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What a hunter should know about Alligator River Game Land
Days, special rules, drawings and season zones for a game land in Tyrrell County.
Photo: amerune (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Alligator River Game Land
Parking, trailheads and gates near Alligator River Game Land
- Fort LandingBoat ramp · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
How big Alligator River Game Land is and whose land it is
Alligator River Game Land is a NCWRC game land in Tyrrell County. The Commission counts it in District 1. Rules on the ground come from the NCWRC. Acreage: 24,439, from NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES. Only 15 of our 95 game lands are bigger.
The detail GIS splits Alligator River Game Land into 8 named tracts: Burke, Circle Properties, GMS, Liverman, Palmetto-Peartree Preserve I, Palmetto-Peartree Preserve II, Palmetto-Peartree Preserve III, Swain.
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands; acreage NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES; checked October 25, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Alligator River Game Land
Alligator River Game Land hunting rules for 2026-27
Hunting on Alligator River Game Land runs Monday through Sunday whenever a season is in.
Antlerless deer with a gun on Alligator River Game Land: Oct. 17 – Jan. 1.
Extra rules on Alligator River Game Land
- Bear may only be taken on Nov. 14, 16, 17 and Dec. 19, 21, 22.
The general rules at Alligator River Game Land
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| Bait | Not allowed |
| Camping | Posted areas only |
| Tree stands | No nails or screws |
| Residence buffer | 150 yards |
| Vehicles | Open roads only |
| ATVs | Disabled permit holders |
| Loose dogs, west of I-95 | Not Apr. 1-Aug. 15 |
| Loose dogs, east of I-95 | Not Mar. 15-June 15 |
You do not need a Game Land License to hunt Alligator River Game Land if you hold a hunting license; that $20 license is for campers, riders and dog trainers without one.
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands, general game land rules, regional game land tables; checked October 25, 2026.
Game to target at Alligator River Game Land
Expect white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey and raccoon on Alligator River Game Land.
White-tailed deer
Southeastern zone
Black bear
Coastal BMU Zone 1
Wild turkey
Season dates
Raccoon
Season dates
Ducks and geese
Coastal duck zone
Species from NC digest regulations for specific game lands; checked October 25, 2026.
2026-27 zone dates for Alligator River Game Land hunters
Deer seasons on Alligator River Game Land follow its 1 zone group, unless a game land rule above changes them.
| Deer zone | Counties | Archery | Blackpowder | Gun | Gun antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeastern | Tyrrell | Sep 12–Oct 2 | Oct 3–Oct 16 | Oct 17–Jan 1 | All open days |
Alligator River Game Land bear unit and season
| Unit | Counties | Bear season |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal BMU Zone 1 | Tyrrell | Nov 14–Nov 29, Dec 12–Dec 27 |
Zones from deer seasons, bear seasons and duck and goose zone map in the 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026.
Alligator River Game Land: bear areas, pools and posted zones
Official maps: Alligator River
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands and the NCWRC game land GIS; checked October 25, 2026.
Alligator River Game Land and the public land around it
The bold marker is Alligator River Game Land, with 10 neighbors around it. Acres across the list: 341,584.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Schedule | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Morgan Futch | Game land | 598 | Permit only | 1.8 mi | west |
| Texas Plantation | Game land | 1,503 | Permit only | 1.9 mi | northeast |
| Buckridge | Game land | 17,966 | 3 days | 13 mi | south |
| Lantern Acres | Game land | 1,831 | 6 days | 14 mi | southwest |
| New Lake | Game land | 1,417 | 7 days | 15 mi | southwest |
| Alligator River NWR | Wildlife refuge | 160,000 | – | 15 mi | southeast |
| Dare | Game land | 46,055 | 7 days | 18 mi | southeast |
| Pocosin Lakes NWR | Wildlife refuge | 110,106 | – | 21 mi | southwest |
| Currituck Banks | Game land | 235 | 7 days | 22 mi | northeast |
| Roanoke Island Marshes | Game land | 1,873 | Permit only | 26 mi | east |
Points: NCWRC Game Land Centroids layer (GL_points Lat/Long). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Season dates that apply around Alligator River Game Land
Dove, squirrel, rabbit and quail run statewide, while the deer zone, bear unit, I-95 duck line and goose zone set the rest for Alligator River Game Land.
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 1 | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 29, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Part 2 | Coastal BMU Zone 1 | 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 | 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 | 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 | Northeast Hunt Zone | Northeast Hunt Zone | Dec 28, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| White-fronted goose | Northeast Hunt Zone | Northeast Hunt Zone | Dec 28, 2026 | Jan 30, 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 | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Firearms season | East of I-77 | 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.
Tyrrell County deer, bear and turkey numbers
Tyrrell County, home county of Alligator River Game Land, logged 479 deer in 2025-26.
| Season | All deer | Bucks | Game land deer | Firearm | Bow/crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 534 | 199 | 56 | 471 | 13 |
| 2020-21 | 545 | 202 | 77 | 450 | 24 |
| 2021-22 | 464 | 188 | 64 | 382 | 18 |
| 2022-23 | 486 | 184 | 74 | 399 | 23 |
| 2023-24 | 433 | 173 | 90 | 367 | 19 |
| 2024-25 | 440 | 155 | 72 | 388 | 10 |
| 2025-26 | 479 | 182 | 90 | 407 | 17 |
Tyrrell County bear numbers by year
| Year | Bear harvest |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 217 |
| 2021 | 207 |
| 2022 | 212 |
| 2023 | 234 |
| 2024 | 203 |
| 2025 | 203 |
Tyrrell County spring turkey harvest
| Season | Gobblers | Jakes | Game lands | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 36 | 4 | 6 | 40 |
| 2024 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 37 |
| 2025 | 45 | 7 | 6 | 52 |
| 2026 | 52 | 4 | 12 | 56 |
County figures from NCWRC harvest statistics, bear harvest report, spring turkey report and CWD testing; checked October 25, 2026.
