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North Carolina

Hunting

Hunting

Deer Regulations

General Restrictions

  • Any person hunting deer during a deer firearms season shall wear hunter orange visible from all sides. This includes hunting with archery equipment on Sundays. This also includes anyone hunting on Youth Deer Hunting Day, regardless of age of the hunter or weapon used. Landholders, their spouses and children hunting on land held by the landholder do not have to wear hunter orange.
  • Antlered deer may be taken during any open antlered deer season. Antlerless deer may only be taken during antlerless deer seasons.
  • Antlered deer are defined as having visible antlers, defined as bony structures that protrude through the skin. Knobs or buttons covered by skin or velvet are not considered visible antlers.
  • It is unlawful to place processed food products as bait in any area of the state with an established season for taking black bears. 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.
  • The placement of commercially available mineral supplements specifically and exclusively marketed for attracting or feeding deer is allowed anywhere in the state, except on game lands and CWD Surveillance Areas (see CWD Surveillance Areas and Special Regulations).
  • Possession and use of some types of natural deer excretions (including urine) is not allowed. See the section on Baiting and Attractants on General Hunting Regulations for more information.
Pre-season Deer Hunting Checklist
Pre-season Deer Hunting Checklist

Weapons and Dogs

Archery

  • During the archery season the following are legal weapons: bows and arrows, crossbows, and slingbows (all described on General Hunting Regulations).

Blackpowder

  • During the blackpowder season the following are legal weapons: bows and arrows, crossbows, slingbows, and blackpowder firearms (all described on General Hunting Regulations).

Gun

  • During the gun season the following are legal weapons: bows and arrows, crossbows, and slingbows, blackpowder firearms, shotguns, rifles, and handguns (all described on General Hunting Regulations).

Dogs

Bag Limits

  • The season and possession bag limit is six deer, two of which may be antlered, and four of which may be antlerless.
  • There is no daily bag limit.
  • Antlerless deer harvested and reported on Bonus Antlerless Harvest Report Cards do not count towards the season or possession limit.
  • Bonus Antlerless Harvest Report Cards allow for the harvest of two additional antlerless deer per card. These are ONLY valid for use for deer taken within participating municipalities during the Urban Archery Season (described on Deer Regulations). Unlimited Bonus Antlerless Harvest Report Cards are available to each hunter. Bonus Antlerless Har­vest Report Cards can be obtained on or after Jan. 1 at most wildlife service agents, or online at gooutdoorsnorthcarolina.com.
  • Antlerless deer harvested under the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) and tagged with harvest tags provided with the program are not included in normal statewide bag limits.

Antlerless Deer Seasons

Youth Deer Hunting Day

  • Antlered and antlerless deer may be taken by hunters under the age of 18 on this day (includes game lands).

Archery Deer Season

  • Antlered and antlerless deer may be taken during archery deer season in all areas (includes game lands) in and east of Watauga, Wilkes, Alexander, Catawba, Cleveland, Rutherford, and Polk counties.
  • Antlered and antlerless deer may be taken during the first and second archery deer seasons in all areas (includes game lands) in and west of Henderson, Buncombe, McDowell, Burke, Caldwell and Avery counties.
  • Some game lands have special deer seasons that do not follow the county archery deer season. See “Game Lands” section for seasons and rules specific to the game land you will be hunting.

Blackpowder Firearm Deer Season

  • Antlerless deer may only be taken during the blackpowder firearm season dates indicated on Deer Zone Maps and General Game Lands Regulations.
  • Some game lands have special deer seasons that do not follow the county blackpowder deer season. See “Game Lands” section for seasons and rules specific to the game land you will be hunting.

Gun Deer Season

Urban Archery Season

Archery only: Jan. 13 – Feb. 18, 2024

Information for Hunters

  • The intention of the Urban Archery Season is to enable cities, towns and villages to reduce urban deer populations through increased hunter opportunity. Hunting during the Urban Archery Season is allowed ONLY in participating municipalities.
  • Each city, town and village will decide if hunting is allowed on public property and restrictions, if any, for hunting on private property within the city, town and village limits.
  • Hunters wishing to hunt in an area participating in the Urban Archery Season should call the participating city, town or village or visit its website to obtain a map showing lawful areas to hunt and additional information on specific restrictions that may apply to each area.
  • The Urban Archery Season does not obligate private landowners to allow hunting on their property, nor does it eliminate the ethical requirement for obtaining permission from the landowner before hunting. Hunters are legally required to obtain written permission to hunt on posted property.
  • Season bag and possession limits for both antlerless and antlered deer, including Bonus Anterless Harvest Report Cards, that apply to the general archery, blackpowder, and gun deer seasons also apply to the Urban Archery Season.
  • Antlered and antlerless deer may be harvested in participating areas during the Urban Archery Season.

