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District 1, Coastal
Bertie County Hunting
Everything county-specific about hunting Bertie County, from the Northeastern archery, blackpowder and gun windows to light-shining hours, waterfowl zones, game land acreage and harvest by year.
Photo: Judy Gallagher (CC BY 2.0)
With Windsor as its seat, Bertie County covers 699 square miles in the NCWRC Coastal Region. Its 2024 head count of 16,939 is -5.5% on the 2020 base. The Commission counts it in District 1 of its Coastal Region. Deer dates follow the Northeastern schedule, and bear dates the Coastal BMU Zone 3. Across the state, 22 counties run on this deer calendar. Roughly 30,132 acres of NCWRC game land fall within the county.
Land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer, population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates, district and region from the NCWRC district biologist sheet, game land acres from the NCWRC game land boundary layer (GIS measure), deer groups from the 2026-2027 Season Dates at a Glance. Checked October 25, 2026.
How deer seasons work in Bertie County
The gun opener for Bertie County is Oct 17, 2026, after an archery stretch that starts Sep 12 and a blackpowder fortnight from Oct 3. Antlerless harvest is allowed through the whole archery, blackpowder and gun calendar. The statewide youth days, Sep 26 to Sep 27, 2026, let hunters under 16 use any legal weapon. Bertie County lies outside the CWD management and surveillance areas.
| Season | From and to | Doe days |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 12–Oct 2, 2026 | Every open day |
| Muzzleloaders | Oct 3–Oct 16, 2026 | Every open day |
| Firearms | Oct 17–Jan 1, 2027 | Every open day |
| Youth days (statewide) | Sep 26–Sep 27, 2026 | Either sex, youth |
CWD has not been detected in Bertie County; NCWRC reports its samples with the rest of the state.
Lights at night
Not on the county lists in 15A NCAC 10B .0115.
Deer per season
Six deer a season: two antlered, four antlerless.
Report by noon
Phone 800-I-GOT-ONE or use the app; record the authorization number.
Northeastern deer page · Compare deer zones · CWD rules
Zone groups, dates and antlerless days from the 2026-2027 Season Dates at a Glance and the digest deer seasons; youth, CWD early and urban seasons from the digest deer regulations; CWD areas from the NCWRC CWD special regulations; tests from the NCWRC CWD testing chart (updated Oct 15, 2026); light rule from 15A NCAC 10B .0115. Checked October 25, 2026.
Bertie County hunting dates by species
Bertie County rows run from the Sept. 1 Canada goose and dove openers to the spring gobbler season that closes in May.
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Northeastern | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 2, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth Deer Hunting Days | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Blackpowder | Northeastern | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Northeastern | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Part 1 | Coastal BMU Zone 3 | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Part 2 | Coastal BMU Zone 3 | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| Wild turkey | Youth Season (spring) | Statewide | Apr 10, 2027 | Apr 11, 2027 | |
| Wild turkey | Statewide Spring Season | Statewide | Apr 17, 2027 | May 15, 2027 | |
| Feral swine | Year-round | Private land, year-round | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Dove | Dove (split) | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Oct 10, 2026 | |
| Dove | Dove (split) | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Dove | Dove (split) | Statewide | Dec 16, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| Bobwhite quail | Hunting | Statewide | Nov 21, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Ruffed grouse | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Pheasant | Remainder of state (either sex) | Rest of the state | Sep 5, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Woodcock | Woodcock | Statewide | Dec 10, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Fall/winter | Statewide | Oct 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Gray squirrel | Spring season | Statewide | May 17, 2027 | May 31, 2027 | |
| Fox squirrel | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 12, 2026 | Jan 31, 2027 | |
| Red squirrel | Fall/winter | Statewide | Oct 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Teal | September teal season | East of U.S. 17 only | Sep 10, 2026 | Sep 19, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Coastal zone | Oct 23, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Coastal zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 3 | Coastal zone | Dec 17, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | September Canada goose season | Statewide in September | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Split 1 | Resident Population Zone | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Split 2 | Resident Population Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 5, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Split 3 | Resident Population Zone | Dec 17, 2026 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | Northeast Hunt Zone | Northeast Hunt Zone (part) | Dec 28, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| White-fronted goose | Split 1 | Resident Population Zone | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 | |
