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District 3, Piedmont
Wake County Hunting
Everything county-specific about hunting Wake County, from the Northeastern archery, blackpowder and gun windows to light-shining hours, waterfowl zones, game land acreage and harvest by year.
Photo: James Willamor (CC BY-SA 2.0)
With Raleigh as its seat, Wake County covers 835 square miles in the NCWRC Piedmont Region. Its 2024 head count of 1,232,444 is +9.1% on the 2020 base. The Commission counts it in District 3 of its Piedmont Region. Deer dates follow the Northeastern schedule, and bear dates the Piedmont BMU (group 1). Across the state, 22 counties run on this deer calendar. Roughly 22,272 acres of NCWRC game land fall within 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.
How deer seasons work in Wake County
The gun opener for Wake County is Oct 17, 2026, after an archery stretch that starts Sep 12 and a blackpowder fortnight from Oct 3. Antlerless harvest is allowed through the whole archery, blackpowder and gun calendar. The statewide youth days, Sep 26 to Sep 27, 2026, let hunters under 16 use any legal weapon. Wake County lies outside the CWD management and surveillance areas.
| Season | From and to | Doe days |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 12–Oct 2, 2026 | Every open day |
| Muzzleloaders | Oct 3–Oct 16, 2026 | Every open day |
| Firearms | Oct 17–Jan 1, 2027 | Every open day |
| Youth days (statewide) | Sep 26–Sep 27, 2026 | Either sex, youth |
| Urban archery | Jan 9–Feb 14, 2027 | Participating towns |
CWD has not been detected in Wake County; NCWRC reports its samples with the rest of the state.
Urban archery towns
The urban season reaches Wake Forest after the gun season closes.
Lights at night
Deer may not be lit up from 11 p.m. until 30 minutes before sunrise.
Deer per season
Six deer a season: two antlered, four antlerless.
Report by noon
Phone 800-I-GOT-ONE or use the app; record the authorization number.
Northeastern deer page · Compare deer zones · CWD rules
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.
Wake County hunting dates by species
Wake County rows run from the Sept. 1 Canada goose and dove openers to the spring gobbler season that closes in May.
| Game | Hunt | Zone | First day | Last day | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Northeastern | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 2, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth Deer Hunting Days | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Blackpowder | Northeastern | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Northeastern | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Urban Archery Season | Urban archery towns only | Jan 9, 2027 | Feb 14, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Group 1 | Piedmont BMU group 1 | Oct 17, 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.
Wake County tracts open to hunters
Wake County shares 5 listed properties with the public; days per week come from the digest game land tables. By the digest tables, the game lands split as 2 open 6 days a week and 1 open 7 days a week. 4,215 acres of public hunting ground sit within 10 miles of Raleigh. Game land dove fields include a site in Wake County.
- Game lands, 3 listedJordan Game Land (40,462 acres*, 6 days), Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Land (37,480 acres*, 6 days), Harris Game Land (11,527 acres*, 7 days)
- Corps of Engineers lakes, 2 hereB. Everett Jordan Lake (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) (40,115 acres*), Falls Lake (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) (31,844 acres*)
Neighbouring tracts: Chatham Game Land 2,671 acres, 24 miles out; Lee Game Land 1,441 acres, 28 miles out; Buckhorn Game Land 491 acres, 36 miles out; Rhodes Pond Game Land 471 acres, 38 miles out; Sandy Creek Game Land 923 acres, 43 miles out.
Land finder · 95 game lands · Which days to hunt
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.
Wake County harvest card totals
1,042 bucks, 799 does and 59 button bucks came from Wake County in 2025-26. 2023-24 leads the run of seasons with 2,145 deer. Weapon split last season: gun 1,190, bow and crossbow 639, blackpowder 71. Private and other ground supplied 1,571 deer, game lands 329. Per square mile, 3.27 bucks were taken. Within the antlerless count, 59 were button bucks, males with only skin-covered knobs. Fifty seasons of totals put the high mark at 2013, with 3,279 deer.
