A Few General Deer Hunting Regulations

Always review the current Official "North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission" regulations or contact the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for the complete and the most current North Carolina deer hunting rules and regulations. The information contained on this page is for quick reference purposes only and is subject to change at any time.

General:

Lawful seasons and bag limits for each species apply beginning with the first day of the listed season and continue through the last day of the listed season, with all dates being included except Sundays. Hunting seasons are closed on Sundays, except on some military installations under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal government.

It is unlawful to take deer that are swimming or in water above the knees of the deer.

Rifles:
No restrictions as to caliber or type. Local laws prohibit or restrict rifles in some counties.

Pistols:
Deer may be taken with a handguns must have a barrel length at least 5 ½ inches in length. Centerfire cartridges used must be no less than .357 caliber and bottleneck ammunition must be no less that 24 caliber and no less that 2" in length. Muzzleloading pistols are not legal for hunting.

Archery
Minimun pull of 45 pounds, arrows with a fixed broadhead with a minimun with of 7/8".

Crossbows
Crossbows are legal only for disabled persons with a permit from the NC Wildlife Resourcs Commission.

Shotguns
Shotguns must be no larger that 10 gauge.

Fluorescent Orange Requirements:
Any person hunting deer with the use of firearms, must wear a cap or hat made of hunter orange material or an outer garment Of hunter orange visible from all sides.

Dog May Not Be Used:

To run or chase deer during closed season, except when under the control of the owner.

To hunt deer during primitive weapons seasons

To hunt, run or chase deer at any time in that portion of Wake County south of NC 98 or south of I-85. in Orange County. In Alamance, Chatham , Johnson, Lee and Wayne counties or in and west of the counties of Rockingham, Guilford, Randolph, Montgomery, and Anson (west of NC 742.

Except as allowed by regulations pertaining to authorized field trials, it is unlawful to possess firearms, axes, saws or tree climbing equipment while training or running dogs during closed season.

Boats:
Deer may not be hunted from boats or other floating devices in some counties.

Mandatory Hunter Education:
Mandatory Hunter Education became effective July 1, 1991. The law states that on or after July 1, 1991, a person regardless of age, may not procure a hunting license or hunt in this State without producing a certificate of competency (a hunter education certificate card) or a hunting license issued prior to July 1, 1991, or indicate by statement on the hunting license provided by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission that he or she had such a license prior to July 1, 1991. You must be at least age 12 to receive the certification.

Big Game Tagging & Reporting:

Note: The rules on Big Game tagging have been changed. Hunters should review this section carefully concerning use of the new Big Game Harvest Report Card. Even if you have been exempt from tagging requirements in the past, this section may apply to you.

Upon killing a bear, deer, wild boar, or wild turkey and before moving the animal from the site of kill, the successful hunter must validate the Big Game Harvest Report Card furnished with the big game hunting license by cutting or punching out the validation box that correctly identifies the big game animal harvested.

Before any harvested bear, deer, wild boar, or wild turkey is skinned, dressed, or dismembered for consumption and within 24 hours of the kill, the animal must be transported to a Wildlife Cooperator Agent within the immediate area of open season to be registered or reported through the toll free Big Game Reporting System. The hunter may field dress the animal before registering it at a Wildlife Cooperator Agent or by telephone by bleeding and removing the digestive, respiratory and circulatory organs; but, the hunter may not mutilate the carcass in a manner that obscures its species identity, age, or sex. When the kill occurs in a remote area, which prevents the animal from being transported as an entire carcass, the animal may be skinned and quartered before being reported by telephone or transported to a Wildlife Cooperator Agent to be registered. When a hunter harvests a big game animal in a remote area and plans to remain in the remote area for longer than a day, the 24-hour time limit to register the kill is extended until the hunter leaves the area. Upon leaving the remote area, the hunter shall proceed directly to a telephone or to a Wildlife Cooperator Agent to register the kill.

When a successful hunter presents a big game kill at a Wildlife Cooperator Agent for registration, the Wildlife Cooperator Agent shall issue an authorization number (which includes the date of kill) to the successful big game hunter. The hunter shall record the authorization number given by the Wildlife Cooperator Agent or obtained by telephone in the space provided immediately adjacent to the validation box that has been cut or punched out on the Big Game Harvest Report Card. The record entered on the Big Game Harvest Report Card shall thereafter constitute authorization for continued possession of the carcass. Possession of a harvested bear, deer, wild boar, or wild turkey without a validated Big Game Harvest Report Card including the authorization number obtained from a Wildlife Cooperator Agent or through the toll free Big Game Reporting System shall be unlawful.

Persons killing a big game animal and leaving it unattended must identify the carcass with their name, their hunting license number, and the date of kill. Once an unattended animal is registered, the animal need only be identified with the authorization number received at the Wildlife Cooperator Agent or by telephone.

It shall be unlawful for a person to possess a Big Game Harvest Report Card on which the species validation box has been cut or punched out, but on which the authorization number from a Wildlife Cooperator Agent has not been recorded, unless the animal is in the person’s possession and being transported to a Wildlife Cooperator Agent or identified as described in this paragraph.

Persons who are by law exempt from the big game hunting license shall obtain a Big Game Harvest Report Card for License Exempt Hunters from a Wildlife Service Agent at no cost.

Upon harvesting a deer, the exempt person shall validate the Big Game Harvest Record Card and report the big game kill at a Wildlife Cooperator Agent or by telephone.

Persons killing antlerless deer under the Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) shall follow the tagging and reporting requirements described in the instructions they have received as a participant in the DMAP program and are not obligated to take any action under the rules described here.

To report by telephone, call 1-800-I GOT ONE (1-800-446-8663). THOSE NOT HAVING A TOUCH TONE PHONE OR, FOR ANY REASON, HAVE TROUBLE USING THE TELEPHONE REPORTING SYSTEM, MUST REPORT THEIR KILLS THROUGH A COOPERATOR AGENT.

This service is available 24-hours per day, seven days per week. Hunters should report their kill only once. If you report by telephone, there is no need to register the kill with a Cooperator Agent. A touch-tone phone is required. Have pencil, Big Game Harvest Report Card, and hunting license number from your big game report card handy when you call.

Public Hunting Areas:
North Carolina offers almost 2,000,000 acres of public hunting lands called Game Lands . Just click "HERE" for Public Hunting Land Info from the NCWRC.

Deer:

Visible antlers are defined as a bony structure that protrudes through the skin. Knobs or buttons covered by skin or velvet are not considered as visible antlers.

It is unlawful to carry any type of firearm while bow and arrow hunting during the bow and arrow seasons.

Dogs may not be used for hunting deer during the bow and arrow or the muzzleloading firearm deer seasons.

Pistols may not be carried while hunting deer during the muzzle-loading firearm seasons.

During the muzzleloading firearm season only muzzleloading rifles or muzzleloading shotguns may be used. Bow and arrows are not permitted to be used during the muzzleloading firearm seasons, except on areas designated and posted as Archery Zones on Game Lands.

During the gun deer season, bow and arrows, pistols (as defined under manner of taking) and muzzleloading firearms are legal weapons.

Seasons for deer with visible antlers and primitive weapons seasons on Game Lands follow the seasons for the county in which they are located except for Sandhills Game Land.

Other Local Laws:
There are many local laws affecting deer hunting in North Carolina. Be sure you check them before you hunt!