Local rules that reach Alligator River Game Land
Tyrrell County local acts (from the digest) make it unlawful to:
- To hunt, take, or kill, or to attempt to hunt, take or kill, any wild animal or wild bird with a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow on, from, or across the right-of-way of any state-maintained road or to discharge any firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow on, from, or across the right-of-way of any state-maintained road or highway. This does not apply to hunters lawfully recovering dogs as long as weapons remain in a motor vehicle or to a person lawfully engaged in the act of taking bullfrogs with a rimfire weapon.
- To possess a loaded firearm while on the right-of-way of any state-maintained road or highway outside the confines of the passenger area of the vehicle.
- To hunt, take, or kill, or to attempt to hunt, take or kill, any wild animal or wild bird with a firearm, bow and arrow, or crossbow, or dogs or to possess a loaded firearm outside the confines of the passenger area of the vehicle, on the land of another, without the written permission of the landowner or lessee of the land, dated and valid for no more than one year. This law does not apply to a person who leases land for the purpose of hunting while hunting on that leased land or to a member of a hunting club with a current and valid membership card while hunting on club land.
- Hunt with a gun or dog on another’s land without permission of the owner or lessee.
Local laws by county, 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026. All county local laws.
Services within reach of Alligator River Game Land
Services are in this county or the next one over.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | Tyrrell | 8.2 mi | 605 | 33,243 |
| Manns Harbor | Dare | 18 mi | – | 77,671 |
| Manteo | Dare | 25 mi | 1,595 | 29,060 |
| Grandy | Currituck | 25 mi | – | 19,804 |
Go county by county from Alligator River Game Land: Tyrrell County.
Where Alligator River Game Land hunters buy shells and drop off deer
Alligator River Game Land: the nearest agency desks
The NCWRC district biologist for Tyrrell County is Dallas Shoemaker, (910) 417-7359.
Towns and populations from Census 2024 estimates; businesses from store locators and listings; offices from NCWRC, USFS and USFWS; district biologists from NCWRC. Checked October 25, 2026.
Alligator River Game Land on the North Carolina events calendar
Hunter education course: 2 NCWRC classes on site or a few miles away.
Free NCWRC courses
| When | Course | Miles away | Hours | Venue | Sign up | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 4, 2026 | D1A4 Tyrrell Hunter Education Course ⋅ hunter education course | 8 | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Tyrrell County Cooperative Extension ⋅ Columbia ⋅ Tyrrell Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Dec 7, 2026 | D1A4 Tyrrell Hunter Education Course ⋅ hunter education course | 8 | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Tyrrell County Cooperative Extension ⋅ Columbia ⋅ Tyrrell Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
Range time before Alligator River Game Land
For hunters on Alligator River Game Land, the nearest Commission range is Odom Shooting Range in Northampton County (81 miles). Two nearer club ranges follow.
On offer: rifle, handgun, archery
On offer: trap, skeet, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire
From the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
When shooting starts and stops on Alligator River Game Land
The digest prints one sunrise and sunset table for Charlotte and a minute offset for each county. For Alligator River Game Land the offset is -17 minutes.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Big and small game | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:40 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 6:45 a.m. | 7:19 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:49 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:13 a.m. | 6:30 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 6:39 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 6:52 a.m. | 4:56 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:11 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:13 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:30 a.m. | 7:41 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 8:11 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 7:41 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.
The look of Alligator River Game Land country
Alligator River Game Land hunter questions, answered from the record
Is a special pass needed to hunt Alligator River Game Land?
A hunting license with the needed privileges; game land use is included.
What town should I base out of for Alligator River Game Land?
Try Columbia, 8.2 mi off.
How do Sunday rules work on Alligator River Game Land?
Yes on open days, without migratory birds and without guns from 9:30 to 12:30.
Who manages hunting on Alligator River Game Land day to day?
Managing agency: the NCWRC.
In which county or counties will I find Alligator River Game Land?
Tyrrell County alone, per the overlay.
Is Alligator River Game Land open to hunting on Sundays?
Hunting on Alligator River Game Land runs Monday through Sunday whenever a season is in.
What acreage is on file for Alligator River Game Land?
The record lists 24,439 acres (NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES).
Is Alligator River Game Land known for deer, birds or waterfowl?
Listed species: white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, raccoon and ducks and geese.
Which deer season zone covers Alligator River Game Land?
Southeastern: Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027 for guns, unless game land rules differ.
Can I hunt black bears on Alligator River Game Land?
Coastal BMU Zone 1: Nov 14 to Nov 29, 2026, Dec 12 to Dec 27, 2026.
Does Alligator River Game Land have posted camping areas?
Per the digest table, none.
One more look before driving to Alligator River Game Land
Boundaries on the ground beat any web page; watch for posted zones on Alligator River Game Land.
Sources: NC digest regulations for specific game lands · NC digest regional game land tables · NC digest index to game land map · NC digest general game lands regulations · NCWRC GIS · NCWRC GIS · NCWRC GIS · NCWRC map; regulations from the 2026-27 NCWRC regulations digest. Checked October 25, 2026.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Midwest Region (Public domain); Charles Patrick Ewing (CC BY 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); ncwetlands.org (CC0 1.0).