| Year | Antlered | Button bucks | Does | Deer | Gun | Blackpowder | Vertical bow | Crossbow | Game lands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 1,042 | 59 | 799 | 1,900 | 1,190 | 71 | 338 | 301 | 329 |
| 2024-25 | 1,119 | 70 | 838 | 2,027 | 1,276 | 55 | 387 | 309 | 297 |
| 2023-24 | 1,240 | 74 | 831 | 2,145 | 1,338 | 76 | 365 | 366 | 274 |
| 2022-23 | 932 | 67 | 709 | 1,708 | 1,061 | 70 | 346 | 231 | 238 |
| 2021-22 | 1,075 | 89 | 836 | 2,000 | 1,224 | 69 | 448 | 259 | 231 |
| 2020-21 | 946 | 76 | 824 | 1,846 | 1,184 | 86 | 366 | 210 | 292 |
| 2019-20 | 1,040 | 81 | 783 | 1,904 | 1,249 | 66 | 385 | 204 | 252 |
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.
Local hunting acts in Wake County
The digest prints 6 local acts for Wake County. Each item below is unlawful in the county.
- Hunt deer with a dog on another’s land without written permission of the owner.
- Shoot at a deer from, on or across the right-of-way of a county road or state highway.
- Take any animal with a centerfire rifle, unless the person is positioned at least eight feet above the ground.
- Possess a loaded firearm or hunt on the land of another without written permission.
- Possess loaded shotguns or centerfire rifles upon highway right-of-ways.
- It is unlawful to hunt with firearms while under the influence of an impairing substance.
Archery is allowed through Sunday morning; firearms wait until 12:30 p.m. Firearm hunters of most game wear hunter orange visible from all sides; deer hunters wear it during any gun season. Fox seasons vary by county under local acts; check the NCWRC fox book.
Local laws index · Sunday hours · General rules
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.
Wake County beyond whitetails
Wake black bear
Bear season in Wake County follows the Piedmont BMU (group 1): Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027. The 2025 bear count for Wake County: 1. Of the 2025 bears, 0 were male and 1 female; 0 came off game lands. Method in 2025: 100% with dogs.
Turkey harvest
Bearded birds only, from Apr 17, 2027 to May 15, 2027 statewide. The spring 2026 turkey count for Wake County: 146 (9 jakes). The long-run table shows 1 bird in 1977, the first year listed. Game lands supplied 10 of those birds and other land 136.
| Spring | Gobblers | Jakes | Total | Game lands |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 137 | 9 | 146 | 10 |
| 2025 | 127 | 15 | 142 | 10 |
| 2024 | 133 | 18 | 151 | 13 |
| 2023 | 175 | 18 | 193 | 11 |
| 2022 | 130 | 14 | 144 | 6 |
| 2021 | 127 | 13 | 140 | 7 |
| 2020 | 99 | 34 | 133 | 6 |
Waterfowl zones
Wake County hunts ducks on Inland zone splits. The goose map puts Wake County in the Resident Population Zone.
Piedmont BMU page · Designated bear areas · I-95 duck line
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.
Wake County shooting time on key dates
On Sundays firearm hunting stops from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and migratory birds are closed all day; the hours below are for the other days.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal for game | Legal for ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:49 a.m. | 7:38 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 8:08 p.m. | 6:19 a.m. to 7:38 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 6:54 a.m. | 7:28 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:58 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:28 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:22 a.m. | 6:39 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 7:09 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 6:39 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 6:48 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 7:01 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:20 a.m. | 5:11 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:41 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:11 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:22 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. | 6:52 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:39 a.m. | 7:50 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 8:20 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 7:50 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.
Who to call in Wake County
NCWRC publishes no list of licensed taxidermists or guides, so those rows come from directories; call before you go.
Agency contacts
Wake County falls to Greg Batts on the NCWRC biologist list. NCWRC Headquarters (Raleigh) is the closest Commission facility, 2 miles out.
Venison processing
Taxidermists nearby
Preserves nearby
Wake area gun and bow counters
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.
Where to stay near Wake County
The acreage beside a town is public land inside a 10-mile circle, measured on GIS layers.
- Raleighseat · 499,825 townspeople · 4,215 public acres in a 10-mile ring
- Apex75,977 townspeople · 33,241 public acres in a 10-mile ring
- Cary182,659 townspeople · 12,032 public acres in a 10-mile ring
- Fuquay-Varina46,317 townspeople · 6,749 public acres in a 10-mile ring
- Holly Springs48,674 townspeople · 19,055 public acres in a 10-mile ring
- Wake Forest56,764 townspeople · 8,660 public acres in a 10-mile ring
- Durhamspans the line · 301,870 townspeople · 19,998 public acres in a 10-mile ring
Tiles below open each county next to Wake County.
