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Game land · 2026-27
North River Game Land on the 2026-27 hunting calendar
Game land of 26,654 acres in Currituck County and 1 more, open 7 days, for white-tailed deer, wild turkey and red and gray fox.
Photo: ncwetlands.org (CC0 1.0)
Getting to North River Game Land
Parking, trailheads and gates near North River Game Land
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 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 North River Game Land
Hunters reach North River Game Land, a NCWRC game land, in Camden and Currituck counties. Biologists for District 1 cover it. Oversight of the hunting belongs to the NCWRC. The size used here is 26,654 acres, taken from NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES. Among 95 game lands with a figure, it places 15th.
Owners enrolled in North River Game Land
| Owner of record | GIS acres |
|---|---|
| NC Wildlife Resources Commission | 291 |
| Currituck County | 59 |
Look for these 1 tract names on the map: Maple Prison.
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 North River Game Land
Know the rules before North River Game Land
Every day of an open season is a hunting day on North River Game Land.
The game land sets gun antlerless deer as: Oct. 17 – Jan. 1.
What the digest adds for North River Game Land
- The boundary of the game land shall extend five yards from the edge of the marsh or shoreline.
- Hunting on the posted waterfowl impoundment is by permit only.
- Harvesting of bear is prohibited on Sunday.
- Bear hunting is prohibited in the Designated Bear Management Area, except by permit only.
- All activities on the North River Game Land Waterfowl Impoundments, except waterfowl hunting and trapping during the trapping season, are restricted to the posted Scouting-only Zone from Nov. 1 through March 15.
Game land basics on North River 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 North River 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.
Applying for a North River Game Land permit hunt
North River Game Land draws hunters through 4 permit hunts; quotas below add up to 12 for the areas named.
| Drawing | Quarry | Weapon | Apply by | Fee | Age | Areas and quotas | Sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Season Waterfowl | Early Season Waterfowl | Any Legal | Sep. 1, 2026 | $8.00 | – | NR1 Imp (1); NR2 Imp (1); NR3 Imp (1) | 3 parties |
| Late Season Waterfowl November Hunts | Late Season Waterfowl | Any Legal | Sep. 1, 2026 | $8.00 | – | NR1 Imp (1); NR2 Imp (1); NR3 Imp (1) | 3 parties |
| Late Season Waterfowl December Hunts | Late Season Waterfowl | Any Legal | Oct. 1, 2026 | $8.00 | – | NR1 Imp (1); NR2 Imp (1); NR3 Imp (1) | 3 parties |
| Late Season Waterfowl January Hunts | Late Season Waterfowl | Any Legal | Nov. 1, 2026 | $8.00 | – | NR1 Imp (1); NR2 Imp (1); NR3 Imp (1) | 3 parties |
Each $8 application enters a random drawing; youth and adult hunts need both hunters in the same party.
NCWRC Permit Hunt Book 2026-27 and the Permit Hunting Opportunities page; checked October 25, 2026.
Species found on North River Game Land
Hunters come to North River Game Land for white-tailed deer, wild turkey and red and gray fox above all.
White-tailed deer
Northeastern zone
Wild turkey
Season dates
Red and gray fox
Season dates
Raccoon
Season dates
Squirrel
Season dates
Ducks and geese
Coastal duck zone
Special hunts noted on the map: Waterfowl.
Species from NC digest regulations for specific game lands; checked October 25, 2026.
Deer zone groups and bear units over North River Game Land
Match the county you stand in to its zone group for deer dates on North River Game Land.
| Season zone | Counties | Archery | Blackpowder | Gun | Antlerless gun days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern | Camden, Currituck | Sep 12–Oct 2 | Oct 3–Oct 16 | Oct 17–Jan 1 | All open days |
Bear season for North River Game Land
| Bear unit | Counties | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal BMU Zone 2 | Camden, Currituck | Nov 13–Nov 22, Dec 12–Dec 27 |
Zones from deer seasons, bear seasons and duck and goose zone map in the 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026.
Special areas inside North River Game Land
North River Game Land contains bear management area ground: no bear hunting there except by permit where allowed, and no bear dogs outside those hunts.
| Area | Bear season | Tract names |
|---|---|---|
| North River | Closed to bear hunting | CLT, Great Creek, Harrison, Hubbart Pinkerton, Jacobson, John Holland, Maple Prison, North River Associates, Sanderlin, Schenck, Schenck-Mebane, VA Aviation Beach… |
Impoundments mapped on North River Game Land
| Impoundment name | GIS acres |
|---|---|
| NR1 | 22 |
| NR2 | 14 |
| NR3 | 14 |
Impoundments often carry their own days and permit rules; the specific rules above and the NCWRC waterfowl locations list have them.
