Home › North Carolina › Public land › Nantahala Game Land
Game land · 7 days
Nantahala Game Land, from open days to drawn permits
Everything we could verify about this game land in Clay County and 5 more (527,696 acres).
Photo: william_mckeehan (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Getting to Nantahala Game Land
Parking, trailheads and gates near Nantahala Game Land
- Sawmill GapParking · 2.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Wayah Crest TrailheadParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.7 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.
Acres, owners and agency at Nantahala Game Land
Nantahala Game Land: a NCWRC game land reaching into Macon, Graham, Cherokee and 3 more counties. Most of it falls in NCWRC District 9, part of the mountains. The NCWRC runs the property. Recorded size: 527,696 acres (NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES). By acres it is number 1 among 95 game lands here.
Ownership split at Nantahala Game Land
| Owner | Acres |
|---|---|
| USDA Forest Service | 467,762 |
| NC Wildlife Resources Commission | 308 |
Named tracts in the NCWRC detail map (3): Gig Creek, Sharptop Ridge, Wood.
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 Nantahala Game Land
Nantahala Game Land: zone-by-zone season dates
Nantahala Game Land takes the deer dates of the county it sits in; the zone groups below set archery, blackpowder and gun days.
| Deer zone group | Counties | Archery | Blackpowder | Gun | Antlerless with gun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western C | Macon, Cherokee, Jackson, Clay, Swain | Sep 12–Nov 13 | Nov 14–Nov 27 | Nov 28–Jan 1 | Nov. 28, 2026 only |
| Western D | Graham | Sep 12–Nov 13 | Nov 14–Nov 27 | Nov 28–Jan 1 | None |
Bear dates at Nantahala Game Land
| Bear management unit | Counties here | Open |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain BMU | Macon, Graham, Cherokee, Jackson, Clay, Swain | 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.
Days, rules and licenses for Nantahala Game Land
A seven-day game land: Nantahala Game Land can be hunted any day a season is open.
Nantahala Game Land: its own rules
- There is no Gun Antlerless Deer season.
- Dogs may be used to hunt feral swine during the open bear season and from January 1 – 31.
- Bear Hunting on the Panthertown – Bonas Defeat and Standing Indian Designated Bear Management Areas is by permit only.
Standing rules for Nantahala Game Land hunters
| Item | 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 |
A hunting license covers game land use on Nantahala Game Land; the separate $20 Game Land License is for dog training, field trials, horseback riding on some game lands and unlicensed campers 16 and older.
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands, general game land rules, regional game land tables; checked October 25, 2026.
Mapped areas on Nantahala Game Land
Inside the designated bear areas on Nantahala Game Land, take bears only with a permit where one exists; dogs may not pursue bears otherwise.
| Designated area | Bear hunting | Tracts |
|---|---|---|
| Fires Creek | Closed to bear hunting | – |
| Panthertown – Bonas Defeat | Bear by permit only | – |
| Standing Indian | Bear by permit only | – |
| Wayah | Closed to bear hunting | – |
Special zones at Nantahala Game Land
| Posted as | Acres |
|---|---|
| Bear Management Area | 59,886 |
Agency maps: Nantahala National Forest: · Fires Creek Bear Management Area · Panthertown-Bonas Defeat Bear Management Area · Standing Indian Bear Management Area · Wayah Bear Management Area
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands, designated bear management areas and the NCWRC game land GIS; checked October 25, 2026.
Permit quotas and deadlines at Nantahala Game Land
Permit hunts on Nantahala Game Land this season: 3, spread over bear.
| Permit | Species | Weapon | Deadline | Fee | Age | Choices | Quota sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear – Standing Indian Dog Hunts | Bear | Any Legal | Sep. 1, 2026 | $8.00 | – | Standing Indian DBMA (Dog Hunting Only) (1) | 1 partie |
| Bear – Standing Indian Still Hunts | Bear | Any Legal | Sep. 1, 2026 | $8.00 | – | Standing Indian DBMA (Still Hunting Only) (10) | 10 hunters |
| Bear October Hunts | Bear | Any Legal | Sep. 1, 2026 | $8.00 | – | Panthertown-Bonas Defeat DBMA (Still Hunting Only) (20) | 20 hunters |
Party sizes vary by hunt, and every party member must hold the licenses the hunt needs.
NCWRC Permit Hunt Book 2026-27 and the Permit Hunting Opportunities page; checked October 25, 2026.
Nantahala Game Land: species list
8 species groups top the list for Nantahala Game Land, each linked to its season page.
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.
Nantahala Game Land: opening and closing days
33 species and 53 dated segments reach Nantahala Game Land; the last column checks each one against today.
| Quarry | Season | Covers | From | To | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Where Nantahala Game Land sits among public tracts
Big pin: Nantahala Game Land. Small pins: the 4 closest public tracts. Together they list 16,530 acres.
| Property | Type | Acres | Days a week | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Needmore | Game land | 5,237 | 7 days | 15 mi | northeast |
| Toxaway | Game land | 5,633 | 7 days | 38 mi | east |
| William H. Silver | Game land | 2,030 | 7 days | 39 mi | northeast |
| Cold Mountain | Game land | 3,630 | 7 days | 44 mi | northeast |
Points: NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Nantahala Game Land: county local laws
Before hunting Nantahala Game Land, know the Clay County local laws. It is unlawful to:
- To take or kill any wild animal or wild bird with the use of a firearm or to discharge a firearm from, on, or across the right-of-way of a public road, street, highway or other public vehicular area.
