Hunting Regulations AND INFORMATION
Possession Limits Possession Limits for all migratory game birds, including waterfowl, are 3 times the daily limit unless otherwise specified. Nontoxic Shot Requirements In North Carolina, no person shall take wa- terfowl while possessing shells loaded with any shot other than steel or other approved nontoxic materials. On posted waterfowl im- poundments on game lands, it is unlawful to
Migratory Game Birds – Seasons Shooting Hours
hunt with or have in possession any shotgun shell containing lead or toxic shot while hunting; except shotgun shells containing lead buckshot may be used while deer hunting. Nontoxic shot is required for the taking of captive-reared mallards on shooting preserves, in field trials and during bona fide dog-training activities.
Unless otherwise specified, shooting hours for all migratory game birds, including waterfowl, are ½ hour before sunrise to sunset. Hunting migratory game birds, including waterfowl, on Sundays is prohibited.
MIGRATORY GAME BIRD SEASONS
SEASON DATES LIMITS DOVE (INCLUDES MOURNING DOVE AND WHITE-WINGED DOVE) Sept. 2 – Oct. 5, Daily Limit 15; either singly or in the aggregate for mourning doves and white- winged doves RAILS (INCLUDES KING, CLAPPER AND VIRGINIA RAILS AND SORA) Nov. 9 – Nov. 30 & Dec. 16 – Jan. 31
SEASON DATES COMMON SNIPE Oct. 28 – Feb. 28
LIMITS
Daily Limit 8 SEPTEMBER TEAL SEASON (INCLUDES GREEN-WINGED TEAL, BLUE-WINGED TEAL AND CINNAMON TEAL)
Daily Limit 6 The September Teal Season is open only in that area east of U.S. Highway 17.
Sept. 12 – Sept. 30
Daily Limit 15 King or Clapper Rails either singly or in the aggregate Daily Limit 25 Virginia Rails or Sora either singly or in the aggregate
Sept. 2 – Nov. 21
DUCKS
Daily Limits are the same in each duck hunting zone. Daily Limit 6 with the following restrictions: 4 total sea ducks including no more than 3 scoters, 3 eiders (only 1 hen eider), or 3 long-tailed ducks, 4 mallards (only 2 hen mallards), 3 wood ducks, 2 black ducks, 2 redheads, 2 can- vasbacks, 1 pintail, 1 mottled duck, and 1 fulvous whistling duck. Prior to Jan. 9 the scaup bag limit is 1, on Jan. 9 and after the scaup bag limit is 2. The season on harlequin ducks is closed. The season on black and mottled ducks is closed until Nov. 23.
GALLINULE AND MOORHEN Sept. 2 – Nov. 21
See Duck Zone Map on Page 74. Inland Zone Oct. 17 – Oct. 19, Nov. 9 – Nov. 30 & Dec. 19 – Jan. 31 Coastal Zone Oct. 25 – Oct. 26, Nov. 9 – Nov. 30 & Dec. 18 – Jan. 31 COOTS Season dates same as ducks MERGANSERS Season dates same as ducks SEA DUCKS Oct. 25 – Oct. 26, Nov. 9 – Nov. 30 & Dec. 18 – Jan. 31
Daily Limit 15 Gallinules and Moorhens either singly or in the aggregate
WOODCOCK Dec. 11 – Jan. 31
Daily Limit 3
Daily Limit 15 coots
Daily Limit 5 with no more than 2 hooded mergansers
Daily Limit 4 total sea ducks with no more than 3 scoters, 3 eiders (only 1 hen eider) or 3 long-tailed ducks.
• All sea ducks taken, whether inside or outside of the Sea Duck Area, count toward the general daily limit of 6 ducks. • In the designated Sea Duck Area (includes the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and those coastal waters south of U.S. 64 that are separated by a distance of at least 800 yards of open water from any shore, island or marsh) wounded waterfowl may be taken from a motorboat while under power (see Page 75).
72 2024–2025
Please note: Major regulation changes appear in RED
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