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Hunting days, permits and rules on Sandy Creek Game Land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this game land in Nash County and 1 more, 923 acres.
Photo: Wild Growth Digital (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Sandy Creek Game Land
Who owns and runs Sandy Creek Game Land
Sandy Creek Game Land sits in Nash and Franklin counties and is listed as a NCWRC game land. For NCWRC staffing it belongs to District 3. The manager of record is the NCWRC. 923 acres are on file, per NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES. Line up all 95 game lands by acreage and it lands 80th.
4 tract names appear in the NCWRC layer: Tar River IP, Tar River IP – Pullen Pasture, Tar River IP – Red Bud, Tar River IP III – Sumler.
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 Sandy Creek Game Land
Sandy Creek Game Land deer and bear zone dates
Deer dates for Sandy Creek Game Land by season zone (1), from the 2026-27 digest.
| Deer zone | Counties here | Archery | Blackpowder | Gun | Doe days (gun) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern | Nash, Franklin | Sep 12–Oct 2 | Oct 3–Oct 16 | Oct 17–Jan 1 | All open days |
Sandy Creek Game Land: bear unit dates
| Bear unit | County list | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal BMU Zone 4 | Nash | Nov 21–Dec 20 |
| Piedmont BMU (group 1) | Franklin | Oct 17–Jan 1 |
Zones from deer seasons, bear seasons and duck and goose zone map in the 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026.
Sandy Creek Game Land regulations in plain terms
Sandy Creek Game Land carries the seven-days-per-week designation, so the calendar alone sets your days.
Gun-season antlerless days on Sandy Creek Game Land: Oct. 17 – Oct. 30.
Sandy Creek Game Land special regulations
- Horseback riding, including all equine species, is prohibited.
- Dogs may not be used for hunting deer.
- Target shooting is prohibited.
General game land rules for Sandy 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 Sandy 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 Sandy Creek Game Land
Download the maps: Sandy Creek
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands and the NCWRC game land GIS; checked October 25, 2026.
Sandy Creek Game Land game species
The source names white-tailed deer, wild turkey, red and gray fox and rabbit and more for Sandy Creek Game Land.
White-tailed deer
Northeastern zone
Wild turkey
Season dates
Red and gray fox
Season dates
Rabbit
Season dates
Raccoon
Season dates
Squirrel
Season dates
Bobwhite quail
Season dates
Species from NC digest regulations for specific game lands; checked October 25, 2026.
What is in season at Sandy Creek Game Land, row by row
Private land and game land share these dates in Sandy 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 | 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 | Coastal BMU Zone 4 | Coastal BMU Zone 4 | Nov 21, 2026 | Dec 20, 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 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Inland zone | Oct 15, 2026 | Oct 17, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 1 | Coastal zone | Oct 23, 2026 | Oct 24, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Inland zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 2 | Coastal zone | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 28, 2026 | |
| Ducks | Split 3 | Coastal zone | Dec 17, 2026 | Jan 30, 2027 | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
Public ground within a drive of Sandy Creek Game Land
Sandy Creek Game Land and the 10 nearest public places, straight-line. Combined, 72,148 acres.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Days | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shocco Creek | Game land | 8,113 | 7 days | 7.6 mi | northwest |
| Brinkleyville | Game land | 3,341 | 7 days | 14 mi | northeast |
| Embro | Game land | 9,381 | 7 days | 17 mi | north |
| Lower Fishing Creek | Game land | 1,291 | 7 days | 26 mi | east |
| Tillery | Game land | 5,253 | 7 days | 29 mi | east |
| Kerr Lake | Corps lake | 853 | – | 30 mi | northwest |
| Vance | Game land | 853 | 6 days | 30 mi | northwest |
| Tar River | Game land | 154 | Permit only | 31 mi | southeast |
| Upper Roanoke River Wetlands | Game land | 11,065 | Permit only | 37 mi | east |
| Falls Lake | Corps lake | 31,844 | – | 41 mi | west |
Points: NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS (polygon centroid of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Local hunting laws by Sandy Creek Game Land
Nash County has local acts that reach hunters on and around Sandy Creek Game Land. It is unlawful to:
- Take migratory waterfowl on, from or over the Rocky Mount Tar River Reservoir or within 500 yards thereof, except within “Zone E” with permission of the affected landowner and subject to the rules and regulations of the City of Rocky Mount. See rockymountnc.gov/parks/hunting.html for more detail.
- Discharge a firearm from, onto or across a public road.
