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2026-27 · Southeastern deer
Jones County Hunting
Plan a Jones 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: Elaine with Grey Cats (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Spread over 471 square miles of the Coastal Plain, Jones County is run from Trenton. About 9,462 residents lived in the county in 2024 (+3.2% against 2020). It sits in the Coastal Region, District 2 on the NCWRC map. The at-a-glance sheet lists the county under Southeastern for deer and Coastal BMU Zone 3 for bear. In total 23 counties follow these dates. Public hunters get some 40,827 game land acres in the county, 39,531 on national forest.
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.
Jones County: deer zone, doe days and disease rules
Deer seasons in Jones 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 Jones 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 Jones 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 Jones County
For Jones County, 55 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 | Part 1 | Coastal BMU Zone 3 | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Part 2 | Coastal BMU Zone 3 | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| 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.
Jones County public land with acreage
The map pins 2 tracts inside Jones County and 5 neighbours just outside it. Count by hunting days: 1 open 7 days a week. National forest ground in Jones County: 39,531 acres. The dove field program reaches Jones County.
- Ranger districts, 1 hereCroatan Ranger District (Croatan National Forest) (167,687 acres*)
- Game lands, count 1Croatan Game Land (166,267 acres*, 7 days)
- National forest landCroatan National Forest (39,391 acres in Jones)
Short drives over the line: Dover Bay Game Land 2,898 acres, 13 miles out; White Oak River Game Land 2,597 acres, 17 miles out; Rocky Run Game Land 390 acres, 21 miles out; Neuse River Game Land 5,965 acres, 22 miles out; Light Ground Pocosin Game Land 942 acres, 33 miles out.
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point is off-limits to hunters. State parks stay closed statewide.
Land statewide · Game land pages · Hunting days table · Forests
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.
Jones County deer on the report cards
Hunters registered 1,882 deer from Jones County in 2025-26: 902 antlered bucks and 980 antlerless. That is 28% more than the 1,468 of 2019-20; 2025-26 is the best season in the table. Guns took 1,764 of them, blackpowder 83, bows 21 and crossbows 14. Land split: 193 game land, 1,689 other. Antlered bucks per square mile: 2.03. Antlerless males, the button bucks, came to 83. Peak season since 1976: 1993, 2,661 deer.
| Season | Antlered | Button | Doe | All | Gun | Muzzleloader | Bow | Xbow | On game lands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 902 | 83 | 897 | 1,882 | 1,764 | 83 | 21 | 14 | 193 |
| 2024-25 | 803 | 73 | 878 | 1,754 | 1,678 | 51 | 15 | 10 | 173 |
| 2023-24 | 813 | 71 | 810 | 1,694 | 1,603 | 59 | 14 | 18 | 186 |
| 2022-23 | 752 | 61 | 710 | 1,523 | 1,445 | 48 | 19 | 11 | 127 |
| 2021-22 | 828 | 68 | 746 | 1,642 | 1,552 | 57 | 22 | 11 | 141 |
| 2020-21 | 787 | 76 | 764 | 1,627 | 1,523 | 65 | 22 | 17 | 117 |
| 2019-20 | 694 | 61 | 713 | 1,468 | 1,405 | 45 | 12 | 6 | 101 |
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 Jones County
Local acts add 1 county-only rule in Jones County; the list is copied from the digest.
- Hunt, with firearms, any animal or bird on, or from, or across the right-of-way of any paved public road or highway.
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. Jones 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.
