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Southeastern zone · District 4
Columbus County Hunting
NCWRC rules, harvest figures and public ground for Columbus County: the Southeastern deer dates with antlerless days, Coastal BMU Zone 5 bear dates, CWD status, local acts, game lands with acres and the shops nearby.
Photo: ncwetlands.org (CC0 1.0)
In the Coastal Plain, Columbus County spans 938 square miles with Whiteville at its centre of government. Population sat near 50,054 in 2024 after shrinking 1.1% since 2020. For wildlife staff it belongs to District 4, one of the Coastal Region districts. Southeastern is the deer zone group, and the Coastal BMU Zone 5 sets bear hunting. That group spans 23 counties. Mapped game land totals near 15,788 acres in 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.
Deer dates and CWD rules in Columbus County
Columbus County hunts deer on the Southeastern calendar: bows from Sep 12, blackpowder from Oct 3 and guns from Oct 17 until Jan 1, 2027. Does may be taken any day the season is open, whatever the weapon. The youth deer weekend falls on Sep 26 to Sep 27, 2026 this season. The CWD maps leave Columbus County out this season.
| Weapon | Dates | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|
| Archery season | Sep 12–Oct 2, 2026 | Every open day |
| Blackpowder season | Oct 3–Oct 16, 2026 | Every open day |
| Gun (any legal weapon) | Oct 17–Jan 1, 2027 | Every open day |
| Youth days (statewide) | Sep 26–Sep 27, 2026 | Either sex, youth |
No CWD positive has come from Columbus County; its tests are counted with the rest of the state.
Shining deer
No light-shining hours set for this county.
Season limit
Six per season, two of them antlered.
Report card
Validate the card before moving the deer; register the same day or by next noon.
Southeastern dates in full · All zone groups · CWD status
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.
Columbus County season dates for 2026-27
36 species and 54 dated segments reach Columbus County; the last column checks each one against today.
| Quarry | Season | Covers | From | To | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Southeastern | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 2, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth Deer Hunting Days | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Blackpowder | Southeastern | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Southeastern | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Coastal BMU Zone 5 | Coastal BMU Zone 5 | Nov 9, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
Columbus County game lands and public ground
The list below groups the 2 Columbus County tracts by owner type, largest first, with game land hunting days where the digest sets them. Hunting days on those game lands: 1 open 4 days a week and 1 open 7 days a week. A hunter based in Whiteville has some 216 public acres within a short drive. One or more NCWRC dove fields sit in Columbus County.
- Game lands, 2 hereJuniper Creek Game Land (20,481 acres*, 7 days), Columbus County Game Land (10,744 acres*, 4 days)
Close by in other counties: Whitehall Plantation Game Land 6,734 acres, 24 miles out; Green Swamp Game Land 18,577 acres, 25 miles out; Bullard and Branch Hunting Preserve (Game Land) 256 acres, 27 miles out; Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest (permit hunts) 876 acres, 29 miles out; Bladen Lakes State Forest Game Land 33,672 acres, 30 miles out.
North Carolina public land · Game land list · Days per week
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.
Columbus County bucks, does and weapons
The 2025-26 count for Columbus County reached 2,921, of which 53% were antlerless. The seven-season high is 2024-25 at 3,098; 2019-20 began the table at 2,033. Archery tackle accounted for 108 deer, counting 35 crossbow kills. Game lands produced 58 deer and other land 2,863. Buck density came to 1.73 a square mile. The doe column reads 1,418, the button buck column 122. Going back to 1976, the best year on record for Columbus County is 1990 (3,382).
| Season | Antlered bucks | Button bucks | Does | Sum | Firearm | Blackpowder | Bow | Crossbow | Game lands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,381 | 122 | 1,418 | 2,921 | 2,711 | 102 | 73 | 35 | 58 |
| 2024-25 | 1,523 | 133 | 1,442 | 3,098 | 2,942 | 67 | 60 | 29 | 63 |
| 2023-24 | 1,455 | 115 | 1,235 | 2,805 | 2,683 | 56 | 48 | 18 | 89 |
| 2022-23 | 1,073 | 69 | 1,034 | 2,176 | 2,020 | 72 | 67 | 17 | 73 |
| 2021-22 | 1,165 | 105 | 980 | 2,250 | 2,101 | 62 | 66 | 21 | 94 |
| 2020-21 | 945 | 69 | 902 | 1,916 | 1,796 | 52 | 57 | 11 | 62 |
| 2019-20 | 1,055 | 77 | 901 | 2,033 | 1,922 | 41 | 53 | 17 | 64 |
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.
County-only hunting rules for Columbus County
Before you hunt Columbus County, read these 2 local acts the legislature passed for the county.
- Set a steel trap between March 1 – Jan. 1.
- Hunt, take or kill any wild animal or wild bird with a firearm on, from or across the right-of-way of any public road or highway without obtaining written permission of the owner or lessee of the land abutting the road or the land across which the weapon is being discharged.
Sunday hunting is legal, but guns rest from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and no migratory birds may be taken. Skipping hunter orange is an infraction with a $25 fine. Fox dates here come from local acts not shown on this page. Columbus County is in Alligator Management Unit 1, but no alligator hunt is listed; any harvest is by municipal permit.
Local laws statewide · Sunday restrictions · State law summary
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.
Bear, turkey and waterfowl in Columbus County
Bear season
For bear, Columbus County belongs to the Coastal BMU Zone 5, with dates Nov 9, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027. Bear management area tracts here include Columbus County Game Land (Old Dock / Plum Creek), Columbus County Game Land (Old Dock Simmons), Columbus County Game Land (Old Dock), Columbus County Game Land (Riverstone Jenrette), Columbus County Game Land (Spaulding) and Columbus County Game Land (Waccamaw Campbell) and 4 more. Reported bear harvest in Columbus County was 34 in 2025, out of 4,495 statewide. Females numbered 17 among the 2025 bears. Dogs accounted for 59% of the 2025 bears, still hunters 41%.
