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Game land · 2026-27
Little Fork State Forest Game Land on the 2026-27 hunting calendar
Game land of 1,270 acres in Wilkes County, open 6 days, for white-tailed deer, wild turkey and raccoon.
Photo: James Willamor (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Little Fork State Forest Game Land
Parking, trailheads and gates near Little Fork State Forest Game Land
- Mountain Ridge Trail TrailheadParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- GateGate · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.8 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.6 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.
The size and owners of Little Fork State Forest Game Land
Hunters reach Little Fork State Forest Game Land, a NCWRC game land, in Wilkes County. Biologists for District 7 cover it. Oversight of the hunting belongs to the NCWRC. The size used here is 1,270 acres, taken from NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES. Among 95 game lands with a figure, it places 74th.
Owners enrolled in Little Fork State Forest Game Land
| Owner of record | GIS acres |
|---|---|
| NC Forest Service | 1,270 |
Look for these 1 tract names on the map: Little Fork.
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 Little Fork State Forest Game Land
Know the rules before Little Fork State Forest Game Land
Plan for Monday to Saturday on Little Fork State Forest Game Land; Sundays are closed. Sources disagree here: the specific rules say six days, the map index three. The rules value is used.
The game land sets gun antlerless deer as: Open days during Nov. 14 – Nov. 20.
What the digest adds for Little Fork State Forest Game Land
- Deer with antlers may be taken on August 22.
- Bear hunting is prohibited.
Game land basics on Little Fork State Forest Game Land
| Rule | Game land standard |
|---|---|
| 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 |
No add-on is needed to hunt Little Fork State Forest Game Land beyond your license and privileges; the $20 Game Land License serves non-hunters.
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands, general game land rules, regional game land tables; checked October 25, 2026.
Species found on Little Fork State Forest Game Land
Hunters come to Little Fork State Forest Game Land for white-tailed deer, wild turkey and raccoon above all.
White-tailed deer
Northwestern CWD MA zone
Wild turkey
Season dates
Raccoon
Season dates
Squirrel
Season dates
Species from NC digest regulations for specific game lands; checked October 25, 2026.
Deer zone groups and bear units over Little Fork State Forest Game Land
Match the county you stand in to its zone group for deer dates on Little Fork State Forest Game Land.
| Season zone | Counties | Archery | Blackpowder | Gun | Antlerless gun days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern CWD Management Area | Wilkes | Sep 12–Oct 30 | Oct 31–Nov 13 | Nov 14–Jan 1 | All open days |
Bear season for Little Fork State Forest Game Land
| Bear unit | Counties | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain BMU | Wilkes | Oct 3–Nov 21, Dec 12–Jan 1 |
Little Fork State Forest Game Land is inside a CWD area; bait is off limits there from Jan. 2 to Aug. 31. CWD areas.
Zones from deer seasons, bear seasons and duck and goose zone map in the 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026.
Special areas inside Little Fork State Forest Game Land
Map PDFs: Little Fork State Forest (formerly Rendezvous Mountain)
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands and the NCWRC game land GIS; checked October 25, 2026.
Little Fork State Forest Game Land pinned with nearby tracts
Pins show Little Fork State Forest Game Land plus 10 nearby public places. The listed tracts add 220,674 acres.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Open days | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kerr Scott | Game land | 521 | 6 days | 10.0 mi | south |
| W. Kerr Scott Reservoir | Corps lake | 521 | – | 10.0 mi | south |
| Thurmond Chatham | Game land | 6,542 | 7 days | 13 mi | northeast |
| Kings Creek | Game land | 2,361 | 6 days | 14 mi | south |
| Buffalo Cove | Game land | 7,030 | 7 days | 15 mi | southwest |
| Three Top Mountain | Game land | 3,460 | 7 days | 18 mi | northwest |
| Elk Knob | Game land | 721 | 7 days | 20 mi | west |
| Pond Mountain | Game land | 3,701 | 7 days | 28 mi | northwest |
| Mitchell River | Game land | 2,432 | 4 days | 29 mi | northeast |
| Grandfather | Ranger district | 193,385 | – | 32 mi | southwest |
Points: NCWRC Game Land Centroids layer (GL_points Lat/Long). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Little Fork State Forest Game Land season calendar from Wilkes County rows
For Little Fork State Forest Game Land, 54 segments cover deer, bear, small game, waterfowl and furbearers this license year.
| Species | Hunt type | Zone or unit | Opening | Closing | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | CWD early season | Northwest CWD Management Area | Aug 22, 2026 | Aug 23, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Northwestern CWD Management Area | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth Deer Hunting Days | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Blackpowder | Northwestern CWD Management Area | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Northwestern CWD Management Area | Nov 14, 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.
