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2026-27 · Southeastern deer
Brunswick County Hunting
Plan a Brunswick County hunt with the county facts NCWRC publishes: zone dates and antlerless days, local laws, CWD testing, bear and turkey harvest, game land acres and the nearest wildlife depot.
Photo: jimvajda (CC BY 2.0)
Spread over 850 square miles of the Coastal Plain, Brunswick County is run from Bolivia. About 167,112 residents lived in the county in 2024 (+22.3% against 2020). It sits in the Coastal Region, District 4 on the NCWRC map. The at-a-glance sheet lists the county under Southeastern for deer and Coastal BMU Zone 5 for bear. In total 23 counties follow these dates. Public hunters get some 33,197 game land 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.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Brunswick County
Brunswick County: deer zone, doe days and disease rules
Deer seasons in Brunswick County step from archery (Sep 12) to blackpowder (Oct 3) to gun (Oct 17), all inside the Southeastern schedule. Hunters can fill antlerless tags on any legal day from the bow opener on. Young hunters have Sep 26 to Sep 27, 2026 statewide; everyone afield those days wears hunter orange. CWD area rules do not reach Brunswick County.
| Season | Dates | Antlerless days |
|---|---|---|
| Bow and crossbow | Sep 12–Oct 2, 2026 | Every open day |
| Blackpowder | Oct 3–Oct 16, 2026 | Every open day |
| Rifle and shotgun | Oct 17–Jan 1, 2027 | Every open day |
| Youth days (statewide) | Sep 26–Sep 27, 2026 | Either sex, youth |
The NCWRC chart has no county row for Brunswick County; its samples fall under rest of state (366 tests, none positive).
Light-shining
Shining lights on fields is off-limits from 11 p.m.
Bag limit
Season limit six, no more than two antlered.
Reporting
Register by noon the day after the kill: app, 800-446-8663, online or an agent.
Southeastern zone page · Every deer zone · CWD map
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.
Every dated hunt for Brunswick County
For Brunswick County, 54 segments cover deer, bear, small game, waterfowl and furbearers this license year.
| Species | Hunt type | Zone or unit | Opening | Closing | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Brunswick County public land with acreage
The map pins 3 tracts inside Brunswick County and 4 neighbours just outside it. Count by hunting days: 1 open 4 days a week, 1 open 6 days a week and 1 open 7 days a week. From Bolivia, roughly 17,977 public acres lie within ten miles. The dove field program reaches Brunswick County.
- Game lands, count 3Juniper Creek Game Land (20,481 acres*, 7 days), Green Swamp Game Land (18,577 acres, 6 days), Columbus County Game Land (10,744 acres*, 4 days)
Short drives over the line: Sutton Lake Game Land 1,357 acres, 22 miles out; Cape Fear River Wetlands Game Land 7,548 acres, 24 miles out; Whitehall Plantation Game Land 6,734 acres, 35 miles out; Holly Shelter Game Land 65,139 acres, 44 miles out.
Land statewide · Game land pages · Hunting days table
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.
Brunswick County deer on the report cards
Hunters registered 2,141 deer from Brunswick County in 2025-26: 1,005 antlered bucks and 1,136 antlerless. That is 44% more than the 1,486 of 2019-20; 2025-26 is the best season in the table. Guns took 1,835 of them, blackpowder 96, bows 116 and crossbows 94. Land split: 171 game land, 1,970 other. Antlered bucks per square mile: 1.63. Antlerless males, the button bucks, came to 114. Peak season since 1976: 1990, 3,030 deer.
