Small Game & Other Seasons

Regulation
Topic

2025-2026
(Previous Regulations)

2026-2027
(New Regulations)

Oct. 12 – Feb. 28

Opossum: No daily, season, or possession limits

Raccoon: Daily limit 3; No possession or season limits

General Restrictions

• Field possession limit while hunting is the same as the daily bag limit. No person shall possess more than one daily bag limit while in the field or while returning from the field to one’s vehicle, hunting camp or residence.
• Axes and saws may not be carried when raccoon or opossum hunting.
• It is unlawful to carry firearms or climbing irons when training dogs during closed seasons, except under special field-trial regulations.

Gray and Red:

Oct. 12 – Feb. 28

Daily limit 8; No possession or season limits

Gray:

May 17 – 31, 2027

Daily limit 8; No possession or season limits

Fox Squirrel:

Oct. 12 – Jan. 31

Daily limit 1; Possession 2; Season 10

Oct. 12 – Feb. 28

(hunting and box-trapping*)

Daily limit 5; No possession or season limits

* A trapping license is not required to box-trap rabbits, but a valid hunting license is necessary. The sale of live rabbits is prohibited.

Nov. 21 – Feb. 28

Daily limit 6; Possession 12; No season limit

Oct. 12 – Feb. 28

Daily limit 3; Possession 6; Season 30

Oct. 12 – Feb. 28

No daily, season, or possession limits

There is no closed hunting season on private lands. See “Game Lands” section for game land regulations.

No daily, season, or possession limits

• Hunters may use electronic calls for coyotes and feral swine.
• Feral swine may be hunted at night with lights.
• Coyotes may be hunted at night with artificial lights except in the counties of Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington. In those five counties, the following apply:
  • Hunting hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset in the above listed five counties.
  • All coyote hunting in the above listed five counties requires a permit (free upon request).
  • All coyote harvests in the above listed five counties must be reported. Hunting permits and Coyote Harvest Report Forms can be found at gooutdoorsnorthcarolina.com

See more information about distinguishing the differences between red wolves and coyotes.

Nov. 21 – Feb. 28 (Barrier Islands of Carteret, Dare, and Hyde Counties for male pheasant only)

Daily limit 3; Possession 6; Season 30

Sept. 5 – Feb. 28 (Remainder of state not included above for pheasants of either sex)

No daily, season, or possession limits

Year Round

• Must be taken with dogs only; no limits.
• Local laws may restrict hunting foxes with dogs. Visit ncwildlife.gov/foxseasons for restrictions.

Nov. 21, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027

Daily limit 2; Season 10

This season applies as follows:

• In those counties and parts of counties east of I-77 where local laws do not prohibit the taking of foxes or that do not have established fox seasons.
  • To see if your county east of I-77 has a different fox hunting season than the one listed above due to local law, visit ncwildlife.gov/foxseasons
• Foxes taken during this hunting season shall not be bought or sold.
• Foxes may be taken by firearms only.

Jan. 2 – Jan. 23, 2027

Daily limit 2; Season 10

• Foxes may be taken in the counties listed below by legal weapons and may be sold after being properly tagged (see more information on fox tags):

Clay, Graham, Henderson, Macon, Tyrrell

• Hunters must possess fox tags prior to harvesting foxes during this season.

There is no open weapons hunting season in any other county except where provided by local laws. To see if your county has a hunting season on foxes, visit ncwildlife.gov/foxseasons, or call 919-707-0050 to request a copy.

Beaver may be taken year-round with firearms or bow and arrow, provided that permission has been obtained from the owner or lessee of the land on which beaver is being taken.

Oct. 1 – March 31

No limits

This applies to domestically raised birds (mallard ducks, chukars, Hungarian partridges, and upland game birds) only.

No wild turkey may be taken.