Tools/Open near you/North Carolina

What's open to hunt in North Carolina

In short

10 deer or turkey seasons are open in North Carolina on Sunday, October 25, 2026: deer (Western Zone - Avery/Burke/Caldwell/Madison/Mitchell/Yancey), deer (Central Zone), deer (Western Zone - Graham), deer (Northwestern Zone), deer (Western Zone - Cherokee/Clay/Haywood/Jackson/Macon/Swain/Transylvania), deer (Northwestern CWD Management Area), deer (Western Zone - Buncombe/Henderson/McDowell), deer (Southeastern CWD Management Area), deer (Northeastern Zone), deer (Southeastern Zone).

Updated October 2026
Next opener
6 days
Blackpowder Season · Central Zone opens Oct 31
Open todayDeer · Western Zone - Avery/Burke/Caldwell/Madison/Mitchell/YanceyDeer · Central ZoneDeer · Western Zone - GrahamDeer · Northwestern ZoneDeer · Western Zone - Cherokee/Clay/Haywood/Jackson/Macon/Swain/TransylvaniaDeer · Northwestern CWD Management AreaDeer · Western Zone - Buncombe/Henderson/McDowellDeer · Southeastern CWD Management AreaDeer · Northeastern ZoneDeer · Southeastern Zone
License yearSep 1, 2026 – Aug 31, 2027
Deer & turkey · North Carolina · 2026-2027 license year
SEPOCTNOVDECJANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGWhitetail deerSTATEWIDEWhitetail deer · Statewide · Sep 26 – Sep 27, 2026Whitetail deerCENTRAL ZONEWhitetail deer · Central Zone · Sep 12 – Oct 30, 2026 · open nowOPEN · closes OCT 30Whitetail deer · Central Zone · Oct 31 – Nov 13, 2026Whitetail deer · Central Zone · Nov 14 – Jan 1, 2027Whitetail deerNORTHEASTERN ZONEWhitetail deer · Northeastern Zone · Sep 12 – Oct 2, 2026Whitetail deer · Northeastern Zone · Oct 3 – Oct 16, 2026Whitetail deer · Northeastern Zone · Oct 17 – Jan 1, 2027 · open nowOPEN · closes JAN 1Whitetail deerNORTHWESTERN CWD MANAGEMENT AREAWhitetail deer · Northwestern CWD Management Area · Sep 12 – Oct 30, 2026 · open nowOPEN · closes OCT 30Whitetail deer · Northwestern CWD Management Area · Oct 31 – Nov 13, 2026Whitetail deer · Northwestern CWD Management Area · Nov 14 – Jan 1, 2027Whitetail deerNORTHWESTERN ZONEWhitetail deer · Northwestern Zone · Sep 12 – Nov 6, 2026 · open nowOPEN · closes NOV 6Whitetail deer · Northwestern Zone · Nov 7 – Nov 20, 2026Whitetail deer · Northwestern Zone · Nov 21 – Jan 1, 2027Whitetail deerPARTICIPATING MUNICIPALITIESWhitetail deer · Participating Municipalities · Apr 10 – Apr 11, 2027Whitetail deer · Participating Municipalities · Apr 17 – May 15, 2027Whitetail deerSOUTHEASTERN CWD MANAGEMENT AREAWhitetail deer · Southeastern CWD Management Area · Sep 12 – Oct 2, 2026Whitetail deer · Southeastern CWD Management Area · Oct 3 – Oct 16, 2026Whitetail deer · Southeastern CWD Management Area · Oct 17 – Jan 1, 2027 · open nowOPEN · closes JAN 1Whitetail deerSOUTHEASTERN ZONEWhitetail deer · Southeastern Zone · Sep 12 – Oct 2, 2026Whitetail deer · Southeastern Zone · Oct 3 – Oct 16, 2026Whitetail deer · Southeastern