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What a hunter should know about Buckhorn Game Land
Days, special rules, drawings and season zones for a game land in Orange County.
Photo: LFLamb (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Buckhorn Game Land
Parking, trailheads and gates near Buckhorn Game Land
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 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 Buckhorn Game Land is and whose land it is
Buckhorn Game Land is a NCWRC game land in Orange County. The Commission counts it in District 5. Rules on the ground come from the NCWRC. Acreage: 491, from NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES. Only 84 of our 95 game lands are bigger.
Who owns the ground at Buckhorn Game Land
| Owned by | Acres (GIS) |
|---|---|
| Orange Water & Sewer Authority (OWASA) | 491 |
The detail GIS splits Buckhorn Game Land into 1 named tracts: Mitigation.
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 Buckhorn Game Land
Buckhorn Game Land hunting rules for 2026-27
Access to hunt Buckhorn Game Land comes only through a permit.
Extra rules on Buckhorn Game Land
- Horseback riding, including all equine species, is prohibited.
The general rules at Buckhorn 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 Buckhorn 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.
Buckhorn Game Land permit hunts for 2026-27
Read the 3 drawn hunts for Buckhorn Game Land below; each has its own deadline and quota.
| Hunt | Species | Weapon | Apply by | Fee | Age | Choices (quota) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Either-Sex Deer Sept/Oct Hunts | Either-Sex Deer | Archery | Aug. 10, 2026 | $8.00 | – | Game Land (4) | 4 hunters |
| Either-Sex Deer November Hunts | Either-Sex Deer | Archery | Sep. 1, 2026 | $8.00 | – | Game Land (4) | 4 hunters |
| Either-Sex Deer December Hunts | Either-Sex Deer | Archery | Oct. 1, 2026 | $8.00 | – | Game Land (4) | 4 hunters |
Disabled hunts can be applied for together for $10 in one transaction; most others cost $8 each.
NCWRC Permit Hunt Book 2026-27 and the Permit Hunting Opportunities page; checked October 25, 2026.
Buckhorn Game Land and the permit program
Statewide the 2026-27 book has 286 hunts across 704 areas; Buckhorn Game Land is one of them.
| Deadline | Items in the book |
|---|---|
| Aug. 1, 2026 | 1 |
| Aug. 10, 2026 | 47 |
| Sep. 1, 2026 | 79 |
| Oct. 1, 2026 | 70 |
| Nov. 1, 2026 | 16 |
| Dec. 1, 2026 | 7 |
| Jan. 1, 2027 | 4 |
| Mar. 1, 2027 | 62 |
Permit Hunting Opportunities; checked October 25, 2026. All permit hunts.
Game to target at Buckhorn Game Land
Expect white-tailed deer on Buckhorn Game Land.
White-tailed deer
Central zone
NCWRC special hunt tags: Deer.
Species from NC digest regulations for specific game lands; checked October 25, 2026.
2026-27 zone dates for Buckhorn Game Land hunters
Deer seasons on Buckhorn Game Land follow its 1 zone group, unless a game land rule above changes them.
| Deer zone | Counties | Archery | Blackpowder | Gun | Gun antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | Orange | Sep 12–Oct 30 | Oct 31–Nov 13 | Nov 14–Jan 1 | All open days |
Buckhorn Game Land bear unit and season
| Unit | Counties | Bear season |
|---|---|---|
| Piedmont BMU (group 2) | Orange | Nov 14–Jan 1 |
Zones from deer seasons, bear seasons and duck and goose zone map in the 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026.
Buckhorn Game Land: bear areas, pools and posted zones
Official maps: Buckhorn
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands and the NCWRC game land GIS; checked October 25, 2026.
Buckhorn Game Land and the public land around it
The bold marker is Buckhorn Game Land, with 10 neighbors around it. Acres across the list: 191,037.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Schedule | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B. Everett Jordan Lake | Corps lake | 40,115 | – | 20 mi | southeast |
| Jordan | Game land | 40,462 | 6 days | 21 mi | southeast |
| R. Wayne Bailey-Caswell | Game land | 18,014 | 3 days | 25 mi | north |
| Butner-Falls of Neuse | Game land | 37,480 | 6 days | 27 mi | east |
| Falls Lake | Corps lake | 31,844 | – | 27 mi | east |
| Harris | Game land | 11,527 | 7 days | 33 mi | southeast |
| Lee Game Land | Game land | 1,441 | 7 days | 34 mi | south |
| Chatham | Game land | 2,671 | 7 days | 34 mi | southeast |
| Hyco | Game land | 2,382 | 7 days | 36 mi | north |
| Mayo | Game land | 5,101 | 7 days | 38 mi | northeast |
Points: NCWRC Game Land Centroids layer (GL_points Lat/Long). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Season dates that apply around Buckhorn 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 Buckhorn Game Land.
| 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 | |
| White-tailed deer | Urban Archery Season | Urban archery towns only | Jan 9, 2027 | Feb 14, 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 | 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 | 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.