North River Game Land safety, archery and restricted zones
| Zone | Acres mapped |
|---|---|
| Bear Management Area | 26,254 |
| Waterfowl Impoundment | 50 |
Map PDFs: North River · North River Hunt Map
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands, designated bear management areas and the NCWRC game land GIS; checked October 25, 2026.
North River Game Land pinned with nearby tracts
Pins show North River Game Land plus 10 nearby public places. The listed tracts add 317,053 acres.
| Nearby | Kind | Acres | Open days | Miles | Heading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currituck NWR | Wildlife refuge | 3,810 | – | 14 mi | northeast |
| Currituck Banks | Game land | 235 | 7 days | 15 mi | southeast |
| Mackay Island NWR | Wildlife refuge | 8,700 | – | 16 mi | north |
| Northwest River Marsh | Game land | 2,895 | 7 days | 19 mi | northwest |
| Texas Plantation | Game land | 1,503 | Permit only | 25 mi | south |
| Alligator River | Game land | 24,439 | 7 days | 27 mi | south |
| J. Morgan Futch | Game land | 598 | Permit only | 28 mi | south |
| Great Dismal Swamp NWR | Wildlife refuge | 113,000 | – | 31 mi | northwest |
| Roanoke Island Marshes | Game land | 1,873 | Permit only | 35 mi | southeast |
| Alligator River NWR | Wildlife refuge | 160,000 | – | 36 mi | south |
Points: NCWRC Game Land Centroids layer (GL_points Lat/Long). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
North River Game Land season calendar from Currituck County rows
For North River Game Land, 51 segments cover deer, bear, small game, waterfowl and furbearers this license year.
| Species | Hunt type | Zone or unit | Opening | Closing | Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Northeastern | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 2, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth Deer Hunting Days | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Blackpowder | Northeastern | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Northeastern | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Part 1 | Coastal BMU Zone 2 | Nov 14, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | |
| Black bear | Part 2 | Coastal BMU Zone 2 | Dec 12, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | |
| 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 | |
| Teal | September teal season | East of U.S. 17 | Sep 10, 2026 | Sep 19, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Coastal zone | Oct 23, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Coastal zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 3 | Coastal zone | Dec 17, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| Canada goose | September Canada goose season | Statewide in September | Sep 1, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | |
| Canada goose | Northeast Hunt Zone | Northeast Hunt Zone | Dec 28, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| White-fronted goose | Northeast Hunt Zone | Northeast Hunt Zone | Dec 28, 2026 | Jan 30, 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.
North River Game Land: the county harvest record
In 2025-26 the Currituck County deer count was 391, against 370 in 2019-20.
| Year | Deer | Bucks | Game lands | Guns | Bows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 370 | 185 | 16 | 336 | 16 |
| 2020-21 | 358 | 177 | 6 | 312 | 24 |
| 2021-22 | 317 | 156 | 11 | 265 | 22 |
| 2022-23 | 303 | 134 | 10 | 251 | 27 |
| 2023-24 | 350 | 153 | 17 | 302 | 28 |
| 2024-25 | 350 | 173 | 13 | 308 | 31 |
| 2025-26 | 391 | 178 | 26 | 355 | 26 |
Recent bear harvest, Currituck County
| Year | Reported bears |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 25 |
| 2021 | 41 |
| 2022 | 52 |
| 2023 | 54 |
| 2024 | 50 |
| 2025 | 51 |
Spring turkey harvest near North River Game Land
| Spring | Gobblers | Jakes | Game lands | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 68 | 9 | 3 | 77 |
| 2024 | 83 | 18 | 0 | 101 |
| 2025 | 73 | 24 | 2 | 97 |
| 2026 | 93 | 17 | 3 | 110 |
County figures from NCWRC harvest statistics, bear harvest report, spring turkey report and CWD testing; checked October 25, 2026.
Currituck County local laws near North River Game Land
Local laws passed for Currituck County apply here too. In the county it is unlawful to:
- Note: The Poplar Branch Township on the Outer Banks is included within the Maximum Antlerless Deer Season for Currituck County. During the Regular Gun Deer Season in that portion of Poplar Branch Township on the Outer Banks, there is an open season for hunting or taking antlered or antlerless deer using only shotguns, bow and arrow, and blackpowder firearms. The Eastern Deer Season dates and all restrictions that apply to the Bow-and-Arrow and Blackpowder seasons in Currituck County also apply to the Poplar Branch Township. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Currituck National Wildlife Refuge, included here, offers limited big game hunting; contact Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge or visit fws.gov/southeast/reading-room/?search=Currituck+hunt for more information.
