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Bear Seasons Map

Please note: Major regulation changes appear in RED

2025–2026 Bear Seasons

Color-coded map of North Carolina showing 22 bear management zones with county boundaries labeled. Each zone is numbered from 1 to 22, representing the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s designated regions for black bear management and hunting regulation.
Map of North Carolina’s 22 Bear Management Zones established by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Each numbered region represents specific counties where black bear populations are monitored and regulated for sustainable wildlife management and hunting practices.
– Oct. 4 – Nov. 22 and Dec. 13 – Jan. 1
– Nov. 22 – Jan. 1
– Nov. 15 – Jan. 1
– Oct. 18 – Jan. 1
– Nov. 10 – Jan. 1
– Nov. 15 – Dec. 14
– Nov. 8 – 16 and Dec. 13 – 28
– Nov. 8 – 16 and Dec. 13 – 28
– Nov. 7 – 16 and Dec. 13 – 28
– Nov. 8 – 23 and Dec. 13 – 28

Designated Bear Management Areas

  1. Bachelor Bay
  2. Columbus County
  3. Croatan
  4. Daniel Boone*
  5. Dare*
  6. Fires Creek
  7. Flat Top
  8. Green Swamp
  9. Gull Rock
  10. Harmon Den
  11. Juniper Creek
  12. Mount Mitchell*
  13. North River
  14. Panthertown – Bonas Defeat*
  15. Pisgah*
  16. Pungo River
  17. Rich Mountain
  18. Sherwood
  19. Standing Indian*
  20. Suggs Mill Pond
  21. Thurmond Chatham
  22. Wayah

*Bear hunting by permit only on these areas. It is unlawful to hunt bear on other Designated Bear Management Areas.

Hunting Bear with Dogs and Using Unprocessed Foods

Color-coded map of North Carolina showing counties where hunting bears with dogs is allowed or restricted. Purple counties indicate areas with specific regulations or restrictions, while yellow counties show where bear hunting with dogs is permitted.
Map of North Carolina counties where bear hunting with dogs is allowed or restricted, as designated by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Purple areas mark counties with limited or no bear-dog hunting, while yellow areas represent counties where the practice is permitted under state hunting regulations.
– Unprocessed food allowed all season, and use of dogs allowed all season
– Unprocessed food allowed all season, but use of dogs prohibited

DOGS. Hunting bears with dogs is prohibited in the following counties or parts of counties: Alamance south of I-85, Anson west of N.C. Hwy 742, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davie, Davidson, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Lee, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Orange south of I-85, Pamlico (per local law), Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly, Union, and Wake south of N.C. Hwy 98. In all other counties, hunting bears with the use of dogs is legal during open bear seasons, but restrictions may apply on game lands. See “Game Land” section for further information.

UNPROCESSED FOODS. In all counties unprocessed foods may be used to aid in the taking of bear during any open season for bear.

* Dogs may not be released in the vicinity of any commercially available mineral supplement whether placed for the purpose of attracting deer or otherwise.

It is unlawful to:

  • Take a bear while in the act of consuming unprocessed foods; or with use or aid of any animal, animal part or product, salt, salt lick, honey, sugar, sugar-based material, syrups, candy, pastry, gum, candy block, oils, spices, peanut butter, grease; or extract of such substances; or any substance modified by any of the above substances or extract of above substance; or any bear bait attractant, including scented sprays, aerosols, scent balls, and scent powders; or processed food products. Processed food products are any food substance or flavoring that has been modified by the addition of ingredients or by treatment to modify its chemical composition or form or to enhance its aroma or taste. This includes: food products enhanced by sugar, honey, syrups, oils, salts, spices, peanut butter, grease, meat, bones, or blood; candies, pastries, gum, and sugar blocks; and extracts of such products; and to place any sort of processed or unprocessed foods on game lands.
  • Place processed food products as bait in any area of the state with an established season for taking black bears.
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