The 2023 participating cities, towns and villages are:

Albemarle - 704-984-9565
albemarlenc.gov

Ansonville - 704-826-8404

townofansonville.godaddysites.com

Archer Lodge - 919-359-9727

archerlodgenc.gov

Boiling Springs - 704-434-9691

boilingspringsnc.net

Chapel Hill - 919-968-2784

townofchapelhill.org

China Grove - 704-857-2466

chinagrovenc.gov

Clayton - 919-553-5002

townofclaytonnc.org

Cleveland - 704-278-4777

clevelandnc.org

Concord - 704-920-5000

concordnc.gov

Denton - 336-859-4231
townofdenton.com

East Bend - 336-699-8560

eastbendnc.com

Eden - 336-623-9687

edennc.us

Elkin - 336-258-8917

elkinnc.org

Fairview - 704-753-1981
fairviewnc.gov

Franklinville - 336-824-2604

franklinvillenc.org

Glen Alpine - 828-584-2622

townofglenalpine.org

Granite Quarry - 704-279-5596

granitequarrync.gov

Harrisburg - 704-455-0709

harrisburgnc.org

Huntersville - 704-875-6571

huntersville.org

Indian Trail - 704-821-5401 Ext. 226

indiantrail.org

Jamestown - 336-454-1138

jamestown-nc.gov

Jefferson - 336-846-9368

townofjefferson.org

Jonesville - 336-835-3426

townofjonesvillenc.com

King - 336-983-8265

ci.king.nc.us

Landis - 704-857-4114

townoflandisnc.com

Lattimore - 704-434-2620
facebook.com/TownofLattimore

Lenoir - 828-757-2100

cityoflenoir.com

Lewisville - 336-945-5558

lewisvillenc.net

Locust - 704-888-5260

locustnc.com

Midland - 704-888-2232

midlandnc.us

Mineral Springs - 704-243-0505

mineralspringsnc.com

Mooresboro - townofmooresboro.org

Morganton - 828-432-2345

morgantonnc.gov

Nags Head/Kill Devil Hills - nature.org/nhw

New London - 704-463-5423
newlondonnc.org

North Wilkesboro - 336-667-7129

north-wilkesboro.com

Norwood - 704-474-3416

norwoodgov.com

Oakboro - 704-485-3351

oakboro.com

Oak Ridge - 336-644-7009
oakridgenc.com

Pleasant Garden - 336-674-3002

pleasantgarden.net

Randleman - 336-495-7500

cityofrandleman.com

Red Cross - 704-485-2002

townofredcross.com

Reidsville - 336-349-1030

reidsvillenc.gov

Richfield - 704-463-1308

richfieldnc.com

Ronda - 336-835-2061
townofronda.org

Sanford - 919-777-1104

sanfordnc.net

Shelby - 704-484-6801

cityofshelby.com

Stallings - 704-821-8557

stallingsnc.org

Stanfield - 704-888-2386
stanfieldnc.com

Stokesdale - 336-643-4011

stokesdale.org

Summerfield - 336-643-8655

summerfieldnc.gov

Trent Woods - 252-637-3030

trentwoodspd.org

Troutman - 704-528-7600

troutmannc.gov

Unionville - 704-226-1989

unionvillenc.org

Valdese - 828-879-2100

townofvaldese.com

Wake Forest - 919-435-9609

wakeforestnc.gov

Waxhaw - 704-843-2195 Ext. 278

waxhaw.com

Weddington - 704-846-2709

townofweddington.com

Wentworth - 336-342-6288

townofwentworth.com

Yadkinville - 336-679-8732

yadkinville.org

Information for cities, towns and villages

The Urban Archery Season is available for cities, towns and villages that submit to the Wildlife Resources Commission by April 1 of each year a letter of intent to partici­pate in the season. A map (no larger than 11” X 17”) clearly defining the area included in the season should also accompany the letter of intent. Interested municipalities should call the Wildlife Management Division at 919-707-0050 and request to be contacted by a district wildlife biologist.