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The Piedmont
Granville County Hunting
Deer zone Central, Piedmont BMU (group 2), inland duck zone and Resident Population Zone: the 2026-27 picture for Granville County, with reported harvest, public land, towns and services.
Photo: rharrison (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Census measures give Granville County 532 square miles of land, and Oxford holds the courthouse. The Vintage 2024 estimate puts 61,544 people there, a 0.9% gain from the 2020 base. Wildlife management here runs through NCWRC District 5 (Piedmont Region). Hunters here use Central deer dates and the Piedmont BMU (group 2) bear calendar. The same schedule covers 19 counties in all. The game land layer maps 9,243 acres here.
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 Granville County
Granville County deer seasons by weapon
NCWRC puts Granville County in the Central group, so muzzleloaders get Oct 31 to Nov 13, 2026 and modern guns Nov 14, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027. Every season day counts as an antlerless day in this group. Youth under 16 get two days of their own, Sep 26 to Sep 27, 2026, with any lawful weapon. No CWD area covers Granville County in 2026-27.
| Hunt | Calendar | Antlerless harvest |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 12–Oct 30, 2026 | Every open day |
| Blackpowder and bows | Oct 31–Nov 13, 2026 | Every open day |
| Gun | Nov 14–Jan 1, 2027 | Every open day |
| Youth days (statewide) | Sep 26–Sep 27, 2026 | Either sex, youth |
There is no separate Granville County entry in the testing chart and no positive on record.
Light rule
Deer shining is closed from just after dark.
Limit
Two bucks and four antlerless, six in all.
Registering
Big game must be registered before it is skinned or left.
More on Central · Deer zone index · CWD testing
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.
Granville County opening and closing days
Private land and game land share these dates in Granville County unless a game land rule says otherwise; refuges and bases set their own.
| Animal | Segment | Area | Starts | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Granville County ground the public can hunt
Open land in Granville County spans 2 records here, led by Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Land. Day designations among them: 1 open 6 days a week. Around Oxford, a 10-mile circle takes in about 286 acres of mapped public land. Granville County is on the county list of the game land dove field program.
- Game lands (1 in county)Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Land (37,480 ac*, 6 days)
- Corps of Engineers lakes in Granville (1)Falls Lake (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) (31,844 ac*)
Just outside the county: Kerr Lake / John H. Kerr Reservoir, North Carolina portion (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) 853 ac, 14 miles out; Vance Game Land 853 ac, 14 miles out; Mayo Game Land 5,101 ac, 19 miles out; Hyco Game Land 2,382 ac, 25 miles out; Shocco Creek Game Land 8,113 ac, 34 miles out.
Public land hub · Game land index · Day schedules
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.
Seven seasons of Granville County deer
NCWRC tallied 3,125 deer for Granville County in 2025-26, 1.6% of the state total of 199,770. From 2,161 in 2019-20 to 3,125 in 2025-26 is a +45% swing. 15% of the county harvest fell to archery equipment. Only 4% came from game lands. The buck harvest rate is 3.45 per square mile, 38th of 100. Female deer made up 47% of the county harvest. 2010 holds the county record in the 1976-2025 series at 3,264.
| Season | Bucks | Button bucks | Does | Total | Gun | Blackpowder | Bow | Crossbow | Game lands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,479 | 183 | 1,463 | 3,125 | 2,217 | 449 | 259 | 200 | 139 |
| 2024-25 | 1,382 | 171 | 1,358 | 2,911 | 2,116 | 365 | 247 | 183 | 112 |
| 2023-24 | 1,629 | 149 | 1,365 | 3,143 | 2,263 | 434 | 245 | 201 | 174 |
| 2022-23 | 1,199 | 103 | 1,124 | 2,426 | 1,839 | 285 | 195 | 107 | 125 |
| 2021-22 | 1,319 | 131 | 1,108 | 2,558 | 1,689 | 484 | 240 | 145 | 141 |
| 2020-21 | 1,167 | 143 | 1,106 | 2,416 | 1,686 | 382 | 219 | 129 | 110 |
| 2019-20 | 1,058 | 112 | 991 | 2,161 | 1,438 | 416 | 181 | 126 | 105 |
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.
Granville County rules beyond the statewide digest
Besides statewide law, Granville County carries 3 local prohibitions set by the General Assembly.
- Hunt deer from the right-of-way of a public road.
- Hunt or possess a firearm or bow and arrow, without acquiring an entry permit, before entering on registered lands or remaining on an abutting portion of highway.
- Release a dog or dogs onto the property of another for the purpose of hunting deer without the written consent of the landowner or lessee.
Ducks, geese and doves are off-limits every Sunday by state law. Hunter orange is required for deer hunters with any weapon while a deer gun season is open. Local acts set fox seasons county by county, so confirm before hunting fox.
County acts list · Sunday hunting rules · All 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.
Granville County: bears, turkeys and ducks
Black bear
The Piedmont BMU (group 2) sets Granville County bear dates at Nov 14, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027. In 2025, 14 bears were reported from Granville County. The 2025 split: 6 males, 8 females. 10 bears fell to still hunting in 2025.
