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Game land · 3 days
Sandy Mush Game Land, from open days to drawn permits
Everything we could verify about this game land in Madison County and 1 more (2,862 acres).
Photo: stpeck70 (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Sandy Mush Game Land
Parking, trailheads and gates near Sandy Mush Game Land
- Parking areaParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Sandy Mush Game Land ParkingParking · 0.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Sandy Mush Game Land ParkingParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Sandy Mush Game Land ParkingParking · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Sandy Mush Game Land ParkingParking · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Sandy Mush Game Land ParkingParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Sandy Mush Game Land ParkingParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Sandy Mush Game Land ParkingParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Sandy Mush Game Land ParkingParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Sandy Mush Game Land ParkingParking · 1.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Sandy Mush Game Land ParkingParking · 1.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Sandy Mush Game Land ParkingParking · 1.4 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 Sandy Mush Game Land
Sandy Mush Game Land: a NCWRC game land reaching into Buncombe and Madison counties. Most of it falls in NCWRC District 9, part of the mountains. The NCWRC runs the property. Recorded size: 2,862 acres (NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES). By acres it is number 55 among 95 game lands here.
Named tracts in the NCWRC detail map (5): Davis, Griffin, NORCO, Sandy Mush, Snelson.
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 Mush Game Land
Sandy Mush Game Land: zone-by-zone season dates
Sandy Mush 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 B | Buncombe | Sep 12–Nov 13 | Nov 14–Nov 27 | Nov 28–Jan 1 | Nov. 28 – Dec. 5, 2026 (all open days of the gun season in the parts of Buncombe east of N.C. 191, south of the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers, west of U.S. 25 and north of N.C. 280, and of Henderson east of N.C. 191 and north and west of N.C. 280) |
| Western A | Madison | Sep 12–Nov 13 | Nov 14–Nov 27 | Nov 28–Jan 1 | All open days |
Bear dates at Sandy Mush Game Land
| Bear management unit | Counties here | Open |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain BMU | Buncombe, Madison | 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 Sandy Mush Game Land
Hunting on Sandy Mush Game Land is limited to Monday, Wednesday and Saturday plus Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Gun antlerless deer on Sandy Mush Game Land: Nov. 28.
Sandy Mush Game Land: its own rules
- Horseback riding is prohibited except on designated trails May 16 – Aug. 31, and all horseback riding is prohibited from Sept. 1 – May 15. This rule includes all equine species.
- Dogs may only be trained on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and only during that time period when dog training is allowed on game lands.
- Dove hunting is by permit only from the opening day through the second Saturday of dove season.
- Target shooting is prohibited.
Standing rules for Sandy Mush 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 Sandy Mush 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 Sandy Mush Game Land
Agency maps: Sandy Mush
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands and the NCWRC game land GIS; checked October 25, 2026.
Permit quotas and deadlines at Sandy Mush Game Land
Permit hunts on Sandy Mush Game Land this season: 1, spread over dove.
| Permit | Species | Weapon | Deadline | Fee | Age | Choices | Quota sum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dove | Dove | Any Legal | Aug. 10, 2026 | $8.00 | – | Game Land (95) | 95 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.
Fields planted for doves at Sandy Mush Game Land
Dove hunters get 16 planted fields on Sandy Mush Game Land (34.6 acres), mostly millet, wheat and corn.
