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Grandfather Ranger District (Pisgah National Forest): hunter notes for 2026-27
Rules and seasons for hunting in McDowell County and 4 more: white-tailed deer, black bear and wild turkey.
Photo: LetTheCardsFall (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Grandfather Ranger District (Pisgah National Forest)
Parking, trailheads and gates near Grandfather Ranger District (Pisgah National Forest)
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Harper Creek Trailhead ParkingParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 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.
Grandfather Ranger District: ownership, acres and manager
Filed as a national forest ranger district hunted under game land rules, Grandfather Ranger District (Pisgah National Forest) covers ground in McDowell, Burke, Caldwell and 2 more counties. Its NCWRC wildlife district is District 8. The USDA Forest Service is the managing agency. It measures 193,385 acres (USFS ranger district page ("193,385 acres")). Size rank: 2nd out of 8 ranger districts.
From USFS grandfather ranger district pisgah nat; acreage USFS ranger district page ("193,385 acres"); checked October 25, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Grandfather Ranger District (Pisgah National Forest)
What you can hunt on Grandfather Ranger District
8 species groups are listed for Grandfather Ranger District; open seasons for others can still apply under the game land rules.
White-tailed deer
Western B 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 USFS grandfather ranger district pisgah nat; checked October 25, 2026.
Map of Grandfather Ranger District with its neighbors
Around Grandfather Ranger District lie 10 more public tracts, pinned and listed below. That is 47,563 more public acres.
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | Days | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pisgah (WRC-owned) | Game land | 4,829 | 7 days | 11 mi | south |
| Johns River | Game land | 6,483 | Permit only | 12 mi | southeast |
| North Bend | Game land | 1,244 | Permit only | 16 mi | south |
| Buffalo Cove | Game land | 7,030 | 7 days | 18 mi | northeast |
| Kings Creek | Game land | 2,361 | 6 days | 25 mi | east |
| Elk Knob | Game land | 721 | 7 days | 26 mi | north |
| South Mountains | Game land | 22,583 | 7 days | 26 mi | south |
| Kerr Scott | Game land | 521 | 6 days | 30 mi | east |
| W. Kerr Scott Reservoir | Corps lake | 521 | – | 30 mi | east |
| Little Fork State Forest | Game land | 1,270 | 6 days | 32 mi | northeast |
Points: USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics (Forest Service ownership in the district) (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
When and how you can hunt Grandfather Ranger District
National forest land in North Carolina is managed for hunting as an NCWRC game land (seven-days-per-week): NCWRC game land rules, seasons and licenses apply (game land use is included with most hunting licenses). USFS: hunting license must be on your person; 36 CFR 261.10(d) bans discharging a firearm within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area, across or on a forest road or body of water, or into a cave; permanent structures (permanent stands/blinds) are prohibited on federal land; camping only where allowed (NCWRC: designated areas on Nantahala/Pisgah, unrestricted on Uwharrie and Croatan per the regulations digest tables).
Statewide game land rules that apply on Grandfather Ranger District
| 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 |
National forest land in North Carolina is managed for hunting as an NCWRC game land (seven-days-per-week): NCWRC game land rules, seasons and licenses apply (game land use is included with most hunting licenses). USFS: hunting license must be on your person; 36 CFR 261.10(d) bans discharging a firearm within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area, across or on a forest road or body of water, or into a cave; permanent structures (permanent stands/blinds) are prohibited on federal land; camping only where allowed (NCWRC: designated areas on Nantahala/Pisgah, unrestricted on Uwharrie and Croatan per the regulations digest tables).
Game land use comes with most hunting licenses, so Grandfather Ranger District needs no extra pass for hunters. The $20 Game Land License covers other users.
From USFS grandfather ranger district pisgah nat; checked October 25, 2026.
Zones, units and dates for Grandfather Ranger District
County lines decide the deer calendar on Grandfather Ranger District; here are the 2026-27 dates for each zone it touches.
| Zone group | County | Bow | Muzzleloader | Firearm | Antlerless (gun) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western B | McDowell | Sep 12–Nov 13 | Nov 14–Nov 27 | Nov 28–Jan 1 | Nov. 28 – Dec. 5, 2026 (all open days of the gun season in the parts of Buncombe east of N.C. 191, south of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, west of U.S. 25 and north of N.C. 280, and of Henderson east of N.C. 191 and north and west of N.C. 280) |
| Western A | Burke, Caldwell, Avery | Sep 12–Nov 13 | Nov 14–Nov 27 | Nov 28–Jan 1 | All open days |
| Northwestern | Watauga | Sep 12–Nov 6 | Nov 7–Nov 20 | Nov 21–Jan 1 | All open days |
Black bear seasons reaching Grandfather Ranger District
| Bear zone | Counties | Segments |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain BMU | McDowell, Burke, Caldwell, Avery, Watauga | 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.
What the McDowell County harvest says about Grandfather Ranger District
Reported deer in McDowell County moved from 787 (2019-20) to 1,027 (2025-26).
| License year | Reported | Antlered bucks | Game lands | Gun | Bow + crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 787 | 535 | 61 | 514 | 207 |
| 2020-21 | 805 | 555 | 74 | 543 | 183 |
| 2021-22 | 880 | 573 | 47 | 566 | 237 |
| 2022-23 | 768 | 534 | 38 | 516 | 205 |
| 2023-24 | 820 | 586 | 60 | 568 | 202 |
| 2024-25 | 789 | 560 | 48 | 434 | 154 |
| 2025-26 | 1,027 | 659 | 67 | 578 | 244 |
Bear harvest around Grandfather Ranger District
| Year | Bears taken |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 144 |
| 2021 | 107 |
| 2022 | 135 |
| 2023 | 140 |
| 2024 | 99 |
| 2025 | 151 |
Spring gobblers reported in McDowell County
| Spring | Toms | Jakes | Game lands | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 211 | 31 | 28 | 242 |
| 2024 | 196 | 32 | 28 | 228 |
| 2025 | 122 | 39 | 23 | 161 |
| 2026 | 150 | 44 | 32 | 194 |
County figures from NCWRC harvest statistics, bear harvest report, spring turkey report and CWD testing; checked October 25, 2026.
Grandfather Ranger District dated hunts from the digest
Grandfather Ranger District 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 B | 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 B | 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 B | 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.
Grandfather Ranger District and its linked ground
Grandfather Ranger District overlaps or shares rules with the records below.
McDowell County acts for Grandfather Ranger District hunters
Local acts for McDowell County, which covers most of Grandfather Ranger District, make it unlawful to:
- Discharge a firearm from the right-of-way of a state-numbered road for the purpose of taking big game animals. This does not apply to those portions along N.C. 105 bordered on both sides by game lands.
Local laws by county, 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026. All county local laws.
Towns, shops and offices near Grandfather Ranger District
Call ahead: hours change in season.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newland | Avery | 12 mi | 733 | 36,114 |
| Gamewell | Caldwell | 13 mi | 3,699 | 21,404 |
| Blowing Rock | Watauga | 14 mi | 1,336 | 52,437 |
| Spruce Pine | Mitchell | 15 mi | 2,192 | 34,091 |
County pages that cover Grandfather Ranger District: McDowell County, Burke County, Caldwell County, Avery County, Watauga County.
Processors, taxidermists and gun shops near Grandfather Ranger District
NCWRC and federal offices near Grandfather Ranger District
District biologist (McDowell County): Clint Barden at (828) 803-8491.
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.
Grandfather Ranger District (Pisgah National Forest): nearest firing lines
It is about 25 miles from Grandfather Ranger District (Pisgah National Forest) to McDowell County Shooting Range, the closest Commission-listed range. Club ranges inside 30 miles fill the other cards.
Built for rifle, handgun, archery, 3D archery
Built for trap, skeet, shotgun
Built for trap, skeet, shotgun
From the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Grandfather Ranger District: first and last legal light
Times below take the Charlotte table, add the Grandfather Ranger District offset of +6 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 | 7:03 a.m. | 7:52 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 8:22 p.m. | 6:33 a.m. to 7:52 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 7:08 a.m. | 7:42 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 8:12 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 7:42 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:36 a.m. | 6:53 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 6:53 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 7:02 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 6:32 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 7:15 a.m. | 5:19 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:49 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:34 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:36 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:59 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:53 a.m. | 8:04 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 8:34 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 8:04 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 Grandfather Ranger District: photos
Grandfather Ranger District: short answers from the data
What access rules apply on Grandfather Ranger District?
National forest land in North Carolina is managed for hunting as an NCWRC game land (seven-days-per-week): NCWRC game land rules, seasons and licenses apply (game land use is included with most hunting licenses). USFS: hunting license must be on your person.
Which county lines run through Grandfather Ranger District?
County overlay: McDowell, Burke, Caldwell and 2 more counties.
What species list goes with Grandfather Ranger District?
You will find white-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, red and gray fox, rabbit and raccoon on the list.
How much ground is in Grandfather Ranger District, by acres?
193,385 acres on file, per USFS ranger district page ("193,385 acres").
Can I hunt black bears on Grandfather Ranger District?
It is in Mountain BMU, open Oct 3 to Nov 21, 2026, Dec 12, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027.
What are the 2026-27 deer gun dates for Grandfather Ranger District?
Gun deer runs Nov 28, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027 (Western B).
How far is Grandfather Ranger District from the nearest town?
Newland, about 12 mi away.
Does my hunting license include Grandfather Ranger District?
Your hunting license covers game land use, plus big game, bear or waterfowl privileges as needed.
Who is the managing agency for Grandfather Ranger District?
The USDA Forest Service, per the record.
Can I hunt Grandfather Ranger District 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.
Before loading the truck for Grandfather Ranger District
Confirm open days and permit status for Grandfather Ranger District before the drive.
Sources: USFS grandfather ranger district pisgah nat · USFS hunting shooting · USFS EDW · USFS EDW; regulations from the 2026-27 NCWRC regulations digest. Checked October 25, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Alabama Extension (CC0 1.0); Jim, the Photographer (CC BY 2.0); npdoty (CC BY 2.0); msprague (CC BY-SA 2.0).