North Carolina › Species › Gallinule and Moorhen
Migratory birds, waterfowl
North Carolina Gallinule and Moorhen hunting, 2026-27
Season rows, bag limits and rules for gallinules and moorhens, checked October 25, 2026.
Photo: born1945 (CC BY 2.0)
Here are the 2026-27 gallinule rules for North Carolina as the digest prints them, opening Sep 5, 2026, alongside harvest figures and public ground where the data has them.
Gallinule and Moorhen in the species summary
- Take: Daily 15.
- Methods: Sept. 5-Nov. 25.
- Keep in mind: HIP required; waterfowl also state privilege and Federal Duck Stamp; no Sunday hunting.
NCWRC source page (as of Jul 13, 2026), checked October 25, 2026.
GearHeading out for a hunt? Hunting gear checklists by season →
Every gallinule season row
1 row for gallinules and moorhens, as the digest and the Season Dates at a Glance list them; the last column checks each against today.
| Season | Area | How | From | To | Days | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallinule and moorhen | Statewide | Shotgun | Sep 5, 2026 | Nov 25, 2026 | 82 |
From NCWRC digest page and the Season Dates at a Glance, checked October 25, 2026.
Gallinule and Moorhen hunting areas open to the public
Ranked by acreage, these are the public places listing gallinule.
| Area | Kind | Days open | Acres | Where | Game list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mackay Island NWR | National Wildlife Refuge | 8,700 | Currituck | moorhen, gallinule |
Game lists from NCWRC, USFS, USFWS and other managers’ pages in our land data, retrieved 2026-10-25; days from the regional game land tables. All game lands · Game land hunting days.
Gallinule and Moorhen bag limits and licenses
Every gallinule limit row, plus the license, privilege and stamp prices.
| Row | Bag and possession |
|---|---|
| Gallinule and moorhen | Daily 15 (aggregate); possession 3x daily. |
| Falconry (migratory game birds) | Daily 3, possession 9, all species singly or in aggregate; applies during gun and extended falconry seasons. |
Paying for a gallinule hunt
| License | Who | Term | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Hunting | resident | Annual | $32 |
| Comprehensive Hunting | resident | Annual | $49 |
| State Hunting | nonresident | Annual | $124 |
| State Hunting 10-Day | nonresident | 10-day | $99 |
| HIP Certification | anyone | Annual | Free |
NCWRC digest bag limits and the license and fee table, checked October 25, 2026. North Carolina hunting license guide.
Gallinule and Moorhen rules in the field
Gallinule and Moorhen: daily hours
Gallinules and moorhens may be shot from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset, never on a Sunday.
Sunday gallinule hunting
Gallinules and moorhens cannot be hunted on a Sunday under the migratory bird ban in G.S. 103-2.
Orange and gallinule hunting
Camouflage works for gallinules and moorhens: orange is required for firearm hunters of game animals and upland birds, not waterfowl or doves.
Gallinule and Moorhen bait rules
Hunting gallinules and moorhens over bait breaks the North Carolina wild bird rule.
Reporting gallinules and moorhens
Marsh hunters carry HIP certification; there is no registration step.
shooting hours, G.S. 113-291.8 hunter orange, G.S. 103-2 Sunday hunting, digest baiting rules, harvest reporting, checked October 25, 2026. Sunday hunting guide · Legal shooting hours.
Gallinule and Moorhen weapons, methods and law
Method rules for gallinules and moorhens
- Vehicles and boats: No taking from a motor vehicle while the passenger area is occupied or the engine runs (disabled persons excepted), from vessels under sail/power or still moving from propulsion (crippled waterfowl in the Sea Duck Area excepted), or from airplanes or drones.
From laws compiled from the NCWRC digest, 15A NCAC 10B and N.C.G.S. Chapter 113, checked October 25, 2026. North Carolina hunting laws.
Gallinule and Moorhen FAQ
What equipment is allowed for gallinules and moorhens?
Migratory game birds: Shotguns 10 gauge or smaller plugged to 3 shells; archery; falconry. Not legal: Rifles, pistols, traps, nets, sinkboxes, live decoys, recorded calls (except light goose/Sept. goose exceptions), lead shot for waterfowl and coots.
When does gallinule season open in North Carolina?
First day: Sep 5, 2026. Last day: Nov 25, 2026. In between are 1 dated segment.
What is the gallinule limit in North Carolina?
Daily 15 (aggregate); possession 3x daily. Daily 3, possession 9, all species singly or in aggregate; applies during gun and extended falconry seasons.
Do you need a special license for gallinules and moorhens?
Prices for 2026-27: State Hunting (resident) $32; Comprehensive Hunting (resident) $49; State Hunting (nonresident) $124; State Hunting 10-Day (nonresident) $99.
What are legal hunting hours for gallinules and moorhens?
Gallinules and moorhens may be shot from 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset, never on a Sunday.
What are the Sunday rules for gallinules and moorhens?
Gallinules and moorhens cannot be hunted on a Sunday under the migratory bird ban in G.S. 103-2.
Is hunter orange required for gallinules and moorhens?
Camouflage works for gallinules and moorhens: orange is required for firearm hunters of game animals and upland birds, not waterfowl or doves.
Can you hunt gallinules and moorhens over bait in North Carolina?
Hunting gallinules and moorhens over bait breaks the North Carolina wild bird rule.
Is gallinule registration required?
Marsh hunters carry HIP certification; there is no registration step.
Which public areas are known for gallinules and moorhens?
1 places list gallinule, led by Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Other photos on this page: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); marknenadov (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0).