Hunting Regulations AND INFORMATION
MIGRATORY GAME BIRD SEASONS (CONT.)
SEASON DATES LIMITS YOUTH WATERFOWL DAY(S) (CONT.)
SEASON DATES LIMITS SEPTEMBER CANADA GOOSE SEASON
Sept. 2 – Sept. 30 (Statewide. Canada Goose Zones do not apply during the month of September.)
• Youth under the age of 16 who have not successfully completed a Hunter Education Course must be accompanied by a properly licensed adult age 18 or older. • Youth age 16 & 17 must be properly licensed, must have HIP certification and a federal duck stamp and must be accompa- nied by an adult age 18 or older. • Accompanying adults that are properly licensed may not duck hunt, but may participate in other open seasons on youth waterfowl days. VETERANS/MILITARY WATERFOWL DAY(S) Feb. 1 & Feb. 8 (Statewide) Same daily limits as during the regular waterfowl season(s) Waterfowl hunting outside the regular season is allowed on the day(s) officially designated as “Veterans/Military Waterfowl Day.” Legal species include ducks, geese, brant, tundra swans, mergan- sers and coots. Veterans and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for training), may participate in accordance with the guidelines below: • Must be properly licensed with valid credentials, must have HIP certification and a federal duck stamp. • Must have a valid permit to hunt tundra swans. Refer to Page 78 for guidelines on hunting game lands, including permit-only areas. EXTENDED FALCONRY SEASONS DOVE (INCLUDES MOURNING DOVE AND WHITE-WINGED DOVE) (EXTENDED FALCONRY SEASON) Oct. 7 – Oct. 19 Daily Limit 3 KING, CLAPPER AND VIRGINIA RAIL, SORA, GALLINULE AND MOORHEN (EXTENDED FALCONRY SEASON) Dec. 7 – Jan. 11 Daily Limit 3 WOODCOCK (EXTENDED FALCONRY SEASON) Dec. 2 – Dec. 10 & Feb. 1 – Feb. 22 Daily Limit 3 DUCKS, MERGANSERS AND COOTS (EXTENDED FALCONRY SEASONS) Oct. 1 – Oct. 12 & Feb. 1 – Feb. 8 Daily Limit 3 • Falconers may also hunt during the applicable gun seasons for migratory game birds. The daily bag and possession limits of 3 and 9 respectively, also apply while hunting during the gun seasons. • Falconry hours for all species are ½ hour before sunrise until sunset. • Falconry for migratory game birds is not allowed on Sunday. • Daily bag and possession limits are for all species singly or in the aggregate. For example, if the applicable seasons are open a daily limit may consist of 3 doves or 1 dove, 1 duck and 1 wood- cock for a total of 3 migratory game birds.
Daily Limit 15
In that area west of U.S. Highway 17 only, expanded hunting methods are allowed for Canada geese. These include: shooting hours are extended to ½ hour after sunset, unplugged guns are allowed, electronic calls are permitted. This applies to this area only during the month of September. CANADA GEESE (ALSO INCLUDES WHITE-FRONTED GEESE)
See Goose Zone Map on Page 74 RESIDENT POPULATION ZONE
Oct. 17 – Oct. 26, Nov. 9 – Nov. 30 & Dec. 18 – Feb. 8
Daily Limit 5 Canada geese or white‑fronted geese either singly or in the aggregate.
NORTHEAST HUNT ZONE Dec. 28 – Jan. 31
Daily limit 1 Canada goose or 1 white- fronted goose.
TUNDRA SWAN (BY PERMIT ONLY) Nov. 9 – Jan. 31 1 per season with special permit A limited number of permits will be issued to hunt tundra swans. Permits will be issued by a random drawing authorizing each permit holder to harvest one tundra swan. Refer to ncwildlife.org for appli- cation information and requirements. LIGHT GEESE (INCLUDES SNOW GEESE AND ROSS’S GEESE) REGULAR SEASON Oct. 8 – Feb. 8 Daily Limit 25; no possession limit CONSERVATION ORDER SEASON (BY PERMIT ONLY) Feb. 10 – Mar. 31 No daily limit; no possession limit • During the Conservation Order Season for light geese, expanded hunting methods are allowed. These include the use of unplugged guns and electronic calls. In addition, shooting hours are extended until ½ hour past sunset. • To learn more or to apply for a permit after July 1, go to ncwildlife.org and gooutdoorsnorthcarolina.com . BRANT Dec. 28 – Jan. 31 Daily Limit 1 YOUTH WATERFOWL DAY(S) Feb. 1 & Feb. 8 (Statewide) Same daily limits as during the regular waterfowl season(s) Waterfowl hunting outside the regular season is allowed on the day(s) officially designated as “Youth Waterfowl Day.” Legal spe- cies include ducks, geese, brant, tundra swans, mergansers and coots. The youth must have a valid permit to hunt tundra swans. Refer to Page 78 for guidelines on hunting game lands, including permit-only areas. Youth under the age of 18 may participate in accordance with the guidelines listed below: • Youth under the age of 16 who have obtained a Hunter Education Certification must be accompanied by an adult age 18 or older.
2024–2025 73
North Carolina Inland Fishing, Hunting & Trapping Regulations
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online