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Nantahala National Forest: hunter notes for 2026-27
Rules and seasons for hunting in Macon County and 6 more: white-tailed deer, black bear and wild turkey.
Photo: w_lemay (CC0 1.0)
Getting to Nantahala National Forest
Parking, trailheads and gates near Nantahala National Forest
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Bartam Trail Extension No. 67-02ATrailhead · 4.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 5.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Bartam Trail Extension No. 67-02ATrailhead · 6.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 7.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 7.0 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.
Nantahala National Forest: ownership, acres and manager
Filed as a national forest hunted under game land rules, Nantahala National Forest covers ground in Macon, Graham, Cherokee and 4 more counties. Its NCWRC wildlife district is District 9. The USDA Forest Service is the managing agency. It measures 533,772 acres (USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics: Forest Service-owned GIS acres in North Carolina). Size rank: 1st out of 4 national forests. The NCWRC game land boundary includes the national forest and other enrolled lands; designated Bear Management Areas on the forest are closed to bear hunting except by permit (see the game land record).
From USFS hunting shooting; acreage USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics: Forest Service-owned GIS acres in North Carolina; checked October 25, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Nantahala National Forest
What you can hunt on Nantahala National Forest
8 species groups are listed for Nantahala National Forest; open seasons for others can still apply under the game land rules.
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 USFS hunting shooting; checked October 25, 2026.
Map of Nantahala National Forest with its neighbors
Large pins mark the districts of Nantahala National Forest. That is 185,906 more public acres.
| Neighbor | Type | Acres | Days | Miles off | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Needmore | Game land | 5,237 | 7 days | 12 mi | northeast |
| Toxaway | Game land | 5,633 | 7 days | 33 mi | east |
| William H. Silver | Game land | 2,030 | 7 days | 35 mi | northeast |
| Cold Mountain | Game land | 3,630 | 7 days | 39 mi | east |
| Pisgah | Ranger district | 163,168 | – | 43 mi | east |
| Headwaters State Forest | Game land | 6,208 | 6 days | 45 mi | east |
Points: ranger district points. Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
When and how you can hunt Nantahala National Forest
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 Nantahala National Forest
| 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 Nantahala National Forest needs no extra pass for hunters. The $20 Game Land License covers other users.
From USFS hunting shooting; checked October 25, 2026.
Zones, units and dates for Nantahala National Forest
County lines decide the deer calendar on Nantahala National Forest; here are the 2026-27 dates for each zone it touches.
| Zone group | County | Bow | Muzzleloader | Firearm | Antlerless (gun) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western C | Macon, Cherokee, Jackson, Clay, Swain, Transylvania | 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 |
Black bear seasons reaching Nantahala National Forest
| Bear zone | Counties | Segments |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
What the Macon County harvest says about Nantahala National Forest
Reported deer in Macon County moved from 903 (2019-20) to 1,232 (2025-26).
| License year | Reported | Antlered bucks | Game lands | Gun | Bow + crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 903 | 666 | 200 | 516 | 359 |
| 2020-21 | 941 | 676 | 201 | 511 | 377 |
| 2021-22 | 819 | 613 | 173 | 451 | 318 |
| 2022-23 | 920 | 667 | 187 | 462 | 412 |
| 2023-24 | 913 | 700 | 242 | 552 | 328 |
| 2024-25 | 1,252 | 870 | 246 | 661 | 353 |
| 2025-26 | 1,232 | 889 | 273 | 735 | 314 |
Bear harvest around Nantahala National Forest
| Year | Bears taken |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 77 |
| 2021 | 66 |
| 2022 | 95 |
| 2023 | 91 |
| 2024 | 106 |
| 2025 | 82 |
Spring gobblers reported in Macon County
| Spring | Toms | Jakes | Game lands | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 117 | 17 | 44 | 134 |
| 2024 | 133 | 15 | 54 | 148 |
| 2025 | 107 | 25 | 53 | 132 |
| 2026 | 142 | 18 | 67 | 160 |
County figures from NCWRC harvest statistics, bear harvest report, spring turkey report and CWD testing; checked October 25, 2026.
Nantahala National Forest dated hunts from the digest
Macon County 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 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.
Nantahala National Forest and its linked ground
Nantahala National Forest overlaps or shares rules with the records below.
Macon County acts for Nantahala National Forest hunters
Local acts for Macon County, which covers most of Nantahala National Forest, make it unlawful to:
- Hunt, take or kill white-tailed deer from, on or across the right-of-way of any public road, street or highway.
- 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.
Towns, shops and offices near Nantahala National Forest
Call ahead: hours change in season.
County pages that cover Nantahala National Forest: Macon County, Graham County, Cherokee County, Jackson County, Clay County, Swain County, Transylvania County.
Processors, taxidermists and gun shops near Nantahala National Forest
NCWRC and federal offices near Nantahala National Forest
District biologist (Macon County): Justin McVey at (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.
Nantahala National Forest: first and last legal light
Times below take the Charlotte table, add the Nantahala National Forest offset of +10 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 | 7:07 a.m. | 7:56 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 8:26 p.m. | 6:37 a.m. to 7:56 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 7:12 a.m. | 7:46 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 8:16 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:40 a.m. | 6:57 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 7:27 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 6:57 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 7:06 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:59 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 7:19 a.m. | 5:23 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 5:53 p.m. | 6:49 a.m. to 5:23 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:38 a.m. | 5:29 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:59 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:40 a.m. | 5:33 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 6:03 p.m. | 7:10 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:57 a.m. | 8:08 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 8:38 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 8:08 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 Nantahala National Forest: photos
Nantahala National Forest: short answers from the data
What access rules apply on Nantahala National Forest?
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 Nantahala National Forest?
County overlay: Macon, Graham, Cherokee and 4 more counties.
What species list goes with Nantahala National Forest?
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 Nantahala National Forest, by acres?
533,772 acres on file, per USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics: Forest Service-owned GIS acres in North Carolina.
Can I hunt black bears on Nantahala National Forest?
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 Nantahala National Forest?
Gun deer runs Nov 28, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027 (Western C).
Can I hunt Nantahala National Forest 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.
Does my hunting license include Nantahala National Forest?
Your hunting license covers game land use, plus big game, bear or waterfowl privileges as needed.
Who is the managing agency for Nantahala National Forest?
The USDA Forest Service, per the record.
Before loading the truck for Nantahala National Forest
Confirm open days and permit status for Nantahala National Forest before the drive.
Sources: USFS hunting shooting · USFS northcarolina · USFS EDW · USFS EDW · NC digest regional game land tables · NC digest regulations for specific game lands; regulations from the 2026-27 NCWRC regulations digest. Checked October 25, 2026.
Other photos on this page: MarkDoliner (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); aafromaa (CC BY 2.0); hyku (CC BY 2.0).