Hunting Regulations AND INFORMATION
MIGRATORY GAME BIRD SEASONS (CONT.)
SEASON DATES LIMITS EXTENDED FALCONRY SEASONS DOVE (INCLUDES MOURNING DOVE AND WHITE-WINGED DOVE) (EXTENDED FALCONRY SEASON) Oct. 12 – 24 Daily Limit 3 KING, CLAPPER AND VIRGINIA RAIL, SORA, GALLINULE AND MOORHEN (EXTENDED FALCONRY SEASON) Dec. 5 – Jan. 9 Daily Limit 3 WOODCOCK (EXTENDED FALCONRY SEASON)
SEASON DATES LIMITS TUNDRA SWAN (BY PERMIT ONLY) Nov. 7 – Jan. 30
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.gov for application information and requirements. LIGHT GEESE (INCLUDES SNOW GEESE AND ROSS’S GEESE) REGULAR SEASON Nov. 7 – Mar. 10 Daily Limit 25; no possession limit After the closure of all other waterfowl seasons on Feb. 6, some expanded hunting methods for light geese are allowed. These include the use of unplugged shotguns and electronic calls only. CONSERVATION ORDER SEASON (BY PERMIT ONLY) The option for the 2027 Conservation Order season for light geese will be determined during Fall 2026. Once a final decision is made, the status of the season and any associated regulations will be posted online at: https://www.ncwildlife.gov/lightgoosestatus BRANT Dec. 28 – Jan. 30 Daily Limit 1 YOUTH WATERFOWL DAY(S) Dec. 5 & Feb. 6 (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 Pages 78 and 81 for guidelines on hunting game lands, including permit-only areas. Youth under the age of 16 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. • 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. • 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) Dec. 5 & Feb. 6 (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 Pages 78 and 81 for guidelines on hunting game lands, including permit-only areas.
Dec. 1 – Dec. 9 & Feb. 1 – Feb. 20
Daily Limit 3
DUCKS, MERGANSERS AND COOTS (EXTENDED FALCONRY SEASONS) Oct. 1 – Oct. 10 & Feb. 1 – Feb. 6 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 Sundays. • 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.
2026–2027 73
North Carolina Inland Fishing, Hunting & Trapping Regulations
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