Zone · Oct 17 – Jan 1, 2027 · open nowOPEN · closes JAN 1Whitetail deerWESTERN DEER SEASON AREAWhitetail deer · Western Deer Season Area · Nov 26 – Nov 27, 2026Whitetail deerWESTERN ZONE - AVERY/BURKE/CALDWELL/MADISON/MITCHELL/YANCEYWhitetail deer · Western Zone - Avery/Burke/Caldwell/Madison/Mitchell/Yancey · Sep 12 – Nov 13, 2026 · open nowOPEN · closes NOV 13Whitetail deer · Western Zone - Avery/Burke/Caldwell/Madison/Mitchell/Yancey · Nov 14 – Nov 27, 2026Whitetail deer · Western Zone - Avery/Burke/Caldwell/Madison/Mitchell/Yancey · Nov 28 – Jan 1, 2027Whitetail deerWESTERN ZONE - BUNCOMBE/HENDERSON/MCDOWELLWhitetail deer · Western Zone - Buncombe/Henderson/McDowell · Sep 12 – Nov 13, 2026 · open nowOPEN · closes NOV 13Whitetail deer · Western Zone - Buncombe/Henderson/McDowell · Nov 14 – Nov 27, 2026Whitetail deer · Western Zone - Buncombe/Henderson/McDowell · Nov 28 – Jan 1, 2027Whitetail deer · Western Zone - Buncombe/Henderson/McDowell · Nov 28 – Dec 5, 2026Whitetail deerWESTERN ZONE - CHEROKEE/CLAY/HAYWOOD/JACKSON/MACON/SWAIN/TRANSYLVANIAWhitetail deer · Western Zone - Cherokee/Clay/Haywood/Jackson/Macon/Swain/Transylvania · Sep 12 – Nov 13, 2026 · open nowOPEN · closes NOV 13Whitetail deer · Western Zone - Cherokee/Clay/Haywood/Jackson/Macon/Swain/Transylvania · Nov 14 – Nov 27, 2026Whitetail deer · Western Zone - Cherokee/Clay/Haywood/Jackson/Macon/Swain/Transylvania · Nov 21 – Nov 27, 2026Whitetail deer · Western Zone - Cherokee/Clay/Haywood/Jackson/Macon/Swain/Transylvania · Nov 28 – Nov 28, 2026Whitetail deer · Western Zone - Cherokee/Clay/Haywood/Jackson/Macon/Swain/Transylvania · Nov 28 – Jan 1, 2027Whitetail deerWESTERN ZONE - GRAHAMWhitetail deer · Western Zone - Graham · Sep 12 – Nov 13, 2026 · open nowOPEN · closes NOV 13Whitetail deer · Western Zone - Graham · Nov 14 – Nov 27, 2026Whitetail deer · Western Zone - Graham · Nov 21 – Nov 21, 2026Whitetail deer · Western Zone - Graham · Nov 28 – Jan 1, 2027TurkeySTATEWIDETurkey · Statewide · Apr 10 – Apr 11, 2027Turkey · Statewide · Apr 17 – May 15, 2027TODAY OCT 25

North Carolina season table·North Carolina regulations·Always verify current dates with the state agency before you hunt.

Hunting in North Carolina, answered

What deer and turkey seasons are open in North Carolina today?

10 deer or turkey seasons are open in North Carolina on Sunday, October 25, 2026: deer (Western Zone - Avery/Burke/Caldwell/Madison/Mitchell/Yancey), deer (Central Zone), deer (Western Zone - Graham), deer (Northwestern Zone), deer (Western Zone - Cherokee/Clay/Haywood/Jackson/Macon/Swain/Transylvania), deer (Northwestern CWD Management Area), deer (Western Zone - Buncombe/Henderson/McDowell), deer (Southeastern CWD Management Area), deer (Northeastern Zone), deer (Southeastern Zone).

When is the next hunting season opener in North Carolina?

Blackpowder Season (Central Zone) opens in 6 days, on Saturday, October 31.