age report and a Black Bear Cooperator hat. Follow the instructions included with your bear e-stamp mailer or scan the QR code for a demo.
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