- Shine a light intentionally upon any wild animal, including, but not limited to, deer, coyotes, or feral swine, from the right-of-way of any public road, street, or highway between the hours of one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise.
Local laws by county, 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026. All county local laws.
Harvest figures from Clay County, home of Nantahala Game Land
The 2025-26 report shows 711 deer for Clay County, 440 of them antlered bucks.
| Year | Total | Antlered | Game lands | Gun | Archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 418 | 321 | 64 | 241 | 160 |
| 2020-21 | 472 | 362 | 65 | 278 | 171 |
| 2021-22 | 433 | 321 | 54 | 218 | 199 |
| 2022-23 | 489 | 349 | 54 | 246 | 213 |
| 2023-24 | 503 | 353 | 66 | 270 | 205 |
| 2024-25 | 706 | 441 | 89 | 283 | 267 |
| 2025-26 | 711 | 440 | 95 | 307 | 278 |
Bears reported in Clay County
| Season | Bears reported |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 38 |
| 2021 | 34 |
| 2022 | 32 |
| 2023 | 38 |
| 2024 | 50 |
| 2025 | 57 |
Spring turkey numbers, Clay County
| Spring | Adults | Jakes | Game land birds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 64 | 6 | 16 | 70 |
| 2024 | 64 | 9 | 20 | 73 |
| 2025 | 56 | 5 | 21 | 61 |
| 2026 | 71 | 12 | 17 | 83 |
County figures from NCWRC harvest statistics, bear harvest report, spring turkey report and CWD testing; checked October 25, 2026.
Nantahala Game Land trip planning: towns and services
Services are in this county or the next one over.
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrews | Cherokee | 13 mi | 1,762 | 97,883 |
| Hayesville | Clay | 13 mi | 481 | 52,699 |
| Franklin | Macon | 14 mi | 4,362 | 64,857 |
| Robbinsville | Graham | 17 mi | 578 | 106,003 |
County detail for Nantahala Game Land: Macon County, Graham County, Cherokee County, Jackson County, Clay County, Swain County.
Nantahala Game Land: businesses close by
Nantahala Game Land: the nearest agency desks
Clay County biologist: Justin McVey ((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.
How Nantahala Game Land fits with nearby records
Nantahala Game Land is linked to 4 other records.
Hunting hours worked out for Nantahala Game Land
North Carolina law allows most game from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Doves, ducks and geese stop at sunset.
| When | Event | Rise | Set | Most game | Doves and waterfowl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Dove opener | 7:09 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 8:28 p.m. | 6:39 a.m. to 7:58 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 7:14 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 8:18 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 7:48 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:42 a.m. | 6:59 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 6:59 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 7:08 a.m. | 5:31 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 6:01 p.m. | 6:38 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 7:21 a.m. | 5:25 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 5:55 p.m. | 6:51 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:40 a.m. | 5:31 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 6:01 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:42 a.m. | 5:35 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 6:05 p.m. | 7:12 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:59 a.m. | 8:10 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 8:40 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 8:10 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.
Where Nantahala Game Land hunters can shoot
Closest range on the NCWRC list to Nantahala Game Land: Wayne E. Smith Cold Mountain Shooting Range, roughly 42 miles. Closer club ranges are shown too.
Firing lines: rifle, handgun
Firing lines: rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire
From the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Photos for Nantahala Game Land
Straight answers about hunting Nantahala Game Land
When does gun deer season open around Nantahala Game Land?
It is in the Western C zone, gun season Nov 28, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027.
Are there permit hunts on Nantahala Game Land?
3 items list Nantahala Game Land; the first deadline is Sep. 1, 2026.
Where is camping allowed on Nantahala Game Land?
Camping on Nantahala Game Land: designated areas only.
Are bears closed on part of Nantahala Game Land?
Part of it is a designated bear management area: Fires Creek closed; Panthertown – Bonas Defeat by permit only; Standing Indian by permit only; Wayah closed.
Where can I stay near Nantahala Game Land?
Andrews is 13 mi away.
Which license and privileges cover Nantahala Game Land?
A regular hunting license covers game land use; the Game Land License is for non-hunters.
Which agency writes the rules for Nantahala Game Land?
The NCWRC manages hunting there.
Can I shoot ducks on Nantahala Game Land on a Sunday?
Only where the designation allows; firearms stop 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and migratory birds are closed.
How many days a week is Nantahala Game Land open to hunting?
A seven-day game land: Nantahala Game Land can be hunted any day a season is open.
Where does Nantahala Game Land sit by county?
Macon, Graham, Cherokee and 3 more counties, per the GIS overlay.
Which animals top the Nantahala Game Land species list?
White-tailed deer, black bear, wild turkey, red and gray fox, rabbit and raccoon.
How many acres does the record give for Nantahala Game Land?
527,696 acres, from NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES.
Nantahala Game Land: confirm these before you go
Print the Nantahala Game Land map, carry your license and privileges, and read the posted signs at the gate.
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: kdwood2 (CC BY-SA 2.0); btrentler (CC BY 2.0); aafromaa (CC BY 2.0); hyku (CC BY 2.0).