Small Game Hunting Seasons in North Carolina
- Foxes have the shortest hunting season of all small game in North Carolina.red fox portrait 2 image by Pierre Landry from Fotolia.com
Hunting, fishing and trapping in North Carolina is regulated by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The commission issues licenses for residents and non-residents, establishes seasons and bag limits (the number of animals that can be taken in a single day) and regulates how and where small game may be taken. Small game hunting season in North Carolina run during the winter months, with restrictions on bag and season limits differing dependent on the species. - Raccoon and opossum season is from sunrise on Oct. 12 to Feb. 28. There is no bag limit for opossum, but three raccoon can be taken on any given day. Raccoon and opossum hunting is restricted in the Harmon Den and Sherwood Bear sanctuaries.
- Squirrel hunting season and bag limits are dependent on the species. Fox squirrel season is from Oct. 12 to Dec. 31, with a bag limit of one per day and 10 per season. Gray and Red squirrel season is from Oct. 1 to Feb. 13 with a bag limit of eight and no limit on the number taken during the season.
- Hunters may hunt or trap rabbits from Nov. 21 to Feb. 28. The daily bag limit is five, and no bag restrictions exist for the season.
- Quail season is from Nov. 21 to Feb. 28 with a daily limit of six, while no limit exists for the season.
- Hunting season for grouse, a heavy-set bird from the same family as chickens, runs Oct. 12 to Feb. 28. The daily limit is three birds, with a maximum of 30 allowed taken during the season.
- Bobcat season runs from Oct. 12 to Feb. 28 with no restrictions on the number taken. Hunting bobcat is prohibited in the Harmon Den and Sherwood Bear sanctuaries.
- North Carolina allows year-round hunting for groundhog, nutria, coyote and skunk with no bag limit restrictions.
- Fox has the shortest season of all North Carolina small game, running from Nov. 21 to Jan. 1. Hunters may take two fox in a single day and 10 throughout the season. Foxes taken cannot be bought or sold.
- Pheasant season is from Nov. 21 to Feb. 1 with a daily limit of three and a season limit of 30, though the state limits the hunt to male pheasants. The males are easily distinguishable by their copper-colored plumage, green head and longer tails.
