North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

NCWRC License & Vessel Registration Call Centers are open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Mon.-Fri. Please use our website for services related to license purchases, vessel registration renewals and human wildlife interactions. The sales office at Commission Headquarters in Raleigh is closed.

Get the latest agency updates on COVID-19.

Alert

Executive Order 141 (EO141)

Although the NC Wildlife Resources Commission promotes outdoor recreational pursuits they should be done in a manner consistent with CDC social distancing guidelines and in compliance with any applicable Emergency Orders at the municipality, city, county, state and federal level.
There have been no changes to North Carolina hunting or fishing license requirements, seasons, or bag/creel limits.

2020-21 Seasons & Limits

Big Game

Report A Big Game Harvest

You can also call 800-I-GOT-ONE (800-446-8663) to report your harvest.

View Your Past Harvests

Review a list of your previous harvests with authorization numbers. You can also print a personalized harvest certificate for display.

Species

Seasons & Limits

Map

2020-2021 Seasons

Black Bear Seasons & Limits

Bear Season Maps

White-tail Deer

2020-2021 Seasons /

White-tail Deer Seasons & Limits
Deer Urban Archery Season

Deer Zones Maps

2020-2021 Seasons

Wild Turkey Seasons & Limits

Statewide Season

Small Game and Other Seasons

Species 2020-2021 Seasons	Regulations 2019-2020	Additional Information
Armadillo No Closed Season	Hunting Regulations Trapping Regulations	General Information
Beaver Refer to Regulations Digest	Hunting Regulations Trapping Regulations	General Information
Bobcat Oct. 12, 2020 - Feb. 28, 2021	Hunting Regulations Trapping Regulations	General Information
Coyote No Closed Season	Hunting Regulations Trapping Regulations	General Information 5-County Coyote Hunting & Depredation Permits
Crow Aug. 5, 2020 – Feb. 27, 2021 June 2 - July 31, 2021 Wednesday, Friday and Saturday of each week. Crows may also be hunted on Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Independence Day; except when these days fall on a Sunday.	Hunting Regulations
Feral Swine No Closed Season	Hunting Regulations	General Information
Fox Refer to “Fox Hunting & Trapping Seasons” publication at www.ncwildlife.org/foxseasons.	Fox Seasons by County	General Information Gray Fox Red Fox
Groundhog No Closed Season	Hunting Regulations Trapping Regulations
Grouse Oct. 12, 2020 – Feb. 28, 2021	Hunting Regulations	General Information
Nutria No Closed Season	Hunting Regulations Trapping Regulations
Opossum Oct. 12, 2020 – Feb. 28, 2021	Hunting Regulations Trapping Regulations	General Information (PDF)
Pheasant (Male Only) Nov. 21, 2020 - Feb. 1, 2021	Hunting Regulations
Quail Nov. 21, 2020 - Feb. 28, 2021	Hunting Regulations	General Information
Rabbit (Includes Box-Trapping) Oct. 12, 2020 – Feb. 28, 2021	Hunting Regulations
Raccoon Oct. 12, 2020 – Feb. 28, 2021	Hunting Regulations Trapping Regulations	General Information
Skunk (striped) No Closed Season	Hunting Regulations Trapping Regulations	General Information (PDF)
Squirrel - Gray and Red Oct. 12, 2020 – Feb. 28, 2021 Squirrel - Fox Oct. 12, 2020 – Jan. 31, 2021	Hunting Regulations	General Information Northern Flying Squirrel (PDF) Fox Squirrel (PDF) Southern Flying Squirrel (PDF)
Controlled Hunting Preserves	Regulations	General Information
Extended Falconry	Regulations

Waterfowl

Species	2020-21 Season Dates	2019-20 Regulations	Additional Information
Waterfowl - General (includes ducks, geese, swans and youth waterfowl days)	Seasons / Limits Youth Waterfowl Day(s) Extended Falconry Seasons	Migratory Game Bird Regulations	Additional Info (including license requirements, non-toxic shot requirements, baiting information and various reports)
Canada Goose	Seasons / Limits	Migratory Birds Regulations	Goose Zone Map NE Goose Hunt Zone Permits (PDF) Additional Info (including license requirements, non-toxic shot requirements, baiting information and various reports)
Light Goose	Seasons / Limits	Migratory Game Bird Regulations	Light Goose Conservation Season Permit Information
Tundra Swan	Seasons / Limits	Migratory Game Bird Regulations	Tundra Swan Permit information (PDF) Additional Info (including license requirements, non-toxic shot requirements, baiting information and various reports)

Webless Migratory Game Birds (woodcock, rail, snipe, mourning and white-winged doves)

Species	2020-21 Season Dates	2019-20 Regulations	Additional Information
Woodcock	Seasons/Limits Extended Falconry Seasons	Migratory Game Bird Regulations	Additional Info (including public hunting opportunities and various reports)
Snipe	Seasons/Limits	Migratory Game Bird Regulations	Additional Info (including public hunting opportunities and various reports)
Rails (includes Sora & Clapper, King & Virginia Rail)	Seasons/Limits Extended Falconry Seasons	Migratory Game Bird Regulations	Additional Info (including public hunting opportunities and various reports)
Doves (includes mourning and white-winged dove)	Seasons/Limits Extended Falconry Seasons	Migratory Game Bird Regulations	Additional Info (including public hunting opportunities and various reports)

At Your Service

Purchase Licenses & Permits

Purchase Licenses & Permits

Landowner Protection Act

Sportsmen now need written permission, dated within the past 12 months, signed by the landowner or lessee, to hunt, fish, or trap on private lands posted with signs or purple paint.

Landowner Protection Act (PDF)

Landowner Protection Act FAQ (PDF)

Landowner Permission Form - Wallet Size (PDF)

Landowner Permission Form - Full Size (PDF)

NCWRC Closings & Alerts

Headquarters Location

Mailing Address:
1701 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1700

Report Wildlife Violations:
1-800-662-7137

Report Website Issue

Copyright © 2020 N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission