Home › North Carolina › Public land › Cold Mountain Game Land
Game land · NCWRC data
Cold Mountain Game Land: hunter notes for 2026-27
Rules and seasons for hunting in Haywood County: white-tailed deer, black bear and wild turkey.
Photo: GregGilbert1 (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Cold Mountain Game Land
Parking, trailheads and gates near Cold Mountain Game Land
- Long Term ParkingParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 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.
Cold Mountain Game Land: ownership, acres and manager
Filed as a NCWRC game land, Cold Mountain Game Land covers ground in Haywood County. Its NCWRC wildlife district is District 9. The NCWRC is the managing agency. It measures 3,630 acres (NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES). Size rank: 50th out of 95 game lands.
Tract names on file (5): Caldwell, Dix Creek, Lake Logan, Mosteller, Sorrells Meadow.
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 Cold Mountain Game Land
What you can hunt on Cold Mountain Game Land
8 species groups are listed for Cold Mountain Game Land; open seasons for others can still apply under the game land rules.
White-tailed deer
Western C zone
Black bear
Mountain BMU
Wild turkey
Season dates
Red and gray fox
Season dates
Rabbit
Season dates
Raccoon
Season dates
Squirrel
Season dates
Ruffed grouse
Season dates
Species from NC digest regulations for specific game lands; checked October 25, 2026.
Map of Cold Mountain Game Land with its neighbors
Around Cold Mountain Game Land lie 10 more public tracts, pinned and listed below. That is 891,485 more public acres.
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | Days | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pisgah | Ranger district | 163,168 | – | 10 mi | southeast |
| William H. Silver | Game land | 2,030 | 7 days | 16 mi | northwest |
| DuPont State Forest | Game land | 11,949 | Permit only | 23 mi | southeast |
| Headwaters State Forest | Game land | 6,208 | 6 days | 23 mi | southeast |
| Toxaway | Game land | 5,633 | 7 days | 24 mi | south |
| Sandy Mush | Game land | 2,862 | 3 days | 26 mi | northeast |
| Appalachian | Ranger district | 161,400 | – | 30 mi | north |
| Needmore | Game land | 5,237 | 7 days | 34 mi | west |
| Pisgah | Game land | 517,774 | 7 days | 36 mi | northeast |
| Green River | Game land | 15,224 | 6 days | 36 mi | east |
Points: NCWRC Game Land Centroids layer (GL_points Lat/Long). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
When and how you can hunt Cold Mountain Game Land
No day-of-week limit applies on Cold Mountain Game Land; every open-season day counts.
For does with a gun, Cold Mountain Game Land rules say: Nov. 28.
Rules written for Cold Mountain Game Land
- Horseback riding is prohibited except on designated trails May 16 – Aug. 31, and all horseback riding is prohibited from Sept. 1 – May 15. This rule includes all equine species.
- Target shooting is prohibited, except on the Cold Mountain Shooting Range.
Statewide game land rules that apply on Cold Mountain Game Land
| Subject | General rule |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Game land use comes with most hunting licenses, so Cold Mountain Game Land needs no extra pass for hunters. The $20 Game Land License covers other users.
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands, general game land rules, regional game land tables; checked October 25, 2026.
Zones, units and dates for Cold Mountain Game Land
County lines decide the deer calendar on Cold Mountain Game Land; here are the 2026-27 dates for each zone it touches.
| Zone group | County | Bow | Muzzleloader | Firearm | Antlerless (gun) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western C | Haywood | Sep 12–Nov 13 | Nov 14–Nov 27 | Nov 28–Jan 1 | Nov. 28, 2026 only |
Black bear seasons reaching Cold Mountain Game Land
| Bear zone | Counties | Segments |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain BMU | Haywood | Oct 3–Nov 21, Dec 12–Jan 1 |
Zones from deer seasons, bear seasons and duck and goose zone map in the 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026.
Inside Cold Mountain Game Land: areas with their own rules
NCWRC map files: Cold Mountain
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands and the NCWRC game land GIS; checked October 25, 2026.
What the Haywood County harvest says about Cold Mountain Game Land
Reported deer in Haywood County moved from 394 (2019-20) to 767 (2025-26).
| License year | Reported | Antlered bucks | Game lands | Gun | Bow + crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 394 | 332 | 45 | 307 | 80 |
| 2020-21 | 474 | 386 | 54 | 356 | 103 |
| 2021-22 | 438 | 359 | 45 | 343 | 85 |
| 2022-23 | 590 | 468 | 56 | 416 | 147 |
| 2023-24 | 613 | 478 | 60 | 448 | 143 |
| 2024-25 | 702 | 523 | 57 | 386 | 170 |
| 2025-26 | 767 | 571 | 53 | 464 | 179 |
Bear harvest around Cold Mountain Game Land
| Year | Bears taken |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 139 |
| 2021 | 123 |
| 2022 | 161 |
| 2023 | 143 |
| 2024 | 154 |
| 2025 | 139 |
Spring gobblers reported in Haywood County
| Spring | Toms | Jakes | Game lands | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 147 | 30 | 22 | 177 |
| 2024 | 167 | 24 | 24 | 191 |
| 2025 | 137 | 34 | 21 | 171 |
| 2026 | 125 | 33 | 16 | 158 |
County figures from NCWRC harvest statistics, bear harvest report, spring turkey report and CWD testing; checked October 25, 2026.
Cold Mountain Game Land dated hunts from the digest
Cold Mountain Game Land 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 | Western C | Sep 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth Deer Hunting Days | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Blackpowder | Western C | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Western youth days | Western zone | Nov 26, 2026 | Nov 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Western C | Nov 28, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Part 1 | Mountain BMU | Oct 3, 2026 | Nov 21, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Part 2 | Mountain BMU | Dec 12, 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 | |
| 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.
Haywood County acts for Cold Mountain Game Land hunters
Local acts for Haywood County, which covers most of Cold Mountain Game Land, make it unlawful to:
- Discharge of a firearm from, on or across the right-of-way of any public road without written permission from the owner of the abutting lands.
Local laws by county, 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026. All county local laws.
Towns, shops and offices near Cold Mountain Game Land
Call ahead: hours change in season.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waynesville | Haywood | 7.4 mi | 10,709 | 29,261 |
| Clyde | Haywood | 8.9 mi | 1,377 | 12,682 |
| Lake Junaluska | Haywood | 9.3 mi | – | 11,227 |
| Maggie Valley | Haywood | 12 mi | 1,742 | 5,919 |
County pages that cover Cold Mountain Game Land: Haywood County.
Processors, taxidermists and gun shops near Cold Mountain Game Land
NCWRC and federal offices near Cold Mountain Game Land
District biologist (Haywood County): Justin McVey at (828) 273-7980.
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.
Cold Mountain Game Land, events on and around the property
1 NCWRC class here or close by, as of October 25, 2026.
Class dates
| When | Course | Mi | Hours | Venue | Sign up | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 17, 2026 | Hunter Education Certification D9 ⋅ hunter education course | 9 | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Haywood Community College ⋅ Clyde ⋅ Haywood Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
Cold Mountain Game Land: nearest firing lines
It is about 2 miles from Cold Mountain Game Land to Wayne E. Smith Cold Mountain Shooting Range, the closest Commission-listed range. Club ranges inside 30 miles fill the other cards.
Built for rifle, handgun
Built for handgun, rifle
From the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Cold Mountain Game Land: first and last legal light
Times below take the Charlotte table, add the Cold Mountain Game Land offset of +9 minutes, then apply the half-hour rule for game and the sunset rule for migratory birds.
| Day | Hunt | First sun | Last sun | Game shooting | Bird shooting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Dove opener | 7:06 a.m. | 7:55 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 8:25 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 7:55 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 7:11 a.m. | 7:45 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 8:15 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:39 a.m. | 6:56 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 6:56 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 7:05 a.m. | 5:28 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 7:18 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:37 a.m. | 5:28 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:58 p.m. | 7:07 a.m. to 5:28 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:39 a.m. | 5:32 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 6:02 p.m. | 7:09 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:56 a.m. | 8:07 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 8:37 p.m. | 6:26 a.m. to 8:07 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.
Around Cold Mountain Game Land: photos
Cold Mountain Game Land: short answers from the data
Does my hunting license include Cold Mountain Game Land?
Your hunting license covers game land use, plus big game, bear or waterfowl privileges as needed.
What camping rule applies on Cold Mountain Game Land?
None, per the regional table.
Can I hunt Cold Mountain Game Land on a Sunday morning?
Follow the open-day designation; on Sundays no migratory birds and no guns 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
How far is Cold Mountain Game Land from the nearest town?
Waynesville, about 7.4 mi away.
Which county lines run through Cold Mountain Game Land?
County overlay: Haywood County.
Who is the managing agency for Cold Mountain Game Land?
The NCWRC, per the record.
How much ground is in Cold Mountain Game Land, by acres?
3,630 acres on file, per NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES.
What designation does the digest give Cold Mountain Game Land?
No day-of-week limit applies on Cold Mountain Game Land; every open-season day counts.
What are the 2026-27 deer gun dates for Cold Mountain Game Land?
Gun deer runs Nov 28, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027 (Western C).
What species list goes with Cold Mountain Game Land?
You will find white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, red and gray fox, rabbit and raccoon on the list.
Can I hunt black bears on Cold Mountain Game Land?
It is in Mountain BMU, open Oct 3 to Nov 21, 2026, Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027.
Before loading the truck for Cold Mountain Game Land
Confirm open days and permit status for Cold Mountain Game Land before the drive.
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: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Ryan Hodnett (CC BY-SA 2.0); msprague (CC BY-SA 2.0); msprague (CC BY-SA 2.0).