| White-fronted goose | Split 2 | Resident Population Zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Dec 5, 2026 | |
| White-fronted goose | Split 3 | Resident Population Zone | Dec 17, 2026 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| White-fronted goose | Northeast Hunt Zone | Northeast Hunt Zone (part) | Dec 28, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| Light geese | Regular season | Statewide | Nov 7, 2026 | Mar 10, 2027 | |
| Brant | Brant | Statewide | Dec 28, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| Tundra swan | Tundra swan (permit only) | Permit holders only | Nov 7, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| Waterfowl | Veterans day | Statewide | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 5, 2026 | |
| Waterfowl | Youth Waterfowl Day | Statewide | Dec 5, 2026 | Dec 5, 2026 | |
| Waterfowl | Veterans day | Statewide | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| Waterfowl | Youth Waterfowl Day | Statewide | Feb 6, 2027 | Feb 6, 2027 | |
| King and clapper rail | Rails | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Nov 25, 2026 | |
| Virginia rail and sora | Rails | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Nov 25, 2026 | |
| Gallinule | Gallinule and moorhen | Statewide | Sep 5, 2026 | Nov 25, 2026 | |
| Snipe | Snipe | Statewide | Oct 27, 2026 | Feb 27, 2027 | |
| Crow | Season 1 (Wed/Fri/Sat) | Statewide | Aug 1, 2026 | Feb 27, 2027 | |
| Crow | Season 2 (Wed/Fri/Sat) | Statewide | Jun 2, 2027 | Jul 31, 2027 | |
| Raccoon | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Opossum | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Bobcat | Hunting | Statewide | Oct 12, 2026 | Feb 28, 2027 | |
| Red fox | Firearms season | East of I-77; local acts vary | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Firearms season | East of I-77; local acts vary | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Coyote | Year-round | Private land, year-round | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Groundhog | Year-round | Private land, year-round | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Nutria | Year-round | Private land, year-round | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Skunk | Year-round | Private land, year-round | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Armadillo | Year-round | Private land, year-round | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
| Beaver | Year-round | Statewide, year-round | Year-round | Year-round | Year-round |
From the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission 2026-27 regulations digest and the 2026-2027 Season Dates at a Glance, checked October 25, 2026.
Bertie County tracts open to hunters
Bertie County shares 6 listed properties with the public; days per week come from the digest game land tables. By the digest tables, the game lands split as 2 open 6 days a week, 1 open 7 days a week and 2 permit-only. 18,189 acres of public hunting ground sit within 10 miles of Windsor. Game land dove fields include a site in Bertie County.
- Game lands, 5 listedChowan Swamp Game Land (33,769 acres*, 6 days), Lower Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land (31,620 acres*, Permit only), Upper Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land (11,065 acres*, Permit only), Bertie County Game Land (4,238 acres, 6 days), Bachelor Bay Game Land (2,786 acres*, 7 days)
- National wildlife refuges, count 1Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge (21,306 acres)
Neighbouring tracts: Van Swamp Game Land 5,504 acres, 26 miles out; Voice of America Game Land 2,818 acres, 27 miles out; Lower Fishing Creek Game Land 1,291 acres, 32 miles out; Tillery Game Land 5,253 acres, 34 miles out; Tar River Game Land 154 acres, 34 miles out.
Land finder · 95 game lands · Which days to hunt
Tracts from our North Carolina land list (NCWRC regional game land tables, game land rules, USFS, USFWS, NPS and Corps records); game land acres from the NCWRC boundary layer and national forest acres from the USFS ownership layer, both GIS measures; acres within 10 miles of the seat from the same layers. Checked October 25, 2026.
Bertie County harvest card totals
1,378 bucks, 1,533 does and 174 button bucks came from Bertie County in 2025-26. 2025-26 leads the run of seasons with 3,085 deer. Weapon split last season: gun 2,841, bow and crossbow 112, blackpowder 132. Private and other ground supplied 2,963 deer, game lands 122. Per square mile, 2.16 bucks were taken. Within the antlerless count, 174 were button bucks, males with only skin-covered knobs. Fifty seasons of totals put the high mark at 2008, with 5,777 deer.