Little Fork State Forest Game Land: the county harvest record
In 2025-26 the Wilkes County deer count was 3,328, against 3,512 in 2019-20.
| Year | Deer | Bucks | Game lands | Guns | Bows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 3,512 | 1,903 | 45 | 2,350 | 413 |
| 2020-21 | 3,596 | 2,037 | 58 | 2,519 | 440 |
| 2021-22 | 3,445 | 2,015 | 45 | 2,424 | 421 |
| 2022-23 | 2,736 | 1,646 | 36 | 2,051 | 281 |
| 2023-24 | 2,853 | 1,736 | 27 | 2,153 | 338 |
| 2024-25 | 2,968 | 1,712 | 28 | 2,151 | 311 |
| 2025-26 | 3,328 | 1,859 | 26 | 2,378 | 395 |
Recent bear harvest, Wilkes County
| Year | Reported bears |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 46 |
| 2021 | 40 |
| 2022 | 30 |
| 2023 | 57 |
| 2024 | 62 |
| 2025 | 26 |
Spring turkey harvest near Little Fork State Forest Game Land
| Spring | Gobblers | Jakes | Game lands | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 290 | 55 | 7 | 345 |
| 2024 | 281 | 52 | 3 | 333 |
| 2025 | 225 | 125 | 10 | 350 |
| 2026 | 314 | 79 | 10 | 393 |
County figures from NCWRC harvest statistics, bear harvest report, spring turkey report and CWD testing; checked October 25, 2026.
Wilkes County local laws near Little Fork State Forest Game Land
Local laws passed for Wilkes County apply here too. In the county it is unlawful to:
- Shoot a raccoon while training coon dogs during closed season.
- Hunt animals with a firearm from a public road, except that bear or wild boar may be taken from any unpaved road.
- Hunt, fish or trap on land of another without written permission.
Local laws by county, 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026. All county local laws.
Little Fork State Forest Game Land: nearby towns and services
Towns first, measured straight-line, then shops and agency offices.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millers Creek | Wilkes | 7.7 mi | – | 1,806 |
| Wilkesboro | Wilkes | 12 mi | 3,620 | 524 |
| Jefferson | Ashe | 14 mi | 1,648 | 3,475 |
| Boone | Watauga | 17 mi | 20,080 | 11,977 |
For county seasons around Little Fork State Forest Game Land, see Wilkes County.
Shops that serve Little Fork State Forest Game Land hunters
NCWRC and federal offices near Little Fork State Forest Game Land
Jason Smith is the Wilkes County district biologist, (704) 546-5130; (336) 830-9794.
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.
Sighting in before a hunt on Little Fork State Forest Game Land
McDowell County Shooting Range, 55 miles off, is the NCWRC range nearest Little Fork State Forest Game Land. Private and club ranges within 30 miles come after it.
What you can shoot: rifle, handgun, archery, 3D archery
What you can shoot: sporting clays, 5-stand, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire
What you can shoot: sporting clays, 5-stand, handgun, rifle, archery
From the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Little Fork State Forest Game Land shooting hours by key date
On Sundays firearm hunting stops from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and migratory birds are closed all day; the hours below are for the other days.
| Day | Season | Sun up | Sun down | Deer and small game | Migratory birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Dove opener | 7:00 a.m. | 7:49 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 8:19 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 7:49 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 7:05 a.m. | 7:39 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 8:09 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:33 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 6:59 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 7:12 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:31 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:33 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 5:56 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:50 a.m. | 8:01 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 8:31 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 8:01 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.
Little Fork State Forest Game Land in pictures
Answers on Little Fork State Forest Game Land days, permits and seasons
Which office oversees Little Fork State Forest Game Land for hunters?
The NCWRC holds that role.
Are guns allowed on Little Fork State Forest Game Land on Sunday?
No firearms 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., no migratory birds, and game land day rules still apply.
Does Little Fork State Forest Game Land follow a 7-, 6-, 4- or 3-day schedule?
Plan for Monday to Saturday on Little Fork State Forest Game Land; Sundays are closed.
What county is Little Fork State Forest Game Land in, and does it cross county lines?
Wilkes County, in the mountains.
Which game species does the source list for Little Fork State Forest Game Land?
White-tailed deer, wild turkey, raccoon and squirrel top the list.
Is Little Fork State Forest Game Land big enough for a full season of scouting?
Acreage used here: 1,270, per NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES.
What does the regional table say about camping on Little Fork State Forest Game Land?
Regional table entry: none.
What deer zone group applies to Little Fork State Forest Game Land?
Gun season in the Northwestern CWD Management Area zone runs Nov 14, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027.
What is the closest town to Little Fork State Forest Game Land?
Millers Creek, 7.7 mi straight-line.
Do I need anything extra for Little Fork State Forest Game Land beyond a license?
Most hunting licenses include game land use; add the privileges your game needs.
Little Fork State Forest Game Land: what to double-check
Seasons and closures on Little Fork State Forest Game Land can change mid-season; the NCWRC notices and posted signs have the final word.
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: Juliana Chong (CC BY 2.0); Fyn Kynd (CC BY 2.0); rengber (CC BY 2.0); fishhawk (CC BY 2.0).