All persons hunting feral swine at any time must have a valid hunting license or must be exempt from having a license pursuant to GS 113-276.

Feral swine may be hunted year round during normal hunting hours (½ hour before sunrise until ½ hour past sunset).  There is no closed season and there is no bag limit.  Hunters should reference the N.C. Inland Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest  for all rules associated with hunting feral swine during normal hunting hours.

Permit Conditions:

  • Permit authorizes the take of feral swine with a firearm or archery equipment and with the aid of a light during times outside of normal shooting hours (½ hour after sunset until ½ hour before sunrise),except that firearms may not be used to take feral swine from midnight on Saturdays through midnight on Sundays pursuant to GS 103-2.
  • There is no limit on the number of swine that may be taken under this permit.
  • Permit does not grant access to any property.  All necessary permissions from the landholder(s) to lawfully enter private or public property are required. 
  • This permit does not grant access to take feral swine on North Carolina Game Lands. 
  • Where local laws are in conflict with the conditions of this permit, the local law shall prevail.

The goal of recent legislative changes and rule modifications is to make it easier to remove feral swine from the landscape and to prevent relocation and establishment of feral swine in areas they do not currently exist.  These exotic non-native animals compete with native wildlife and pose significant threats to the environment and agricultural operations.  The WRC will continue to evaluate opportunities to facilitate aggressive removal of feral swine.