North Carolina

Record-weight coastal black bears, Great Smoky mountain game lands, and expansive Pamlico Sound waterfowl.

Public Access & WMAs

Public Lands to Hunt in North Carolina

Official Regulatory Authority

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC)

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) manages more than 2 million acres of public land across its extensive Game Lands program. Anchored by four federal National Forests (Croatan, Uwharrie, Pisgah, and Nantahala) totaling 1.25 million acres, North Carolina provides hunters with exceptional public territory ranging from 6,000-foot summits in the Great Smokies and Blue Ridge Mountains to the coastal blackwater swamps, pocosins, and sounds of the Outer Banks.

Blue Ridge & Great Smokies | 1+ Million Acres

Pisgah & Nantahala National Forests

Encompassing the highest mountain peaks in the eastern United States. Steep hardwood coves, rhododendron valleys, and high-elevation spruce-fir forests support thriving populations of black bear, mountain whitetail deer, ruffed grouse, and wild turkey.

Coastal Pocosin & Pine | 160,000 Acres

Croatan National Forest

Located along the Atlantic coast in Craven, Carteret, and Jones counties. Characterized by dense evergreen shrub bogs (pocosins), longleaf pine flatwoods, and blackwater estuaries. Outstanding public hunting for trophy black bears, whitetail deer, and waterfowl.

Central Piedmont Hills | 51,000 Acres

Uwharrie National Forest & Game Land

Located in Montgomery, Randolph, and Davidson counties in the central Piedmont. Rolling ancient mountain ridges covered in mature oak-hickory timber and loblolly pine, offering accessible public hunting for whitetail deer, wild turkey, and small game.

Pamlico Sound Marshes | 40,000+ Acres Combined

Goose Creek & Gull Rock Game Lands

Situated along Pamlico Sound in Beaufort and Hyde counties. Coastal salt marshes, flooded impoundments, and pine flatwoods renowned for world-class public waterfowl hunting for diving and puddle ducks, black bears, and whitetail deer.

Longleaf Pine & Wiregrass | 61,000 Acres

Sandhills Game Land

Spanning Moore, Richmond, and Scotland counties. Features rolling sandhills covered in fire-maintained longleaf pine forests and native wiregrass. Nationally recognized for wild bobwhite quail, whitetail deer, and eastern wild turkey hunting.