Choose from one of the 4 ways described below to purchase your license.

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Purchase your license online!
Visit the Wildlife Service Agent nearest you.
Call 1-888-2HUNTFISH (1-888-248-6834)
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
(Please have your Visa or MasterCard number ready.)

View license types/fees, print application and mail in.
Select Resident or Non-Resident.

Looking for other licenses or permits? Visit the "Other Licenses/Permits" page.



License Requirements
License Questions Replacement Licenses Hunter Safety Course License Exceptions

HIP Certification & Federal Duck Stamp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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step 1
Are you a resident or non-resident of North Carolina?     Residency Definitions
Resident Non-Resident

step 2 Would you like a short-term, annual or lifetime license?
Short-term
Annual
Lifetime

step 3 Select the license type you would like to view.
Hunting/Fishing Combination Licenses Fishing Licenses
Hunting Licenses Trapping Licenses
(Certain combinations such as resident>short-term>trapping,
are not available and do NOT allow selecting.)
     Frequently Asked License Questions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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.

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For questions about licenses, please contact us at:
(919) 707-0391 or

NCWRC
License Section
1707 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1707


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Important! Hunter Safety Courses!
As of July 1, 1991, no person, regardless of age, may not purchase a hunting license or hunt in North Carolina without producing a certificate of having completed a hunting safety course or have a copy of a hunting license, or signing a statement that they had 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. They will have your information on file and they can issue you a new card.


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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.
    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.


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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.


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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.


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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 may also obtain the big game harvest report card through the mail by completing the postcard mailed to you in early summer. 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?


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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 through the mail by completing the postcard/HIP survey mailed to you in early summer. 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.


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