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Hyco Game Land: hunter notes for 2026-27
Rules and seasons for hunting in Person County: white-tailed deer, wild turkey and red and gray fox.
Photo: LFLamb (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Hyco Game Land
Parking, trailheads and gates near Hyco Game Land
- Parking areaParking ยท 3.0 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.
Hyco Game Land: ownership, acres and manager
Filed as a NCWRC game land, Hyco Game Land covers ground in Person County. Its NCWRC wildlife district is District 5. The NCWRC is the managing agency. It measures 2,382 acres (NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES). Size rank: 62nd out of 95 game lands.
Hyco Game Land ownership by acres
| Ownership | Acres |
|---|---|
| Duke Energy Progress | 2,253 |
Tract names on file (1): Temp removal per Duke request until further notice.
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 Hyco Game Land
What you can hunt on Hyco Game Land
8 species groups are listed for Hyco Game Land; open seasons for others can still apply under the game land rules.
White-tailed deer
Central zone
Wild turkey
Season dates
Red and gray fox
Season dates
Rabbit
Season dates
Raccoon
Season dates
Squirrel
Season dates
Bobwhite quail
Season dates
Ducks and geese
Inland duck zone
Species from NC digest regulations for specific game lands; checked October 25, 2026.
Map of Hyco Game Land with its neighbors
Around Hyco Game Land lie 8 more public tracts, pinned and listed below. That is 96,341 more public acres.
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | Days | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mayo | Game land | 5,101 | 7 days | 8.0 mi | east |
| R. Wayne Bailey-Caswell | Game land | 18,014 | 3 days | 18 mi | southwest |
| Kerr Lake | Corps lake | 853 | – | 35 mi | east |
| Vance | Game land | 853 | 6 days | 35 mi | east |
| Buckhorn | Game land | 491 | Permit only | 36 mi | south |
| Falls Lake | Corps lake | 31,844 | – | 37 mi | southeast |
| Butner-Falls of Neuse | Game land | 37,480 | 6 days | 37 mi | southeast |
| Dan River | Game land | 1,705 | 3 days | 43 mi | west |
Points: NCWRC Game Land Centroids layer (GL_points Lat/Long). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
When and how you can hunt Hyco Game Land
No day-of-week limit applies on Hyco Game Land; every open-season day counts.
For does with a gun, Hyco Game Land rules say: Nov. 14 – Nov. 27.
Rules written for Hyco Game Land
- Target shooting is prohibited.
Statewide game land rules that apply on Hyco 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 Hyco 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 Hyco Game Land
County lines decide the deer calendar on Hyco Game Land; here are the 2026-27 dates for each zone it touches.
| Zone group | County | Bow | Muzzleloader | Firearm | Antlerless (gun) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | Person | Sep 12–Oct 30 | Oct 31–Nov 13 | Nov 14–Jan 1 | All open days |
Black bear seasons reaching Hyco Game Land
| Bear zone | Counties | Segments |
|---|---|---|
| Piedmont BMU (group 2) | Person | 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.
Inside Hyco Game Land: areas with their own rules
Where rules change on Hyco Game Land
| Zone type | GIS acres |
|---|---|
| Archery Zone | 130 |
NCWRC map files: Hyco
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands and the NCWRC game land GIS; checked October 25, 2026.
What the Person County harvest says about Hyco Game Land
Reported deer in Person County moved from 2,022 (2019-20) to 2,604 (2025-26).
| License year | Reported | Antlered bucks | Game lands | Gun | Bow + crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 2,022 | 871 | 61 | 1,431 | 203 |
| 2020-21 | 2,223 | 997 | 74 | 1,703 | 205 |
| 2021-22 | 2,235 | 1,022 | 75 | 1,613 | 248 |
| 2022-23 | 2,067 | 1,009 | 63 | 1,622 | 209 |
| 2023-24 | 2,675 | 1,326 | 72 | 2,102 | 275 |
| 2024-25 | 2,557 | 1,180 | 59 | 1,972 | 279 |
| 2025-26 | 2,604 | 1,251 | 103 | 1,904 | 297 |
Bear harvest around Hyco Game Land
| Year | Bears taken |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 9 |
Spring gobblers reported in Person County
| Spring | Toms | Jakes | Game lands | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 262 | 15 | 14 | 277 |
| 2024 | 224 | 27 | 8 | 251 |
| 2025 | 211 | 21 | 11 | 232 |
| 2026 | 223 | 6 | 8 | 229 |
County figures from NCWRC harvest statistics, bear harvest report, spring turkey report and CWD testing; checked October 25, 2026.
Hyco Game Land dated hunts from the digest
Hyco 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 | 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 | |
| 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.
Person County acts for Hyco Game Land hunters
Local acts for Person County, which covers most of Hyco Game Land, make it unlawful to:
- Hunt deer from a public road.
Local laws by county, 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026. All county local laws.
Towns, shops and offices near Hyco Game Land
Call ahead: hours change in season.
| Town | County | Distance | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roxboro | Person | 9.1 mi | 8,289 | 4,926 |
| Yanceyville | Caswell | 19 mi | 1,811 | 18,006 |
| Oxford | Granville | 28 mi | 8,972 | 286 |
| Hillsborough | Orange | 31 mi | 9,773 | 494 |
County pages that cover Hyco Game Land: Person County.
Processors, taxidermists and gun shops near Hyco Game Land
NCWRC and federal offices near Hyco Game Land
District biologist (Person County): Joe Folta at (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.
Hyco 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 16, 2026 | North Carolina Hunter Education Certification (D5) ⋅ hunter education course | 9 | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Mayo Lake Park ⋅ Roxboro ⋅ Person Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
Hyco Game Land: nearest firing lines
It is about 17 miles from Hyco Game Land to R. Wayne Bailey-Caswell 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 handgun, smallbore rimfire, muzzleloader
Built for trap, skeet, sporting clays, 5-stand, shotgun
From the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Hyco Game Land: first and last legal light
Times below take the Charlotte table, add the Hyco Game Land offset of -5 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 | 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.
Around Hyco Game Land: photos
Hyco Game Land: short answers from the data
What designation does the digest give Hyco Game Land?
No day-of-week limit applies on Hyco Game Land; every open-season day counts.
Which county lines run through Hyco Game Land?
County overlay: Person County.
What species list goes with Hyco Game Land?
You will find white-tailed deer, wild turkey, red and gray fox, rabbit, raccoon and squirrel on the list.
How much ground is in Hyco Game Land, by acres?
2,382 acres on file, per NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES.
What camping rule applies on Hyco Game Land?
None, per the regional table.
What are the 2026-27 deer gun dates for Hyco Game Land?
Gun deer runs Nov 14, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027 (Central).
How far is Hyco Game Land from the nearest town?
Roxboro, about 9.1 mi away.
Does my hunting license include Hyco Game Land?
Your hunting license covers game land use, plus big game, bear or waterfowl privileges as needed.
Who is the managing agency for Hyco Game Land?
The NCWRC, per the record.
Can I hunt Hyco 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.
Before loading the truck for Hyco Game Land
Confirm open days and permit status for Hyco 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: Russ (CC BY 2.0); DaPuglet (CC BY-SA 2.0); NathaniaJohnson (CC BY 2.0); npdoty (CC BY 2.0).