| Field | Plantings | Acres | Update |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Hill Church Field 1 | Millet, Corn | 2.3 | 2018 |
| Cedar Hill Church Field 2 | Wheat, Corn | 1.8 | 2018 |
| Cedar Hill Church Field 3 | Millet | 0.5 | 2018 |
| Cedar Hill Field 1 | Wheat, Corn, Beans | 1.4 | 2018 |
| Cedar Hill Field 2 | Wheat, Millet, Corn | 8.7 | 2018 |
| Cedar Hill Field 3 | Wheat, Millet, Corn | 3.0 | 2018 |
| Cedar Hill Field 4 | Wheat, Millet, Corn | 2.5 | 2018 |
| Cedar Hill Field 5 | Wheat, Millet, Corn | 2.3 | 2018 |
| Matin Candler Field 1 | Wheat, Millet, Corn | 3.7 | 2018 |
| Old Highway 20 Field 1 | Millet | 2.0 | 2018 |
| Old Highway 20 Field 2 | Millet | 2.4 | 2018 |
| Orchard Field 1 | Millet | 0.6 | 2018 |
| Orchard Field 2 | Wheat, Corn | 0.6 | 2018 |
| Orchard Field 3 | Wheat | 1.0 | 2018 |
| Orchard Field 4 | Wheat | 1.2 | 2018 |
| Orchard Field 5 | Millet | 0.6 | 2018 |
The fields follow the game land open days, and some need a permit on the first days.
NCWRC dove field GIS and NCWRC dove hunting on game lands; checked October 25, 2026.
Sandy Mush Game Land: species list
10 species groups top the list for Sandy Mush Game Land, each linked to its season page.
White-tailed deer
Western B zone
Wild turkey
Season dates
Red and gray fox
Season dates
Rabbit
Season dates
Raccoon
Season dates
Squirrel
Season dates
Bobwhite quail
Season dates
Ruffed grouse
Season dates
Mourning dove
1 permit hunt
Ducks and geese
Inland duck zone
Special hunt categories: Dove.
Species from NC digest regulations for specific game lands; checked October 25, 2026.
Sandy Mush Game Land: opening and closing days
33 species and 53 dated segments reach Sandy Mush Game Land; the last column checks each one against today.
| Quarry | Season | Covers | From | To | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Western A | 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 A | 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 A | 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 Sandy Mush Game Land sits among public tracts
Big pin: Sandy Mush Game Land. Small pins: the 8 closest public tracts. Together they list 881,383 acres.
| Property | Type | Acres | Days a week | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian | Ranger district | 161,400 | – | 14 mi | northwest |
| Pisgah | Game land | 517,774 | 7 days | 16 mi | east |
| Cold Mountain | Game land | 3,630 | 7 days | 26 mi | southwest |
| William H. Silver | Game land | 2,030 | 7 days | 29 mi | southwest |
| Pisgah | Ranger district | 163,168 | – | 30 mi | south |
| DuPont State Forest | Game land | 11,949 | Permit only | 37 mi | south |
| Green River | Game land | 15,224 | 6 days | 37 mi | southeast |
| Headwaters State Forest | Game land | 6,208 | 6 days | 43 mi | south |
Points: NCWRC Game Land Centroids layer (GL_points Lat/Long). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Sandy Mush Game Land: county local laws
Before hunting Sandy Mush Game Land, know the Madison County local laws. It is unlawful to:
- Hunt from a public road right-of-way.
Local laws by county, 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026. All county local laws.
Harvest figures from Madison County, home of Sandy Mush Game Land
The 2025-26 report shows 1,963 deer for Madison County, 1,144 of them antlered bucks.
| Year | Total | Antlered | Game lands | Gun | Archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 1,242 | 896 | 111 | 749 | 451 |
| 2020-21 | 1,518 | 1,061 | 132 | 917 | 517 |
| 2021-22 | 1,532 | 1,061 | 118 | 926 | 553 |
| 2022-23 | 1,710 | 1,152 | 147 | 949 | 649 |
| 2023-24 | 1,775 | 1,119 | 148 | 1,136 | 533 |
| 2024-25 | 1,837 | 1,125 | 132 | 910 | 544 |
| 2025-26 | 1,963 | 1,144 | 128 | 956 | 611 |
Bears reported in Madison County
| Season | Bears reported |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 97 |
| 2021 | 122 |
| 2022 | 127 |
| 2023 | 108 |
| 2024 | 148 |
| 2025 | 83 |
Spring turkey numbers, Madison County
| Spring | Adults | Jakes | Game land birds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 259 | 40 | 20 | 299 |
| 2024 | 238 | 19 | 21 | 257 |
| 2025 | 196 | 54 | 25 | 250 |
| 2026 | 269 | 61 | 27 | 330 |
County figures from NCWRC harvest statistics, bear harvest report, spring turkey report and CWD testing; checked October 25, 2026.
