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Hunting days, permits and rules on Kings Creek Game Land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this game land in Caldwell County and 1 more, 2,361 acres.
Photo: chascow (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Kings Creek Game Land
Parking, trailheads and gates near Kings Creek Game Land
- Ferguson AccessBoat ramp ยท 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Ferguson AccessParking ยท 2.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking ยท 3.5 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.
Who owns and runs Kings Creek Game Land
Kings Creek Game Land sits in Wilkes and Caldwell counties and is listed as a NCWRC game land. For NCWRC staffing it belongs to District 7. The manager of record is the NCWRC. 2,361 acres are on file, per NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES. Line up all 95 game lands by acreage and it lands 63rd.
Landowners inside Kings Creek Game Land
| Who owns it | Acres |
|---|---|
| NC Department of Agriculture | 2,361 |
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 Kings Creek Game Land
Kings Creek Game Land deer and bear zone dates
Deer dates for Kings Creek Game Land by season zone (2), from the 2026-27 digest.
| Deer zone | Counties here | Archery | Blackpowder | Gun | Doe days (gun) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern CWD Management Area | Wilkes | Sep 12–Oct 30 | Oct 31–Nov 13 | Nov 14–Jan 1 | All open days |
| Western A | Caldwell | Sep 12–Nov 13 | Nov 14–Nov 27 | Nov 28–Jan 1 | All open days |
Kings Creek Game Land: bear unit dates
| Bear unit | County list | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain BMU | Wilkes, Caldwell | Oct 3–Nov 21, Dec 12–Jan 1 |
The CWD area rules cover Kings Creek Game Land; check the testing and carcass rules first. CWD zones.
Zones from deer seasons, bear seasons and duck and goose zone map in the 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026.
Kings Creek Game Land regulations in plain terms
Kings Creek Game Land is a six-day game land: Monday through Saturday, closed to hunting on Sundays.
Gun-season antlerless days on Kings Creek Game Land: Nov. 28 in all portions of the game land.
Kings Creek Game Land special regulations
- Gun Deer Season: Nov. 28 – Jan. 1 in all portions of the game land.
- Deer with antlers may be taken on August 22 on the Wilkes County portion of the game land.
- Blackpowder Season: Nov. 14 – Nov. 27 in all portions of the game land. (Antlered or antlerless deer may be taken on these days.)
- Archery Season: Sept. 12 – Nov. 13.
General game land rules for Kings Creek Game Land
| Rule | Detail |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Hunters on Kings Creek Game Land use their regular license; the $20 Game Land License exists for field trials, dog training, riding and license-less campers.
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands, general game land rules, regional game land tables; checked October 25, 2026.
The finer map of Kings Creek Game Land
Download the maps: Kings Creek
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands and the NCWRC game land GIS; checked October 25, 2026.
Kings Creek Game Land game species
The source names white-tailed deer, wild turkey, red and gray fox and squirrel for Kings Creek Game Land.
White-tailed deer
Northwestern CWD MA zone
Wild turkey
Season dates
Red and gray fox
Season dates
Squirrel
Season dates
Species from NC digest regulations for specific game lands; checked October 25, 2026.
What is in season at Kings Creek Game Land, row by row
Private land and game land share these dates in Kings Creek Game Land unless a game land rule says otherwise; refuges and bases set their own.
| Animal | Segment | Area | Starts | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Western A | 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 A | 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 A | Nov 28, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Urban Archery Season | Urban archery towns only | Jan 9, 2027 | Feb 14, 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.
Public ground within a drive of Kings Creek Game Land
Kings Creek Game Land and the 10 nearest public places, straight-line. Combined, 224,762 acres.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Days | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kerr Scott | Game land | 521 | 6 days | 6.0 mi | northeast |
| W. Kerr Scott Reservoir | Corps lake | 521 | – | 6.0 mi | northeast |
| Buffalo Cove | Game land | 7,030 | 7 days | 8.2 mi | west |
| Little Fork State Forest | Game land | 1,270 | 6 days | 14 mi | north |
| Johns River | Game land | 6,483 | Permit only | 23 mi | southwest |
| Grandfather | Ranger district | 193,385 | – | 25 mi | west |
| Thurmond Chatham | Game land | 6,542 | 7 days | 25 mi | northeast |
| Elk Knob | Game land | 721 | 7 days | 26 mi | northwest |
| Three Top Mountain | Game land | 3,460 | 7 days | 29 mi | northwest |
| Pisgah (WRC-owned) | Game land | 4,829 | 7 days | 32 mi | southwest |
Points: NCWRC Game Land Centroids layer (GL_points Lat/Long). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Local hunting laws by Kings Creek Game Land
Caldwell County has local acts that reach hunters on and around Kings Creek Game Land. It is unlawful to:
- Take any wildlife, except bobcats, on Grandfather Mountain above the Yonahlossee Road (U.S. 221).