- Hunt waterfowl within 500 yards of another’s licensed blind. NOTE: A Currituck Game Commission License is not required for temporary waterfowl blinds on game lands. However, unlicensed temporary blinds on game lands in this county shall not be hunted if a licensed float blind is established within 500 yards of the unlicensed blind before game land hunters have occupied the blind. Likewise, licensed float-blind hunters shall not establish a float-blind position within 500 yards of an unlicensed game land blind if game land hunters have occupied the blind first. Unlicensed float blinds on game lands must be used within five yards of the game lands shoreline and shall not be established within 500 yards of a licensed point, bush or float blind. Licensed float-blind hunters shall not establish a float-blind position within 500 yards of an established game land float-blind position if the game land hunters have established the game land float-blind position first.
- Hunt with a firearm from the right-of-way of S.R. 1140, S.R. 1218, S.R. 1227, S.R. 1229, S.R. 1248, S.R. 1249, S.R. 1250, S.R. 1251, S.R. 1252, S.R. 1253 or of U.S. 168 north of Moyock Creek.
- For more information on the Currituck Game Commission’s laws, rules and waterfowl blind licenses, please visit currituckgamecommission.com, or call (252) 429-3472.
- NOTE: Dare and Currituck counties require licensing of waterfowl blinds, and certain restrictions apply to hunting waterfowl in these two counties. For more information, contact: Dare County Game and Wildlife Commission, P. O. Box 1000, Manteo, N.C. 27954.
Local laws by county, 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026. All county local laws.
North River Game Land: nearby towns and services
Towns first, measured straight-line, then shops and agency offices.
| Base town | County | Away | Residents | Public acres near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coinjock | Currituck | 4.4 mi | – | 32,660 |
| Grandy | Currituck | 7.7 mi | – | 19,804 |
| Camden | Camden | 10.0 mi | – | 10,005 |
| Elizabeth City | Pasquotank | 14 mi | 19,028 | 420 |
For county seasons around North River Game Land, see Camden County, Currituck County.
Shops that serve North River Game Land hunters
NCWRC and federal offices near North River Game Land
Dallas Shoemaker is the Currituck County district biologist, (910) 417-7359.
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.
North River Game Land, events on and around the property
2 NCWRC classes on the property or within about 10 miles of it (hunter education course). Read October 25, 2026.
Hunter education classes
| Date | Course | Miles | Hours | Place | Seat | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 8, 2026 | Hunters Education – D1 ⋅ hunter education course | 10 | 2:00 PM–8:00 PM | Camden County Public Library ⋅ Camden ⋅ Camden Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Dec 6, 2026 | Hunters Education – D1 ⋅ hunter education course | 10 | 2:00 PM–8:00 PM | Camden County Public Library ⋅ Camden ⋅ Camden Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
Sighting in before a hunt on North River Game Land
Odom Shooting Range, 80 miles off, is the NCWRC range nearest North River Game Land. Private and club ranges within 30 miles come after it.
What you can shoot: rifle, handgun, archery
What you can shoot: muzzleloader, cowboy action, handgun, action pistol, 3-gun
From the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
North River 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 | 6:40 a.m. | 7:29 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:59 p.m. | 6:10 a.m. to 7:29 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 6:45 a.m. | 7:19 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:49 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:13 a.m. | 6:30 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 6:39 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:09 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 6:52 a.m. | 4:56 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 4:56 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:11 a.m. | 5:02 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. | 6:41 a.m. to 5:02 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:13 a.m. | 5:06 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:36 p.m. | 6:43 a.m. to 5:06 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:30 a.m. | 7:41 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 8:11 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 7:41 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.
North River Game Land in pictures
Answers on North River Game Land days, permits and seasons
Can I hunt ducks on impoundments at North River Game Land?
3 impoundments: NR1, NR2 and NR3.
Can I hunt black bears anywhere on North River Game Land?
The digest lists North River as closed.
Do I need anything extra for North River Game Land beyond a license?
Most hunting licenses include game land use; add the privileges your game needs.
What does the regional table say about camping on North River Game Land?
Regional table entry: none.
Are guns allowed on North River 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.
What is the closest town to North River Game Land?
Coinjock, 4.4 mi straight-line.
What county is North River Game Land in, and does it cross county lines?
Camden and Currituck counties, in the Coastal Plain.
Which office oversees North River Game Land for hunters?
The NCWRC holds that role.
Is North River Game Land big enough for a full season of scouting?
Acreage used here: 26,654, per NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES.
Does North River Game Land follow a 7-, 6-, 4- or 3-day schedule?
Every day of an open season is a hunting day on North River Game Land.
Does North River Game Land have drawings?
4 in the 2026-27 book. Apply through Go Outdoors North Carolina for $8 per application.
Which game species does the source list for North River Game Land?
White-tailed deer, wild turkey, red and gray fox, raccoon, squirrel and ducks and geese top the list.
What deer zone group applies to North River Game Land?
Gun season in the Northeastern zone runs Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027.
North River Game Land: what to double-check
Seasons and closures on North River 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: rengber (CC BY 2.0); Yellowstone National Park (Public domain); BAXINTHE757 (CC BY-SA 2.0); amerune (CC BY 2.0).