| Season | Antlered | Button | Doe | All | Gun | Muzzleloader | Bow | Xbow | On game lands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,005 | 114 | 1,022 | 2,141 | 1,835 | 96 | 116 | 94 | 171 |
| 2024-25 | 1,039 | 110 | 979 | 2,128 | 1,830 | 60 | 155 | 83 | 139 |
| 2023-24 | 941 | 81 | 866 | 1,888 | 1,654 | 51 | 115 | 68 | 85 |
| 2022-23 | 844 | 69 | 861 | 1,774 | 1,541 | 74 | 127 | 32 | 139 |
| 2021-22 | 801 | 74 | 707 | 1,582 | 1,399 | 53 | 97 | 33 | 118 |
| 2020-21 | 763 | 70 | 676 | 1,509 | 1,331 | 59 | 80 | 39 | 91 |
| 2019-20 | 772 | 50 | 664 | 1,486 | 1,333 | 55 | 70 | 28 | 87 |
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.
What is unlawful in Brunswick County
Local acts add 4 county-only rules in Brunswick County; the list is copied from the digest.
- Set or possess a trap or snare on another’s land not under written lease.
- Set a leghold steel trap between March 1 and Jan. 1 or the last day of the deer-hunting season, whichever is later.
- Hunt from the right-of-way of a public road, except by the owner or lessee of the abutting land or by a person with the permission of such owner or lessee.
- Shine a light intentionally upon any wild animal, including, but not limited to, deer, coyotes, or feral swine, from the right-of-way of any public road, street, or highway between the hours of one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise.
Gun hunters pause on Sunday mornings from 9:30 to 12:30 under G.S. 103-2. Orange applies to bear, feral swine, rabbit, squirrel and upland bird hunters with guns, but not to turkey hunters. This page does not list county fox dates; NCWRC publishes them separately. Brunswick County falls in Unit 1 for alligators; NCWRC lists no hunts.
Local laws for every county · Sunday rules · 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.
Brunswick County bear unit, turkey harvest and duck zone
Bear dates and harvest
Bears may be hunted in Brunswick County Nov 9, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027 (Coastal BMU Zone 5). Bear hunting is closed or by permit in designated areas such as Columbus County Game Land (Pioneer), Columbus County Game Land (Pireway / Waccamaw Island), Green Swamp Game Land and Juniper Creek Game Land (IP). Brunswick County produced 53 reported bears last season; the BMU tables run back to 1996. Game lands gave up 4 of the 2025 bears; other land 49. Still hunting produced 36% of the county bears.
Wild turkey
Gobblers open Apr 17 and close May 15, 2027, after the Apr 10 to Apr 11, 2027 youth weekend. Spring 2026 reports: 470 turkeys, 28 from game lands. The county first shows a spring harvest in 1990. Private and other ground produced 94% of the county turkeys.
| Season | Gobblers | Jakes | Turkeys | Game land |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 423 | 47 | 470 | 28 |
| 2025 | 432 | 67 | 499 | 20 |
| 2024 | 551 | 38 | 589 | 28 |
| 2023 | 519 | 52 | 571 | 43 |
| 2022 | 456 | 62 | 518 | 42 |
| 2021 | 410 | 30 | 440 | 19 |
| 2020 | 323 | 68 | 391 | 8 |
Waterfowl
Brunswick County is Coastal duck zone, east of I-95. Canada geese: Resident Population Zone.
Coastal BMU Zone 5 dates · Bear sanctuaries today · Goose 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.
Brunswick County legal hunting light
North Carolina law allows most game from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Doves, ducks and geese stop at sunset.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Big and small game | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:45 a.m. | 7:34 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 8:04 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:34 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 6:50 a.m. | 7:24 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:54 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:24 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:18 a.m. | 6:35 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 7:05 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 6:35 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 6:44 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 6:57 a.m. | 5:01 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 5:01 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:16 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:18 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:35 a.m. | 7:46 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 8:16 p.m. | 6:05 a.m. to 7:46 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.
Brunswick County help after the shot
License sales run through Go Outdoors North Carolina online, by phone or at wildlife service agents.
District contacts
No District 4 biologist is listed right now; the regional supervisor takes calls. Rocky Point hosts the nearest NCWRC site, NCWRC Holly Shelter Depot.