Sandy Mush 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall | Madison | 5.3 mi | 812 | 14,366 |
| Woodfin | Buncombe | 7.2 mi | 8,158 | 5,768 |
| Asheville | Buncombe | 13 mi | 94,992 | 11,467 |
| Hot Springs | Madison | 14 mi | 543 | 38,559 |
County detail for Sandy Mush Game Land: Buncombe County, Madison County.
Sandy Mush Game Land: businesses close by
Sandy Mush Game Land: the nearest agency desks
Madison 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.
Hunting hours worked out for Sandy Mush 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 | 7:05 a.m. | 7:54 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 8:24 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 7:54 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 7:10 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 8:14 p.m. | 6:40 a.m. to 7:44 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:38 a.m. | 6:55 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 7:25 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 6:55 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 7:04 a.m. | 5:27 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:57 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 7:17 a.m. | 5:21 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 5:51 p.m. | 6:47 a.m. to 5:21 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:36 a.m. | 5:27 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:57 p.m. | 7:06 a.m. to 5:27 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:38 a.m. | 5:31 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 6:01 p.m. | 7:08 a.m. to 5:31 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:55 a.m. | 8:06 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 8:36 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 8:06 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.
Sandy Mush Game Land on the North Carolina events calendar
Read October 25, 2026: 1 NCWRC class at or near the property (hunter education course).
Hunter education dates
| When | Course | How far | Hours | Venue | Sign up | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2, 2026 | Hunter Education Certification (D9) ⋅ hunter education course | 5 | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Madison Co. Cooperative Ext. Center ⋅ Marshall ⋅ Madison Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
Where Sandy Mush Game Land hunters can shoot
Closest range on the NCWRC list to Sandy Mush Game Land: Wayne E. Smith Cold Mountain Shooting Range, roughly 28 miles. Closer club ranges are shown too.
Firing lines: rifle, handgun
Firing lines: archery, 3D archery
From the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Photos for Sandy Mush Game Land
Straight answers about hunting Sandy Mush Game Land
Which agency writes the rules for Sandy Mush Game Land?
The NCWRC manages hunting there.
Can I shoot ducks on Sandy Mush 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 Sandy Mush Game Land open to hunting?
Hunting on Sandy Mush Game Land is limited to Monday, Wednesday and Saturday plus Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
Where does Sandy Mush Game Land sit by county?
Buncombe and Madison counties, per the GIS overlay.
Which animals top the Sandy Mush Game Land species list?
White-tailed deer, wild turkey, red and gray fox, rabbit, raccoon and squirrel.
How many acres does the record give for Sandy Mush Game Land?
2,862 acres, from NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES.
When does gun deer season open around Sandy Mush Game Land?
It is in the Western B zone, gun season Nov 28, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027.
Are there permit hunts on Sandy Mush Game Land?
1 item list Sandy Mush Game Land; the first deadline is Aug. 10, 2026.
Where is camping allowed on Sandy Mush Game Land?
Camping on Sandy Mush Game Land: none.
How much dove field acreage does Sandy Mush Game Land have?
16 fields listed on the NCWRC layer, 34.6 acres.
Where can I stay near Sandy Mush Game Land?
Marshall is 5.3 mi away.
Which license and privileges cover Sandy Mush Game Land?
A regular hunting license covers game land use; the Game Land License is for non-hunters.
Sandy Mush Game Land: confirm these before you go
Print the Sandy Mush 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: Drew de F Fawkes (CC BY 2.0); Ryan Hodnett (CC BY-SA 2.0); daveynin (CC BY 2.0); cdsessums (CC BY-SA 2.0).