Spring turkey
Spring gobbler season runs Apr 17 to May 15, 2027, with youth days Apr 10 to Apr 11, 2027; there is no fall turkey season. Hunters reported 568 spring turkeys from Columbus County in 2026, 516 of them adult gobblers. Its spring turkey series begins in 1987. Off game lands, hunters took 548 turkeys in 2026.
| Spring | Adults | Juveniles | Birds | Game lands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 516 | 52 | 568 | 20 |
| 2025 | 485 | 62 | 547 | 12 |
| 2024 | 552 | 46 | 598 | 16 |
| 2023 | 522 | 37 | 559 | 15 |
| 2022 | 475 | 66 | 541 | 10 |
| 2021 | 466 | 47 | 513 | 17 |
| 2020 | 485 | 54 | 539 | 11 |
Migratory birds
For waterfowl, Columbus County is a Coastal zone county. For Canada geese, Columbus County is Resident Population Zone.
Coastal BMU Zone 5 harvest · Bear area list · Waterfowl zones
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.
Columbus County legal hunting light
Times below take the Charlotte table, add the Columbus County offset of -10 minutes, then apply the half-hour rule for game and the sunset rule for migratory birds.
| Date | Moment | Sunrise | Sunset | Game hours | Waterfowl and dove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:47 a.m. | 7:36 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 8:06 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:36 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 6:52 a.m. | 7:26 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:56 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:20 a.m. | 6:37 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 7:07 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 6:46 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 6:59 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:18 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:20 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:37 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 8:18 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 7:48 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.
Columbus County contacts, processors and shops
Businesses with a Columbus County address come first; the closest ones in bordering counties fill each group.
Biologist and offices
With the District 4 seat empty, John Henry Harrelson handles Columbus County questions. The nearest wildlife facility is NCWRC Suggs Mill Pond Depot, 38 miles away in White Oak.
Processors
Taxidermy
Hunting preserves
Gun and archery shops
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.
Columbus County town guides and neighbours
Columbus County has 3 town guides, seat first; each lists the public land within reach and the nearest shops.
- Whitevilleseat · 4,688 residents (2024) · 216 public acres close by
- Bolton383 residents (2024) · 8,796 public acres close by
- Lake Waccamaw1,227 residents (2024) · 6,662 public acres close by
Step over the Columbus County line into one of 4 counties or into Dillon (SC) and Horry (SC).
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Burn bans and permits in Columbus County
- When a permit is needed: Year-round.
- NC high hazard counties (G.S. 106-942(a)), stricter year-round permit and land-clearing rules: Columbus County is not on this list.
- Who declares bans: 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.
- Campfires while hunting: NC Wildlife Resources Commission game lands (15A NCAC 10D .0102(i)): no camping except on areas posted by the landowner for camping.
Ranges in and near Columbus County
Up to six Columbus County ranges appear as cards, and any more go in the table below them.
Covers sporting clays, 5-stand, shotgun
Covers rifle, handgun, sporting clays, trap, skeet
Nearest NCWRC public range: Holly Shelter Shooting Range in Pender County, about 52 miles from the county center. Range page
Ranges from the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Columbus County on the North Carolina events calendar
2 upcoming events and 1 NCWRC class (DU banquet, NWTF banquet and hunter education course), read October 25, 2026.
On the calendar
| Dates | Name | Place | Link | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 13, 2026 | Peal-Sigmon Banquet ⋅ DU banquet | Columbus County Fairgrounds ⋅ Whiteville ⋅ Columbus Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
| Mar 1, 2027 | Three Rivers Chapter Banquet ⋅ NWTF banquet | Whiteville ⋅ Columbus Co. | Event details | Source |
Class dates
| When | Course | Hours | Venue | Sign up | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 2026 | Hunters Education D4 ⋅ hunter education course | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM | AG. Extension Office ⋅ Whiteville ⋅ Columbus Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
Columbus County hunting questions
Where can I take a Columbus County deer to be cut?
Try Dixie Deer Processing first.
How is a Columbus County deer registered?
Register by noon the next day through the app, 800-446-8663, online or a wildlife service agent.
What are the antlerless days in Columbus County?
Archery every open day, blackpowder every open day, gun every open day.
When is bow season for deer in Columbus County?
Sep 12 to Oct 2, 2026; bows stay legal through the later seasons too.
Is Columbus County in a CWD management area?
No.
Where does Columbus County sit among the 100 counties for deer?
22nd of 100 counties in 2025-26.
Which days are open for bear in Columbus County?
Nov 9, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027 (Coastal BMU Zone 5).
Where do I find Columbus County local hunting laws?
In the local laws by county section of the NCWRC digest, copied on this page.
Are ducks and doves legal on a Columbus County Sunday?
No. Migratory birds are closed on Sundays.
When do gobblers open in Columbus County?
Apr 17 to May 15, 2027, with youth days Apr 10 to Apr 11, 2027.
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.
Columbus County trip checklist
Game lands in and near Columbus County can set their own days, antlerless dates and posted zones; read the game land page before you go.
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: Where Are The Hikers? (CC BY 2.0); Sarah and Jason (CC BY-SA 2.0); Ligocsicnarf89 (CC BY 4.0); flamesworddragon (CC BY-SA 2.0); Mike's Birds (CC BY-SA 2.0); Festive Coquette (CC BY 2.0).