Whether you love the quiet and peacefulness of hunting, or prefer sitting by a lake and fishing, North Carolina is the perfect place for you. With plenty of hunting and fishing options available, you are sure to find what you love. However, North Carolina fishing laws and hunting laws are extremely lengthy so it’s easy to make an accidental mistake and have to pay the price. But don’t worry—we put together a guide so that no matter if you’re going for surf or turf, we have you covered.
Big game is defined as deer, bear or wild turkey.
For more information on big game regulations, look here.
Yes, depending on which animal you are hunting, there are typically specific limits for small game hunting that range from 1 to 8. To learn more about limits, click here.
Baiting is encouraging wildlife into a specific area by the use of different foods such as corn. In North Carolina, it is legal to bait deer during deer season, but it is illegal to bait bear or wild turkey. Many wildlife violations in North Carolina are due to baiting, and the punishment can be severe.
Yes, but only on private land and only certain animals can be hunted. Night laws also may depend on the county.
Federal laws protect migratory birds, such as woodpeckers or songbirds. Each year, the hunting season is established by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services, which includes bag limits, shooting hours and the hunting dates. To hunt waterfowl in North Carolina, individuals must have permits, licenses stamps and verifications. View the list of requirements here.
Yes, in order to legally hunt in NC, you must have a license. The different types of licenses are:
To purchase a license, click here.
Yes, most warmwater fish have specific size limits, with a minimum or maximum clearly outlined. Some warmwater fish cannot be possessed at all. To view the regulations, click here.
Yes, just like inland fishing, there are regulations for the different types of fish such as length and bag limits. View the full list of regulations here.
Nongame fish cannot be taken by snagging, but can be taken from a hook and line.
Yes, most likely you need a fishing license in NC. The different types of licenses are:
To purchase a fishing license, click here.
Yes, you still need a license even if you are just catching the fish and throwing them back into the water.
Breaking NC hunting laws or fishing laws can have severe punishment. The penalties can vary greatly, but these three are the most common:
If you have been accused of breaking a North Carolina fishing law or hunting law, you could face a serious charge that might impact your future. Contact the experts at Manning Law Firm immediately so that we can help.
This article is intended for general information only. The information presented in this article should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.
The content on this page was reviewed by Manning Law Firm, PLLC partner Taylor Manning. You can learn more about Taylor's experience and expertise on his bio page.