Turkey season
The 2027 spring season opens Apr 17, 2027; North Carolina holds no fall hunt. 300 gobblers and 28 jakes came from Granville County in 2026. Spring harvest here dates back to 1979. Only 4 of the 2026 gobblers were killed on game lands.
| Year | Adults | Jakes | All | On game lands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 300 | 28 | 328 | 4 |
| 2025 | 271 | 33 | 304 | 8 |
| 2024 | 245 | 16 | 261 | 10 |
| 2023 | 262 | 12 | 274 | 6 |
| 2022 | 208 | 25 | 233 | 11 |
| 2021 | 279 | 9 | 288 | 10 |
| 2020 | 217 | 31 | 248 | 8 |
Ducks and geese
Inland zone duck dates apply across Granville County. Resident Population Zone goose dates apply.
All Piedmont BMU counties · Bear areas · Waterfowl zone map
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.
Granville County legal hunting light
The NCWRC gives a Charlotte table with a -7 minute correction for Granville County; the game and waterfowl columns are worked out from it.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Most game | Doves and waterfowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:50 a.m. | 7:39 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 8:09 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 6:55 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:23 a.m. | 6:40 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 7:10 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 6:40 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 6:49 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:42 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 7:02 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:21 a.m. | 5:12 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 5:42 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:23 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:40 a.m. | 7:51 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 8:21 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:51 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.
Granville County biologist, depots and businesses
Distances are straight lines from the Granville County centre point, not road miles.
Granville wildlife staff
District 5 biologist Joe Folta covers Granville County. Closest NCWRC door: NCWRC Rogers Lake Depot, 12 miles from the county centre.
Processors near the county
Taxidermy shops
Sporting goods
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.
Granville County towns plus the counties that touch it
Town populations are Vintage 2024 Census estimates; Census-designated places have none.
- Oxfordcourthouse town · 8,972 inhabitants · 286 public acres within 10 miles
- Butner8,134 inhabitants · 28,042 public acres within 10 miles
Granville County borders 5 North Carolina counties and Halifax (VA) and Mecklenburg (VA) across the state line.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Granville County burn ban and campfire rules
- Permits: Year-round.
- NC high hazard counties (G.S. 106-942(a)), stricter year-round permit and land-clearing rules: Granville 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.
- Public land fires: NC Wildlife Resources Commission game lands (15A NCAC 10D .0102(i)): no camping except on areas posted by the landowner for camping.
Granville County ranges, clubs and shoots
3 ranges in Granville County are listed here.
Built for handgun, rifle, shotgun
Built for rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, action pistol, highpower
R. Wayne Bailey-Caswell Shooting Range in Caswell County is the nearest range on the NCWRC list, about 35 miles. See the range
Dates in this county
| Day and event | Discipline | Enter |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 31-Nov 1, 2026 — Rifle match(Uspsa) R1c&d R2 & R5 at Sir Walter Gun Club | Club match | Enter |
| Nov 7-8, 2026 — Training and education CR1 at Sir Walter Gun Club | Class | Host page |
| Nov 7, 2026 — USPSA Pistol Match: Ranges 1, 2, & 5 at Sir Walter Gun Club | Action pistol | Enter |
| Nov 8-9, 2026 — Jr Skeet Skeet1&2 at Sir Walter Gun Club | Sporting clays | Enter |
| Nov 14, 2026 — Cowboy Action Match: Range 1C, 1D at Sir Walter Gun Club | Action pistol | Enter |
| Nov 14-15, 2026 — Junior Rifle(weather Date)CR2 R4&5 at Sir Walter Gun Club | Youth | Enter |
Ranges from the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Granville County on the North Carolina events calendar
1 NCWRC class on file. Kinds: hunter education course.
Classes and workshops
| Date | Course | Hours | Place | Seat | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2, 2026 | North Carolina Hunter Education Certification (D5) ⋅ hunter education course | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | NC Wildlife Resources Commission Rogers Lake Depot ⋅ Creedmoor ⋅ Granville Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
Granville County FAQ
What was the record deer year in Granville County?
2010, with 3,264 deer, in the NCWRC series back to 1976.
Is deer bait legal on private land in Granville County?
On private land, yes; bait is banned on game lands.
Are fox seasons in Granville County set locally?
Yes, by local acts; check the NCWRC fox seasons publication.
Are bear hounds allowed in Granville County?
Yes, where the season is open and local rules allow; follow the bear dog rules in the digest.
Which guns are legal for Granville County gobblers?
No. Shotguns and archery only.
How do Granville County hunters get a tundra swan?
Only with a tundra swan permit from the permit drawing.
Which game lands are in Granville County?
Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Land.
Who supervises the Piedmont Region?
Jason Allen, (336) 514-0306.
Where is the closest butcher for a Granville County deer?
Lunsford meat Shop heads our list.
Does Granville County use the eastern or western deer dates?
Neither label fits exactly: it is in the Central group, gun opener Nov 14, 2026.
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.
Heading to Granville County
Carry your license and Big Game Harvest Report Card afield, paper or electronic.
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: Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain); James St. John (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); MarkDoliner (CC BY-SA 2.0); Ligocsicnarf89 (CC BY 4.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).