Jones County bear unit, turkey harvest and duck zone
Bear dates and harvest
Bears may be hunted in Jones County Nov 14 to Nov 22, 2026 and Dec 12 to Dec 27, 2026 (Coastal BMU Zone 3). Bear hunting is closed or by permit in designated areas such as Croatan Game Land. Jones County produced 274 reported bears last season; the BMU tables run back to 1996. Game lands gave up 10 of the 2025 bears; other land 264. Still hunting produced 35% 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: 285 turkeys, 15 from game lands. The county first shows a spring harvest in 1981. Private and other ground produced 95% of the county turkeys.
| Season | Gobblers | Jakes | Turkeys | Game land |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 261 | 24 | 285 | 15 |
| 2025 | 262 | 54 | 316 | 9 |
| 2024 | 295 | 27 | 322 | 11 |
| 2023 | 288 | 22 | 310 | 12 |
| 2022 | 272 | 46 | 318 | 9 |
| 2021 | 301 | 13 | 314 | 13 |
| 2020 | 180 | 55 | 235 | 9 |
Waterfowl
Jones County is Coastal duck zone, east of I-95. Canada geese: Resident Population Zone.
Coastal BMU Zone 3 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.
Jones 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 | 6:43 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 8:02 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 6:48 a.m. | 7:22 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:52 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:16 a.m. | 6:33 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 7:03 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 6:42 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 6:55 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:14 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:16 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:33 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 8:14 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 7:44 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.
Jones County help after the shot
License sales run through Go Outdoors North Carolina online, by phone or at wildlife service agents.
District contacts
Chris Kent is the NCWRC biologist for District 2, which takes in Jones County. New Bern hosts the nearest NCWRC site, NCWRC New Bern 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.
Jones County towns and bordering counties
Each Jones County town page carries legal shooting light for that spot.
Counties sharing a line with Jones County: 5 in-state.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Burning rules in Jones County
- Permit season: Year-round.
- NC high hazard counties (G.S. 106-942(a)), stricter year-round permit and land-clearing rules: Jones County is on this list.
- Burn bans come from: 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 Jones County
Nearest to Jones County: Up The Creek Arms, LLC, roughly 13 miles away.
Lanes for trap, shotgun
Lanes for handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery, action pistol
Holly Shelter Shooting Range in Pender County is the nearest range on the NCWRC list, about 41 miles. Open it
Ranges from the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Jones County, dinners, classes and hunts
Listed as of October 25, 2026: 1 upcoming event and 2 NCWRC classes.
Coming up
| Date | Event | Where | Sign up | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 4, 2026 | Jones County Banquet ⋅ DU banquet | Jones County Civic Center ⋅ Trenton ⋅ Jones Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
Hunter education dates
| On | Class | Time | Where held | Register | Found at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 8, 2026 | D2 Jones Co. Hunter Safety Class ⋅ hunter education course | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Jones County Civic Center ⋅ Trenton ⋅ Jones Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Dec 6, 2026 | D2 Jones Co. Hunter Safety Class ⋅ hunter education course | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Jones County Civic Center ⋅ Trenton ⋅ Jones Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
Short answers for Jones County
What bait rules cover bear hunters in Jones County?
Only unprocessed natural bait on private land during the season; never on game lands.
Does Jones County have local hunting laws?
Yes, 1 local act; the first reads: Hunt, with firearms, any animal or bird on, or from, or across the right-of-way of any paved public road or highway.
Does Jones County hunt ducks on Inland or Coastal dates?
Coastal.
Are jakes legal in Jones County?
Yes. Male or bearded turkeys are legal. 24 jakes were reported in 2026.
Who is the wildlife biologist for Jones County?
Chris Kent, District 2, (252) 617-0019.
Can I camp on game lands near Jones County?
Only in posted camping areas.
Which NCWRC deer zone group holds Jones 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 Jones County hunters?
The closest names on our list are Riverside Meats, Beaver Creek Wild Game Processing and In Your Sight Taxidermy/Wild Game Processing; call first.
How many Jones County deer were taken with a bow?
21 with vertical bows and 14 with crossbows in 2025-26.
Do youth hunters in Jones County get extra deer days?
Yes: Sep 26 to Sep 27, 2026 statewide.
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.
Jones 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: DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0); Casavell (CC BY 2.0); Wildreturn (CC BY 2.0); Rob Bixby (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Headquarters (CC BY 2.0); ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0); Cindy Sue Causey (CC BY 2.0).