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Piedmont Region · 2026-27
Chatham County Hunting
Chatham County at a glance for 2026-27: which deer zone and bear unit it falls in, the local hunting acts, seven seasons of reported deer, bear and gobbler counts, game lands and a district biologist to call.
Photo: pmuellr (CC BY 2.0)
Chatham County takes in 681 square miles of dry land plus 27 of water, governed from Pittsboro. Census staff estimated 83,874 residents for 2024, close to 123 per square mile. District 5 biologists cover it, under the Piedmont Region supervisor. For season dates, read the Central deer rows and the Piedmont BMU (group 2) bear rows. 19 counties share the Central dates. Game land boundaries cover about 41,273 acres inside the line by GIS measure.
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 Chatham County
Chatham County Central deer calendar
Under the Central dates, archery runs Sep 12 to Oct 30, 2026, blackpowder Oct 31 to Nov 13, 2026 and gun Nov 14, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027. There are no either-sex day limits here: each open day allows antlerless deer. Sep 26 to Sep 27, 2026 are youth deer hunting days across the state. None of the CWD areas includes Chatham County.
| Segment | Runs | Antlerless days |
|---|---|---|
| Bows | Sep 12–Oct 30, 2026 | Every open day |
| Blackpowder | Oct 31–Nov 13, 2026 | Every open day |
| Gun season | Nov 14–Jan 1, 2027 | Every open day |
| Youth days (statewide) | Sep 26–Sep 27, 2026 | Either sex, youth |
The testing chart lists Chatham County only inside its rest-of-state total.
Night lights
The sunset light rule applies all night.
How many deer
No daily limit; six per season.
Register it
Report through Go Outdoors North Carolina before skinning or by noon next day.
The Central group · Zones statewide · CWD areas
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.
What is open around Chatham County this year
Dove, squirrel, rabbit and quail run statewide, while the deer zone, bear unit, I-95 duck line and goose zone set the rest for Chatham County.
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Central | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth Deer Hunting Days | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Blackpowder | Central | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Central | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Group 2 | Piedmont BMU group 2 | Nov 14, 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 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Inland zone | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Inland zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 3 | Inland zone | Dec 18, 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.
Public hunting land in Chatham County
Game lands, refuges, Corps lakes and forest districts with ground in Chatham County total 5 on our list. Game land day types here: 1 open 6 days a week and 3 open 7 days a week. The ten-mile ring around Pittsboro holds near 20,644 acres of public land. NCWRC also plants at least one game land dove field in Chatham County.
- Game lands in Chatham (4)Jordan Game Land (40,462 ac*, 6 days), Harris Game Land (11,527 ac*, 7 days), Chatham Game Land (2,671 ac, 7 days), Lee Game Land (1,441 ac*, 7 days)
- Corps of Engineers lakes: 1B. Everett Jordan Lake (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) (40,115 ac*)
Over the county line, nearest first: Buckhorn Game Land 491 ac, 22 miles out; Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Land 37,480 ac, 37 miles out; Falls Lake (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) 31,844 ac, 37 miles out; Fort Bragg (incl. Camp Mackall) 40 miles out; Uwharrie Game Land 52,709 ac, 45 miles out.
All 130 land pages · Game lands statewide · Game land days
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.
How many deer Chatham County gives up
In 2025-26 the report cards logged 2,481 Chatham County deer, placing it 34th statewide. Set against 2019-20, the latest season is -7%. The gun season produced 1,716 deer; the muzzleloader fortnight gave 354. 281 of those deer came off game lands. NCWRC computes 2.31 antlered bucks per square mile for the county. Does outnumbered button bucks 1,148 to 90 in the antlerless share. In 1976 the county reported 33 deer; the record is 3,463 in 1995.
| Season | Bucks | Male fawns | Females | Total | Gun | BP | Bow | Crossbow | GL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,243 | 90 | 1,148 | 2,481 | 1,716 | 354 | 234 | 177 | 281 |
| 2024-25 | 1,386 | 87 | 1,085 | 2,558 | 1,806 | 320 | 237 | 195 | 292 |
| 2023-24 | 1,651 | 112 | 1,336 | 3,099 | 2,258 | 337 | 253 | 251 | 311 |
| 2022-23 | 1,307 | 79 | 1,002 | 2,388 | 1,759 | 259 | 213 | 157 | 308 |
| 2021-22 | 1,479 | 123 | 1,200 | 2,802 | 1,885 | 421 | 290 | 206 | 288 |
| 2020-21 | 1,305 | 131 | 1,253 | 2,689 | 1,910 | 379 | 240 | 160 | 306 |
| 2019-20 | 1,293 | 118 | 1,253 | 2,664 | 1,712 | 480 | 283 | 189 | 265 |
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.
Chatham County local laws and county rules
4 county-specific prohibitions from the local laws section of the digest apply in Chatham County.
- Hunt with a firearm from the surface or right-of-way of a public road.
- Hunt with a firearm or bow and arrow or possess same, except with express written permission, dated within the previous 12 months, of the landowner or lessee.
- Permit a minor under 16 to possess a firearm, unless the child is under the supervision of parents or guardian.
- Possess a loaded firearm on the land of another while under the influence of an impairing substance.
Sunday rules: no firearm hunting within 500 yards of a place of worship and no deer chased by dogs with guns. Archers in an archery-only season may skip orange, except on youth days and gun-season Sundays. County fox seasons are set by local acts and are in a separate NCWRC fox seasons book.
Compare local acts · Sunday law · Hunting laws
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.
