You
are considered a resident if you have resided in the State for 6 months
or have been domiciled for 60 days. Non-resident members of the armed forces,
including their spouses and children under 18, who are stationed in the
State are deemed residents of the State
and of the counties in which they reside.
A
non-resident applies to anyone who does not live in the State of North Carolina.
If you have other questions regarding your residency status or requirements, please refer to the Regulations.
Return
to Online License Guide
For
questions about licenses, please contact us at:
(919)
707-0391
or
NCWRC
License Section
1707 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1707
Important! Hunter Safety Courses!
As of July 1, 1991, a person, regardless of age, may not procure a hunting license in this State without producing a certificate of competency or a hunting license issued prior to July 1, 1991, or signing a statement on a form provided by the Wildlife Resources Commission that he had such a license.
Check out how to enroll in a Hunting Safety Course or write the Division of Wildlife Enforcement for information on Hunting Safety Courses:
Division
of Wildlife Enforcement
1718 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1718
How
can I replace my hunter safety card?
Please
contact the Wildlife Enforcement division at (919) 707-0031 or visit Replacement Hunter Education Card Instruction Page.
They will have your information on file and they can issue you a new
card.
General
- A youth under age 16, accompanied by a properly licensed adult, may enjoy those privileges conveyed by the licenses held by the accompanying adult.
- A youth under 16, who has obtained a certificate of competency showing his or her completion of the hunter safety course, may hunt without a license, but must carry his or her certificate while hunting.
- A landowner or person leasing land primarily for cultivation, their spouse, and dependents under 18 residing with them, may hunt, trap and fish on such land without a license.
- A resident of this state who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States serving outside the state, or who is on full-time military duty outside the state in a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States is exempt from hunting, inland and coastal fishing license requirements while on leave in this state for 30 days or less. Those who qualify for this exemption shall carry on his or her person at all times, during the hunting or fishing activity, their military identification card and a copy of the official document confirming they are on authorized leave from a duty station outside of North Carolina.
An individual exempt from the requirements of a hunting license must obtain a “Big Game Harvest Report Card” from theWildlife Resources Commission or a wildlife service agent, at no charge, when exercising the privileges of big game hunting.
Inland Fishing
- Persons under age 16 are exempt from the requirement of a
basic inland fishing and trout privilege license. - The game lands license is not required to fish in any waters
on game lands orWildlife Conservation Areas. - An inland fishing license is not required to fish in a private pond. A
pond or lake located on land owned by a public body such as a statesupported
university or a governmental entity is not a private pond. - July 4th is declared “FREE FISHING DAY,” and a fishing license and
trout privilege license are not required in any public waters on this date.
Reciprocal agreements between North Carolina and the states of Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia provide for the honoring of all state-wide hook and line fishing licenses obtainable from either of the respective states on certain boundary waters as follows:
Georgia
(1) The agreement with Georgia covers fishing from boats on Chatuge
Reservoir including all tributaries that are accessible by boat from the
main body of the reservoir.
Tennessee
(2) The Tennessee agreement covers the state line portion of Slick Rock
Creek and boat fishing on Calderwood Reservoir.
Virginia
(3) The Virginia agreement covers the Dan River east of the Brantly Steam
Plant Dam, the Staunton River east of the Rt. 360 bridge, and Kerr and
Gaston reservoirs and their tributaries which are accessible by boat.
The Rt. 360 bridge is the first bridge crossing the Staunton River upstream
of Kerr Reservoir. The agreement also covers that portion of the New River
between the confluence of the North and South forks of the New River in
North Carolina (Alleghany Co.) and the confluence of the New and Little
rivers in Virginia (Grayson Co.).
There are no reciprocal agreements between North Carolina and South Carolina that provide for the honoring of the other state's fishing licenses on any boundary waters.
If your license has been lost or destroyed, you may print out an application here (pdf) and mail to the address provided. There is a $5 fee for a replacement license.
Or
Submit a written request including your name, address, telephone number, NC driver's license number (if applicable), your license number and date of birth. Enclose the $5 administrative fee (payable to NCWRC), by check or money order. Please do not send cash. Mail to NCWRC, License Section, 1707 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1707.
Big game harvest report cards will always expire on June 30 of each year. If your hunting license is still valid after the big game harvest report card expires, you may obtain a replenishment card at no charge from either the Wildlife Commission or any Wildlife Service Agent.
Lifetime license-holders also may obtain the big game harvest report card by going online at www.ncwildlife.org/lifetime, by calling 1-888-248-6834, or by visiting a wildlife service agent. Persons exempt by law from the big game hunting license must obtain a big game harvest report card for "license exempt hunters" at no charge from a Wildlife Service Agent.
What is a big game harvest report card?
All licensed hunters hunting migratory game birds (dove, rails, woodcock, snipe, or waterfowl) in North Carolina are required to have certification in the Federal Harvest Information Program (HIP). Certification can be obtained free of charge from any Wildlife Service Agent when you purchase a hunting license.
Lifetime license-holders may also obtain HIP certification by going online at www.ncwildlife.org/lifetime, by calling 1-888-248-6834, or by visiting a wildlife service agent. Persons exempt by law from the hunting license requirement are not required to obtain the HIP certification.
Please visit the US Fish and Wildlife Service Web site and learn more about HIP!
Federal Duck Stamp
In addition to the NC waterfowl privilege, waterfowl hunters are required to carry on their possession the Federal duck stamp, signed in ink across the face. Federal duck stamps can be obtained at most U.S. Post Offices or at selected Wildlife Service Agents. Visit www.duckstamp.com to order the duck stamp online or to find the duck stamp retailer nearest you.
In addition to the North Carolina waterfowl privilege, waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older are required to carry on their person the federal duck stamp, signed in ink across the face. Federal duck stamps can be obtained at most U.S. post offices or from selected wildlife service agents. Visit www.duckstamp.com to order the duck stamp online or to find the duck stamp retailer nearest you. The federal duck stamp expires on June 30 of each year.