| Year | Antlered | Button bucks | Does | Deer | Gun | Blackpowder | Vertical bow | Crossbow | Game lands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,378 | 174 | 1,533 | 3,085 | 2,841 | 132 | 82 | 30 | 122 |
| 2024-25 | 1,268 | 148 | 1,484 | 2,900 | 2,688 | 89 | 86 | 37 | 110 |
| 2023-24 | 1,288 | 167 | 1,425 | 2,880 | 2,665 | 93 | 87 | 35 | 128 |
| 2022-23 | 1,083 | 172 | 1,363 | 2,618 | 2,387 | 101 | 93 | 37 | 131 |
| 2021-22 | 1,127 | 147 | 1,261 | 2,535 | 2,363 | 74 | 80 | 18 | 152 |
| 2020-21 | 1,083 | 180 | 1,278 | 2,541 | 2,331 | 102 | 72 | 36 | 108 |
| 2019-20 | 1,068 | 136 | 1,295 | 2,499 | 2,357 | 62 | 64 | 16 | 98 |
NCWRC 2025-26 deer harvest by county and earlier county PDFs on the harvest statistics page; long series from the NCWRC county deer harvest 1976-2025 table. Checked October 25, 2026.
Local hunting acts in Bertie County
The digest prints 4 local acts for Bertie County. Each item below is unlawful in the county.
- Hunt, take or kill any wild animal or wild bird, or attempt to hunt, take or kill any wild animal or wild bird, with the use of a firearm or bow and arrow from, on, across or over the roadway or right-of-way of any public road, street or highway.
- Discharge a firearm or bow and arrow from, on, across, or over the roadway of any public road, street, or highway, or to possess a firearm or bow and arrow outside the passenger compartment of a vehicle while on the roadway or right-of-way.
- To hunt, fish, or trap on the land of another without the written permission of the landowner or the landowner’s lessee. Written permission shall contain complete contact information for the landowner or the landowner’s lessee.
- To take deer from any vessel in the Roanoke River, or its tributaries, except for those portions of the river and its tributaries that are adjacent to the border with Washington County whether the vessel is under power or not.
Archery is allowed through Sunday morning; firearms wait until 12:30 p.m. Firearm hunters of most game wear hunter orange visible from all sides; deer hunters wear it during any gun season. Fox seasons vary by county under local acts; check the NCWRC fox book.
Local laws index · Sunday hours · General rules
Local acts from the digest local laws by county; Sunday rules from G.S. 103-2; hunter orange from G.S. 113-291.8; zone lists from the 2026-27 digest. Checked October 25, 2026.
Bertie County beyond whitetails
Bertie black bear
Bear season in Bertie County follows the Coastal BMU Zone 3: Nov 14 to Nov 22, 2026 and Dec 12 to Dec 27, 2026. Check the bear management area rules for Bachelor Bay Game Land. The 2025 bear count for Bertie County: 117. Of the 2025 bears, 70 were male and 47 female; 1 came off game lands. Method in 2025: 72% with dogs.
Turkey harvest
Bearded birds only, from Apr 17, 2027 to May 15, 2027 statewide. The spring 2026 turkey count for Bertie County: 556 (39 jakes). The long-run table shows 5 birds in 1977, the first year listed. Game lands supplied 16 of those birds and other land 540.
| Spring | Gobblers | Jakes | Total | Game lands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 517 | 39 | 556 | 16 |
| 2025 | 397 | 71 | 468 | 22 |
| 2024 | 412 | 30 | 442 | 11 |
| 2023 | 385 | 38 | 423 | 17 |
| 2022 | 400 | 26 | 426 | 18 |
| 2021 | 404 | 31 | 435 | 20 |
| 2020 | 400 | 34 | 434 | 20 |
Waterfowl zones
Bertie County uses Coastal zone duck dates. The goose map puts Bertie County in the Northeast Hunt Zone and Resident Population Zone (split).
Coastal BMU Zone 3 page · Designated bear areas · I-95 duck line
Bear units and dates from the 2026-2027 Season Dates at a Glance and the digest bear seasons; bear harvest from the NCWRC BMU county table, 2025 sex and land split from the 2025 county detail, method from the 2025 method table; turkey dates from the digest and harvest from the spring 2026 county table; waterfowl zones from the migratory bird digest page and the digest zone maps. Checked October 25, 2026.
Bertie County shooting time on key dates
On Sundays firearm hunting stops from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and migratory birds are closed all day; the hours below are for the other days.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal for game | Legal for ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:43 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 8:02 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 6:48 a.m. | 7:22 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:52 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:16 a.m. | 6:33 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 7:03 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 6:42 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 6:55 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:14 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:16 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:33 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 8:14 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. |
Sunrise and sunset from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission digest table for Charlotte with county offsets; hours rule G.S. 113-291.1; checked October 25, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Who to call in Bertie County
NCWRC publishes no list of licensed taxidermists or guides, so those rows come from directories; call before you go.