Chatham County bear and gobbler numbers
Bear numbers
Chatham County is in the Piedmont BMU (group 2), open for bear Nov 14, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027. Chatham County hunters registered 4 bears in 2025. By land type, 4 of the 2025 bears were off game lands. Hound hunters took 0 and still hunters 4 in 2025.
Gobblers
Turkey hunting in Chatham County is spring only: youth Apr 10 to Apr 11, 2027, everyone Apr 17 to May 15, 2027. Chatham County gave up 236 birds in spring 2026, against 190 in 2025. 1977 is the first year with a reported bird. Of every hundred 2026 birds, about 9 came from game lands.
| Spring | Adults | Juveniles | Birds | Game lands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 223 | 13 | 236 | 22 |
| 2025 | 159 | 31 | 190 | 22 |
| 2024 | 206 | 19 | 225 | 23 |
| 2023 | 236 | 34 | 270 | 29 |
| 2022 | 158 | 19 | 177 | 10 |
| 2021 | 257 | 17 | 274 | 26 |
| 2020 | 224 | 63 | 287 | 27 |
Chatham ducks and geese
The I-95 line leaves Chatham County on the Inland side. Geese follow the Resident Population Zone dates.
Piedmont BMU details · Bear management areas · Duck and 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.
Chatham County shooting time on key dates
Legal light at Chatham County: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset for deer, bear and small game, and sunrise minus 30 minutes to sunset for waterfowl and doves.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Deer and small game | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:51 a.m. | 7:40 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 8:10 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 7:40 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 6:56 a.m. | 7:30 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:24 a.m. | 6:41 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 7:11 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 6:41 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 6:50 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 7:03 a.m. | 5:07 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:37 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 5:07 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:22 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:24 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:47 p.m. | 6:54 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:41 a.m. | 7:52 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 8:22 p.m. | 6:11 a.m. to 7:52 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.
Chatham County hunting services and NCWRC staff
Processors marked as CWD cooperators or Hunters for the Hungry partners come from NCWRC and charity lists; the rest are directory listings.
Phone list for Chatham
Call Joe Folta, District 5 biologist, about deer, bear or habitat in Chatham County. The nearest NCWRC office is NCWRC Headquarters in Raleigh, about 33 miles away; depots are work centres, so call ahead.
Deer processors
Mounts
Guided hunts
Outdoor stores
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.
Chatham County seat, towns and next-door counties
Pick a base in Chatham County: every town below links to a page with nearby game lands and services.
- Pittsborocounty seat · 4,989 people in 2024 · 20,644 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Carolina Meadows26,448 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Moncure33,955 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Apexmostly next door · 75,977 people in 2024 · 33,241 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
- Carymostly next door · 182,659 people in 2024 · 12,032 acres open to hunters within 10 miles
8 North Carolina counties touch Chatham County.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Fires, permits and bans around Chatham County
- Burn permit: Year-round.
- NC high hazard counties (G.S. 106-942(a)), stricter year-round permit and land-clearing rules: Chatham County is not 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.
- Warming fires: NC Wildlife Resources Commission game lands (15A NCAC 10D .0102(i)): no camping except on areas posted by the landowner for camping.
Chatham County ranges and match dates
1 range in Chatham County as of October 25, 2026, each with its access rule.
Nearest NCWRC public range: Wake County Firearms Education and Training Center in Wake County, about 22 miles from the county center. Details
Matches in the county
| When and what | Kind | Go |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 14, 2026 — Eastwood Outfitters Rimfire Match at Trace Armory Group | Smallbore | Enter |
| Dec 12, 2026 — Defensive Pistol at Trace Armory Group | Class | Enroll |
| Dec 12, 2026 — NC Concealed Carry Course at Trace Armory Group | Class | Enroll |
Ranges from the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Chatham County on the North Carolina events calendar
NWTF banquet: 1 upcoming event. Read October 25, 2026.
Still to come
| Held | What | Where | Register | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 29, 2027 | Chatham Co Limbhangers Banquet ⋅ NWTF banquet | Pittsboro ⋅ Chatham Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
Chatham County questions, short answers
Can I shine a light on deer at night in Chatham County?
No, from 30 minutes after sunset to 30 minutes before sunrise.
What bear management unit does Chatham County sit in?
The Piedmont BMU (group 2).
Does Chatham County get any autumn turkey days?
No. North Carolina sets spring only.
Is Chatham County east or west of the I-95 duck line?
West: Inland zone.
Does Chatham County have game land or other public ground?
Yes: 5 listed tracts, about 41,273 game land acres by GIS.
Where do I buy a license for Chatham County?
Go Outdoors North Carolina, online, by phone or at wildlife service agents.
Which shop near Chatham County handles venison?
Norm's Deer Processing, Norm's Wild Game Processing and Triggers and Truth on our list.
How long is blackpowder season in Chatham County?
Oct 31 to Nov 13, 2026, between archery and gun.
How many deer fit under one season limit in Chatham County?
Six per season: two antlered and four antlerless, statewide.
How many antlered bucks did Chatham County report in 2025-26?
1,243 antlered bucks in 2025-26.
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.
Double-check before Chatham County
NCWRC can change dates and rules between seasons. The digest and 15A NCAC 10B are the legal reference.
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: pmuellr (CC BY 2.0); Casavell (CC BY 2.0); DGGeiser (Public Domain Mark 1.0); pmuellr (CC BY 2.0); razvan.orendovici (CC BY 2.0); pmuellr (CC BY 2.0); Don McCullough (CC BY 2.0); Juliana Chong (CC BY 2.0); marknenadov (CC BY 2.0); Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0).