- Hunt from the right-of-way of public roads any bird or animal except bear, without written permission of the owner or lessee of the adjacent land. Bear and boar may be hunted from any unpaved road.
Local laws by county, 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026. All county local laws.
Harvest reports around Kings Creek Game Land
Caldwell County hunters reported 1,668 deer in 2025-26, 51 of them on game lands (3.1%).
| Season | Total | Bucks | Game land share | Gun | Archery tackle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 1,008 | 666 | 25 | 645 | 275 |
| 2020-21 | 1,048 | 691 | 42 | 670 | 282 |
| 2021-22 | 1,177 | 754 | 45 | 739 | 344 |
| 2022-23 | 1,139 | 758 | 34 | 727 | 317 |
| 2023-24 | 1,576 | 974 | 46 | 1,008 | 425 |
| 2024-25 | 1,506 | 937 | 36 | 776 | 330 |
| 2025-26 | 1,668 | 1,033 | 51 | 865 | 403 |
Caldwell County bears, recent years
| Season | Bears |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 46 |
| 2021 | 43 |
| 2022 | 57 |
| 2023 | 60 |
| 2024 | 58 |
| 2025 | 68 |
Caldwell County spring turkey reports
| Year | Gobblers | Jakes | Game lands | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 203 | 33 | 41 | 236 |
| 2024 | 167 | 29 | 32 | 196 |
| 2025 | 160 | 54 | 45 | 214 |
| 2026 | 154 | 58 | 40 | 212 |
County figures from NCWRC harvest statistics, bear harvest report, spring turkey report and CWD testing; checked October 25, 2026.
Base camp towns for Kings Creek Game Land
Nearest towns with pages of their own, then businesses.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rock | Caldwell | 8.2 mi | 299 | 10,979 |
| Lenoir | Caldwell | 12 mi | 18,280 | 11,919 |
| Millers Creek | Wilkes | 13 mi | – | 1,806 |
| Wilkesboro | Wilkes | 13 mi | 3,620 | 524 |
Counties under Kings Creek Game Land, each with a page: Wilkes County, Caldwell County.
Who can cut or mount a deer from Kings Creek Game Land
NCWRC and federal offices near Kings Creek Game Land
Biology questions for Caldwell County go to Clint Barden ((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.
Kings Creek Game Land hunting-hour table from the digest
Legal light at Kings Creek Game Land: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset for deer, bear and small game, and sunrise minus 30 minutes to sunset for waterfowl and doves.
| Date | Moment | Sunrise | Sunset | Game hours | Waterfowl and dove |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Dove opener | 7:01 a.m. | 7:50 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 8:20 p.m. | 6:31 a.m. to 7:50 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 7:06 a.m. | 7:40 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 8:10 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 7:40 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:34 a.m. | 6:51 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 7:21 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 6:51 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 7:00 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 7:13 a.m. | 5:17 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:47 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:17 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:32 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 7:02 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:34 a.m. | 5:27 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:57 p.m. | 7:04 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:51 a.m. | 8:02 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 8:32 p.m. | 6:21 a.m. to 8:02 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.
Sighting in before a hunt on Kings Creek Game Land
From Kings Creek Game Land, McDowell County Shooting Range is the closest public range the NCWRC lists (45 miles). Nearby gun clubs fill the remaining cards.
Lanes for rifle, handgun, archery, 3D archery
Lanes for sporting clays, 5-stand, handgun, rifle, archery
Lanes for skeet, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, muzzleloader
From the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Scenes from around Kings Creek Game Land
Kings Creek Game Land: short answers from the data
What changes on Sundays at Kings Creek Game Land?
Sunday firearm hunting pauses 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and migratory birds stay closed.
Whose rules apply on Kings Creek Game Land?
The record names the NCWRC.
What county is Kings Creek Game Land in, and does it cross county lines?
Mostly Caldwell County, plus 1 more by overlay.
On what days does Kings Creek Game Land allow hunting?
Kings Creek Game Land is a six-day game land: Monday through Saturday, closed to hunting on Sundays.
Is Kings Creek Game Land big enough for a full season of scouting?
NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES gives 2,361 acres.
What game is Kings Creek Game Land managed for?
Primary species are white-tailed deer, wild turkey, red and gray fox and squirrel.
When can I hunt deer with a rifle near Kings Creek Game Land?
Northwestern CWD Management Area zone: gun Nov 14, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027.
What do I buy before hunting Kings Creek Game Land?
No extra pass: a hunting license includes game land use.
Which town with a page is closest to Kings Creek Game Land?
Cedar Rock (8.2 mi).
Before loading the truck for Kings Creek Game Land
Report your harvest through Go Outdoors North Carolina after a day on Kings Creek 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); James Willamor (CC BY-SA 2.0); Drew de F Fawkes (CC BY 2.0).