Agency contacts
Bertie County falls to Dallas Shoemaker on the NCWRC biologist list. NCWRC Williamston Depot (Williamston) is the closest Commission facility, 16 miles out.
Venison processing
Taxidermists nearby
Preserves nearby
Bertie area gun and bow counters
Biologists and supervisors from the NCWRC district biologist sheet (updated Aug. 17, 2026); offices from the NCWRC facilities layer; processors and taxidermists from the NCWRC Cervid Health Cooperator list, NC Hunters for the Hungry and directory listings; shops from directory listings and store locators. Checked October 25, 2026; call ahead. All North Carolina hunting services.
Where to stay near Bertie County
The acreage beside a town is public land inside a 10-mile circle, measured on GIS layers.
- Windsorseat · 3,268 townspeople · 18,189 public acres in a 10-mile ring
- Lewiston Woodville412 townspeople · 5,774 public acres in a 10-mile ring
Tiles below open each county next to Bertie County.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Burning rules in Bertie County
- Burn permit: Year-round.
- NC high hazard counties (G.S. 106-942(a)), stricter year-round permit and land-clearing rules: Bertie County is not on this list.
- Ban orders: The Commissioner of Agriculture, during hazardous forest fire conditions or declared air pollution episodes, may prohibit all open burning regardless of whether a permit is required (G.S.
- Fires on public land: NC Wildlife Resources Commission game lands (15A NCAC 10D .0102(i)): no camping except on areas posted by the landowner for camping.
Bertie County ranges, clubs and shoots
Tall Cotton Quail Hunting Preserve is the closest listed range to Bertie County, 23 miles from its center.
On offer: sporting clays, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery
On offer: sporting clays, 5-stand, shotgun
On offer: rifle, handgun, shotgun
For a Commission-listed public range, Odom Shooting Range (Northampton County) is about 34 miles away.
Ranges from the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Bertie County on the North Carolina events calendar
Read October 25, 2026: 2 NCWRC classes, covering hunter education course.
Hunter education classes
| Date | Course | Hours | Place | Seat | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 16–17, 2026 | Hunter Education Certification (D1) ⋅ hunter education course | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Windsor Fire Department ⋅ Windsor ⋅ Bertie Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Dec 7–8, 2026 | Hunter Education Certification (D1) ⋅ hunter education course | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Windsor Fire Department ⋅ Windsor ⋅ Bertie Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
Bertie County, answered
How many bears did Bertie County hunters register in 2025?
117 reported.
What are the Sunday hours for gun hunters in Bertie County?
Yes, but no firearms from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and no migratory birds.
Do I need HIP for doves in Bertie County?
Yes. HIP certification is required for migratory birds.
How many turkeys came from Bertie County in 2026?
556 reported.
Which NCWRC district is Bertie County in?
District 1, Coastal Region.
What is the biggest public tract in Bertie County?
Chowan Swamp Game Land, 33,769 acres in all.
Which deer dates apply to Bertie County hunters?
The Northeastern group from the 2026-2027 at-a-glance sheet.
Who should a Bertie County hunter call about processing?
Total Package Outfitters; book early in November.
Is the Bertie County deer harvest rising?
Season by season the cards show 2,499 in 2019-20, 2,900 in 2024-25 and 3,085 in 2025-26.
Are button bucks antlerless in Bertie County?
Yes. Knobs under skin are not antlers, so button bucks count as antlerless.
Answers from the 2026-27 NCWRC digest, the Season Dates at a Glance, harvest reporting rules, NCWRC harvest and CWD data and the sources above. Checked October 25, 2026.
Bertie County, last word
Dates on this page are for 2026-27 only; recheck the digest if you plan a later season.
Sources: 2026-27 NCWRC regulations digest, Season Dates at a Glance, NCWRC hunting, Census and the agencies linked in each section. Checked October 25, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Wildreturn (CC BY 2.0); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0); USFWS/Southeast (Public domain); ZionNPS (CC BY 2.0); MarkDoliner (CC BY-SA 2.0); mbarrison (CC BY-SA 2.0); Ligocsicnarf89 (CC BY 4.0).