Towns from the Census 2024 Gazetteer and Vintage 2024 estimates; adjacency from the Census county adjacency file.
Before you burn in Wake County
- When a permit is needed: Year-round.
- NC high hazard counties (G.S. 106-942(a)), stricter year-round permit and land-clearing rules: Wake County is not 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.
- Warming fires: NC Wildlife Resources Commission game lands (15A NCAC 10D .0102(i)): no camping except on areas posted by the landowner for camping.
Wake County ranges, clubs and shoots
6 Wake County ranges are listed; every card says who may shoot.
On offer: rifle, handgun
On offer: archery, 3D archery
On offer: shotgun, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire
Local match calendar
| Date, shoot | Format | Page |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 8, 2026 — Current Course at Family Self Defense NC | Class | Reserve a seat |
| Nov 21-22, 2026 — Raleigh Gun & Knife Show | Gun show | See listing |
| Dec 12-13, 2026 — C&E Capital City Gun Show | Gun show | See listing |
Ranges from the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Wake County, dinners, classes and hunts
Read October 25, 2026: 3 upcoming events, 2 NCWRC classes and 1 posted result, covering DU banquet, deer and hunting expo, deer scoring awards and hunter education course.
Next dates
| Held | What | Where | Register | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 5, 2026 | Raleigh DU Banquet Presented By: Moffat Properties & Moffat Pipe ⋅ DU banquet | Kerr Scott Building At Fairgrounds ⋅ Raleigh ⋅ Wake Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
| Nov 12, 2026 | NC State University DU Banquet Presented By: S.T. Wooten ⋅ DU banquet | Exposition Center at State Fairgrounds ⋅ Raleigh ⋅ Wake Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
| Mar 5–7, 2027 | Dixie Deer Classic 2027 ⋅ Deer and hunting expo | NC State Fairgrounds ⋅ Raleigh ⋅ Wake Co. | Event details | Source |
Hunter education classes
| Date | Course | Hours | Place | Seat | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28–29, 2026 | D3 A5 Hunter Education ⋅ hunter education course | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Headquarters ⋅ Raleigh ⋅ Wake Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Nov 9–10, 2026 | D3 A5 Hunter Education ⋅ hunter education course | 6:00 AM–9:00 AM | N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission Headquarters ⋅ Raleigh ⋅ Wake Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
Past winners
| Held | Event | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27 – Mar 1, 2026 | Dixie Deer Classic 2026 Deer Awards ⋅ Deer scoring awards | President's Award and Best by Gun, NC Typical Youth Male: Wyatt Oakley, Forsyth County buck, 157 4/8 | Source |
Fishing in Wake County
Lakes, rivers, boat ramps and bait shops for Wake County are on State Fishing Spots, our sister site.
Wake County, answered
What weapons are legal in the Wake County urban season?
Archery equipment only.
Which NCWRC district is Wake County in?
District 3, Piedmont Region.
Which deer dates apply to Wake County hunters?
The Northeastern group from the 2026-2027 at-a-glance sheet.
Who should a Wake County hunter call about processing?
Buck Fever Taxidermy; book early in November.
Is the Wake County deer harvest rising?
Season by season the cards show 1,904 in 2019-20, 2,027 in 2024-25 and 1,900 in 2025-26.
Are button bucks antlerless in Wake County?
Yes. Knobs under skin are not antlers, so button bucks count as antlerless.
What are the Sunday hours for gun hunters in Wake County?
Yes, but no firearms from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and no migratory birds.
Has a CWD-positive deer turned up in Wake County?
No positive is listed for the county.
How many turkeys came from Wake County in 2026?
146 reported.
How many bears did Wake County hunters register in 2025?
1 reported.
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.
Wake County, last word
Dates on this page are for 2026-27 only; recheck the digest if you plan a later season.
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: twbuckner (CC BY 2.0); USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); Ryan Q (CC BY 2.0); Wloski (CC BY-SA 2.0); bobistraveling (CC BY 2.0); pmuellr (CC BY 2.0); rharrison (CC BY-SA 2.0); bobistraveling (CC BY 2.0); Dominic Sherony (CC BY-SA 2.0).