Orange County deer, bear and turkey numbers
Orange County, home county of Buckhorn Game Land, logged 1,886 deer in 2025-26.
| Season | All deer | Bucks | Game land deer | Firearm | Bow/crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 1,723 | 835 | 5 | 1,119 | 369 |
| 2020-21 | 1,855 | 962 | 10 | 1,190 | 462 |
| 2021-22 | 1,857 | 1,007 | 7 | 1,146 | 498 |
| 2022-23 | 1,649 | 899 | 18 | 1,133 | 398 |
| 2023-24 | 2,183 | 1,211 | 6 | 1,485 | 518 |
| 2024-25 | 2,051 | 1,113 | 12 | 1,375 | 491 |
| 2025-26 | 1,886 | 945 | 11 | 1,259 | 443 |
Orange County bear numbers by year
| Year | Bear harvest |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 |
Orange County spring turkey harvest
| Season | Gobblers | Jakes | Game lands | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 85 | 6 | 0 | 91 |
| 2024 | 88 | 7 | 0 | 95 |
| 2025 | 71 | 9 | 2 | 80 |
| 2026 | 77 | 5 | 0 | 82 |
County figures from NCWRC harvest statistics, bear harvest report, spring turkey report and CWD testing; checked October 25, 2026.
Local rules that reach Buckhorn Game Land
Orange County local acts (from the digest) make it unlawful to:
- Hunt deer from a public road.
- Hunt with firearms from the right-of-way of a public road.
- Hunt or fish on the land of another without having on one’s person, written permission, signed and dated for the current hunting season, by the landowner or lessee.
- Unlawful to hunt while under the influence of alcohol or other impairing substances.
Local laws by county, 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026. All county local laws.
Services within reach of Buckhorn Game Land
Services are in this county or the next one over.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hillsborough | Orange | 7.8 mi | 9,773 | 494 |
| Graham | Alamance | 9.7 mi | 19,311 | 332 |
| Chapel Hill | Orange | 12 mi | 64,028 | 17,874 |
| Burlington | Alamance | 14 mi | 61,365 | – |
Go county by county from Buckhorn Game Land: Orange County.
Where Buckhorn Game Land hunters buy shells and drop off deer
Buckhorn Game Land: the nearest agency desks
The NCWRC district biologist for Orange County is Joe Folta, (336) 212-7550.
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.
Buckhorn Game Land on the North Carolina events calendar
Hunter education course: 1 NCWRC class on site or a few miles away.
Free NCWRC courses
| When | Course | Miles away | Hours | Venue | Sign up | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 9, 2026 | North Carolina Hunter Education Certification (D5) ⋅ hunter education course | 8 | 9:00 AM–3:00 PM | Bonnie Davis Environment and AG Center ⋅ Hillsborough ⋅ Orange Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
Range time before Buckhorn Game Land
For hunters on Buckhorn Game Land, the nearest Commission range is R. Wayne Bailey-Caswell Shooting Range in Caswell County (26 miles). Two nearer club ranges follow.
On offer: rifle, handgun, archery, 3D archery
On offer: trap, shotgun, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire
On offer: rifle, archery
From the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
When shooting starts and stops on Buckhorn Game Land
The digest prints one sunrise and sunset table for Charlotte and a minute offset for each county. For Buckhorn Game Land the offset is -5 minutes.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Big and small game | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:52 a.m. | 7:41 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 8:11 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:41 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 6:57 a.m. | 7:31 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 8:01 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:31 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:25 a.m. | 6:42 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 6:42 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 6:51 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:44 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 7:04 a.m. | 5:08 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:38 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:08 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:23 a.m. | 5:14 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:44 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:14 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:25 a.m. | 5:18 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:48 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:42 a.m. | 7:53 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 8:23 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 7:53 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 Buckhorn Game Land country
Buckhorn Game Land hunter questions, answered from the record
Is a special pass needed to hunt Buckhorn Game Land?
A hunting license with the needed privileges; game land use is included.
What town should I base out of for Buckhorn Game Land?
Try Hillsborough, 7.8 mi off.
How do Sunday rules work on Buckhorn Game Land?
Yes on open days, without migratory birds and without guns from 9:30 to 12:30.
Who manages hunting on Buckhorn Game Land day to day?
Managing agency: the NCWRC.
In which county or counties will I find Buckhorn Game Land?
Orange County alone, per the overlay.
Is Buckhorn Game Land open to hunting on Sundays?
Access to hunt Buckhorn Game Land comes only through a permit.
What acreage is on file for Buckhorn Game Land?
The record lists 491 acres (NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES).
Is Buckhorn Game Land known for deer, birds or waterfowl?
Listed species: white-tailed deer.
When is the deadline for Buckhorn Game Land permit hunts?
Yes: 3 drawn hunts, covering either-sex deer.
Which deer season zone covers Buckhorn Game Land?
Central: Nov 14, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027 for guns, unless game land rules differ.
Does Buckhorn Game Land have posted camping areas?
Per the digest table, none.
One more look before driving to Buckhorn Game Land
Boundaries on the ground beat any web page; watch for posted zones on Buckhorn 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: FieldsportsChannel.tv (CC BY 2.0); Casavell (CC BY 2.0); bobistraveling (CC BY 2.0); NPS Photo (Public domain).