- Hunt deer with a rifle, except from a stand at least six feet above the ground.
- It is unlawful to hunt on OR discharge any rifle on or across the right-of-way of any road.
- Hunt on the land of another without written permission from the owner or lessee.
Local laws by county, 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026. All county local laws.
Harvest reports around Sandy Creek Game Land
Nash County hunters reported 1,990 deer in 2025-26, 2 of them on game lands (0.1%).
| Season | Total | Bucks | Game land share | Gun | Archery tackle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 1,542 | 799 | 1 | 1,452 | 57 |
| 2020-21 | 1,642 | 877 | 4 | 1,527 | 75 |
| 2021-22 | 1,613 | 850 | 3 | 1,491 | 82 |
| 2022-23 | 1,516 | 773 | 6 | 1,414 | 69 |
| 2023-24 | 1,903 | 1,024 | 9 | 1,751 | 94 |
| 2024-25 | 1,926 | 1,020 | 4 | 1,794 | 90 |
| 2025-26 | 1,990 | 1,048 | 2 | 1,842 | 94 |
Nash County bears, recent years
| Season | Bears |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 0 |
Nash County spring turkey reports
| Year | Gobblers | Jakes | Game lands | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 303 | 28 | 4 | 331 |
| 2024 | 295 | 35 | 3 | 330 |
| 2025 | 263 | 52 | 4 | 315 |
| 2026 | 334 | 26 | 8 | 360 |
County figures from NCWRC harvest statistics, bear harvest report, spring turkey report and CWD testing; checked October 25, 2026.
Base camp towns for Sandy Creek Game Land
Nearest towns with pages of their own, then businesses.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centerville | Franklin | 7.7 mi | – | 10,100 |
| Hollister | Halifax | 10 mi | – | 16,333 |
| Nashville | Nash | 11 mi | 5,850 | – |
| Rocky Mount | Nash | 15 mi | 54,541 | – |
Counties under Sandy Creek Game Land, each with a page: Nash County, Franklin County.
Who can cut or mount a deer from Sandy Creek Game Land
NCWRC and federal offices near Sandy Creek Game Land
Biology questions for Nash County go to Greg Batts ((919) 727-0546).
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.
Sandy Creek Game Land hunting-hour table from the digest
Legal light at Sandy 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 | 6:47 a.m. | 7:36 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 8:06 p.m. | 6:17 a.m. to 7:36 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 6:52 a.m. | 7:26 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:56 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 7:26 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:20 a.m. | 6:37 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 7:07 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 6:37 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 6:46 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:16 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 6:59 a.m. | 5:03 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:33 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:03 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:18 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:20 a.m. | 5:13 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:43 p.m. | 6:50 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:37 a.m. | 7:48 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 8:18 p.m. | 6:07 a.m. to 7:48 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 Sandy Creek Game Land
From Sandy Creek Game Land, Odom Shooting Range is the closest public range the NCWRC lists (38 miles). Nearby gun clubs fill the remaining cards.
Lanes for sporting clays, 5-stand, shotgun, rifle, handgun
From the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Scenes from around Sandy Creek Game Land
Sandy Creek Game Land: short answers from the data
What game is Sandy Creek Game Land managed for?
Primary species are white-tailed deer, wild turkey, red and gray fox, rabbit, raccoon and squirrel.
When can I hunt deer with a rifle near Sandy Creek Game Land?
Northeastern zone: gun Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027.
Is overnight camping allowed for hunters on Sandy Creek Game Land?
Digest camping rule: none.
What do I buy before hunting Sandy Creek Game Land?
No extra pass: a hunting license includes game land use.
Which town with a page is closest to Sandy Creek Game Land?
Centerville (7.7 mi).
What changes on Sundays at Sandy Creek Game Land?
Sunday firearm hunting pauses 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and migratory birds stay closed.
Whose rules apply on Sandy Creek Game Land?
The record names the NCWRC.
What county is Sandy Creek Game Land in, and does it cross county lines?
Mostly Nash County, plus 1 more by overlay.
On what days does Sandy Creek Game Land allow hunting?
Sandy Creek Game Land carries the seven-days-per-week designation, so the calendar alone sets your days.
Is Sandy Creek Game Land big enough for a full season of scouting?
NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES gives 923 acres.
Before loading the truck for Sandy Creek Game Land
Report your harvest through Go Outdoors North Carolina after a day on Sandy 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: USFWS Mountain Prairie (Public domain); btrentler (CC BY 2.0); Festive Coquette (CC BY 2.0); ilouque (CC BY 2.0).