2026-27 North Carolina Inland Fishing, Hunting & Trapping

Hunting Regulations AND INFORMATION

2026–2027 Bear Seasons

Alleghany

Northampton

Gates

Ashe

Surry

Stokes

Rockingham

Caswell

Warren

Person

21

Vance

Hertford

Halifax

Watauga

Wilkes

13

7

Yadkin

Forsyth

Avery

17

Bertie

Orange

Franklin

Guilford

Caldwell

Nash

10

Yancey

Davie

1

Edgecombe

Madison

4

Tyrrell

Dare

Iredell

Martin

Wake

Davidson

12

Washington

Burke

Randolph

Wilson

Chatham

McDowell

Catawba

5

Rowan

Buncombe

16

Haywood

Pitt

Beaufort

Swain

18

Hyde

Johnston

Lincoln

Greene

Lee

Jackson

Graham

Henderson

Rutherford

9

Cabarrus

14 15

Harnett

Wayne

Polk

Cleveland

Macon

Stanly

Gaston

Moore

22

Lenoir

Cherokee

6

Clay

Pamlico

Jones

Cumberland

19

Hoke

Union

Sampson

20

Anson

Duplin

Craven

Onslow

3

Robeson

– Oct. 3 – Nov. 21, 2026 and Dec. 12, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027 – Nov. 21, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027 – Nov. 14, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027 – Oct. 17, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027 – Nov. 9, 2026 – Jan. 1, 2027 – Nov. 21 – Dec. 20, 2026

Bladen

Pender

2

Columbus

8

Brunswick

11

Designated Bear Management Areas 1. Bachelor Bay 2. Columbus County 3. Croatan 4. Daniel Boone* 5. Dare* 6. Fires Creek 7. Flat Top 8. Green Swamp 9. Gull Rock 10. Harmon Den 11. Juniper Creek 12. Mount Mitchell*

13. North River 14. Panthertown – Bonas Defeat* 15. Pisgah* 16. Pungo River 17. Rich Mountain

18. Sherwood 19. Standing Indian* 20. Suggs Mill Pond 21. Thurmond Chatham 22. Wayah

– Nov. 14 – 22 and Dec. 12 – 27, 2026 – Nov. 14 – 22 and Dec. 12 – 27, 2026 – Nov. 13 – 22 and Dec. 12 – 27, 2026 – Nov. 14 – 29 and Dec. 12 - 27, 2026

*Bear hunting by permit only on these areas. It is unlawful to hunt bear on other Designated Bear Management Areas.

Hunting Bear with Dogs

– Use of dogs allowed – Use of dogs prohibited

DOGS. Hunting bears with dogs is prohibited in the following counties or parts of counties: Alamance south of I-85, Anson west of N.C. Hwy 742, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davie, Davidson, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Lee, Lincoln, Mecklen- burg, Montgomery, Orange south of I-85, Pamlico (per local law), Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly, Union, and Wake south of N.C. Hwy 98. In all other counties, hunting bears with the use of dogs is legal during open bear seasons, but restrictions may apply on game lands. See “Game Land” section on page 79 for further information.

2026–2027 61

North Carolina Inland Fishing, Hunting & Trapping Regulations 

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