Season briefings for NC hunters — and every state

Common species

• Dove
• Turkey
• Deer
• Bear
• Duck
• Small game (rabbit, squirrel)
• Predator

• Featured NC game: dove, turkey, deer, bear, duck, rabbit & squirrel, and predator
• Weapon seasons (archery, muzzleloader, gun) and deer/bear zones change the calendar
• Buy licenses and check Game Lands via official NCWRC / Go Outdoors NC channels

Typical timing (illustrative)

Not legal advice and not a substitute for the current regulation book. Confirm every date with the agency.

• Dove

  Illustrative: NC dove often opens around Labor Day (early September) with later splits — always confirm current dates and bag limits with NCWRC.

• Turkey

  Illustrative: spring gobbler is typically April (sometimes into early May). Fall turkey, if offered, is limited/zone-specific.

• Deer

  Illustrative: archery often opens mid-September; muzzleloader and gun seasons follow later in fall by deer zone and weapon. Bag limits vary by zone.

• Bear

  Illustrative: fall bear seasons are highly zone-specific in NC — verify bear season maps, permits, and weapon rules before hunting.

• Duck

  Illustrative: duck/waterfowl seasons run in fall/winter under federal frameworks and NC zone splits — check the current waterfowl guide.

• Small game (rabbit, squirrel)

  Illustrative: rabbit and squirrel seasons commonly run fall through winter; confirm county/statewide dates and bag limits with NCWRC.

• Predator

  Illustrative: coyote and other predator rules can differ from game seasons (methods, night hunting, etc.). Verify current predator regulations before hunting.