Get a deer cut
For a mount
Preserves and guides
Gear 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.
Brunswick County towns and bordering counties
Each Brunswick County town page carries legal shooting light for that spot.
- Boliviacounty seat · 254 residents · 17,977 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Boiling Spring Lakes6,738 residents · 6,055 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Navassa1,776 residents · 7,827 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Northwest1,037 residents · 5,223 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Shallotte5,161 residents · 9,667 acres of public land in 10 miles
- Southport4,341 residents · 884 acres of public land in 10 miles
Counties sharing a line with Brunswick County: 3 in-state, plus Horry (SC).
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Brunswick County burn ban and campfire rules
- When a permit is needed: Year-round.
- NC high hazard counties (G.S. 106-942(a)), stricter year-round permit and land-clearing rules: Brunswick County is on this list.
- Who sets a ban: 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.
Sighting in a rifle in Brunswick County
Brunswick County has 6 listed ranges, all of them clubs, businesses or private ranges.
Lanes for rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery, muzzleloader
Lanes for shotgun
Lanes for handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery, benchrest
Lanes for skeet, shotgun
Holly Shelter Shooting Range in Pender County is the nearest range on the NCWRC list, about 44 miles. Open it
Upcoming here
| When, name | Type | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 5-6, 2026 — Southport Gun & Knife Show at Oak Island Moose Lodge | Gun show | Promoter site |
Ranges from the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Brunswick County, dinners, classes and hunts
Listed as of October 25, 2026: 5 NCWRC classes.
Hunter education dates
| On | Class | Time | Where held | Register | Found at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 | Hunters Education D4 ⋅ hunter education course | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM | AG. Extension Office ⋅ Bolivia ⋅ Brunswick Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Dec 12, 2026 | Hunters Education D4 ⋅ hunter education course | 8:00 AM–3:30 PM | AG. Extension Office ⋅ Bolivia ⋅ Brunswick Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Jan 9, 2027 | Hunters Education D4 ⋅ hunter education course | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM | AG. Extension Office ⋅ Bolivia ⋅ Brunswick Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Feb 6, 2027 | Hunters Education D4 ⋅ hunter education course | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM | AG. Extension Office ⋅ Bolivia ⋅ Brunswick Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Mar 6, 2027 | Hunters Education D4 ⋅ hunter education course | 8:30 AM–3:30 PM | AG. Extension Office ⋅ Bolivia ⋅ Brunswick Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
Short answers for Brunswick County
Does Brunswick County hunt ducks on Inland or Coastal dates?
Coastal.
Are jakes legal in Brunswick County?
Yes. Male or bearded turkeys are legal. 47 jakes were reported in 2026.
Who is the wildlife biologist for Brunswick County?
The District 4 post is vacant; call the Coastal supervisor.
Can I camp on game lands near Brunswick County?
Only in posted camping areas.
Which NCWRC deer zone group holds Brunswick County?
Southeastern. Archery Sep 12 to Oct 2, 2026, blackpowder Oct 3 to Oct 16, 2026, gun Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027.
Who processes deer for Brunswick County hunters?
The closest names on our list are Dixie Deer Processing; call first.
How many Brunswick County deer were taken with a bow?
116 with vertical bows and 94 with crossbows in 2025-26.
Do youth hunters in Brunswick County get extra deer days?
Yes: Sep 26 to Sep 27, 2026 statewide.
Does Brunswick County have local hunting laws?
Yes, 4 local acts; the first reads: Set or possess a trap or snare on another’s land not under written lease.
Is there an August deer season in Brunswick County?
No. The August early season is only in the two CWD Management Areas.
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.
Brunswick County: before you go
Where this page and the digest differ, follow the digest.
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: David McSpadden (CC BY 2.0); USFWS/Southeast (CC BY 2.0); ncwetlands.org (CC0 1.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).