Hunting in North Carolina: 5 Animals to Hunt Year-Round

Most hunting in North Carolina occurs during specified seasons. However, there are certain animals that hunters in the state legally can take year-round. Many of these include no limits.

Here is a look at the animals that the state of North Carolina allows hunters to take year-round, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission website.

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Groundhogs

Woodchucks and groundhogs in North Carolina are open to hunting year-round as long as the hunter has a proper and up-to-date hunting license. Landowners aren't required to have a license to hunt these animals on their property. While hunting is allowed year-round, trapping is allowed only during open trapping seasons. Groundhogs also may be relocated with permission of the property owner but can't be released onto state or federal property.

Coyotes

Outside of five counties, coyote hunting is allowed year-round in North Carolina with no limit, although the hunter must possess a hunting license. The reason coyote hunting was prohibited in Washington, Tyrrell, Beaufort, Hyde, and Dare counties is because they were reintroducing the red wolf as an endangered species, and hunters were mistaking the two. In the rest of the state, coyote hunting can take place day or night on private lands and through most of the day on public lands with a permit.

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Striped Skunks and Armadillos

Hunting of skunks and armadillos is allowed year-round with no closed season. There is also no bag limit for either animal.

Feral Swine

Hunting in North Carolina for feral swine requires a valid hunting license, but these invasive boars are open for hunting year-round, during normal hunting hours, with no bag limit. The feral swine often are diseased and destroy crops and personal property. The manner in taking a feral swine is by firearm or archery, and light can be used to take them during nighttime hours. North Carolina encourages feral swine hunting to keep them from relocating and establishing themselves where they can disrupt the native ecosystem.

This article is for information only. Please check current regulations before hunting.

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