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Hunting days, permits and rules on Thurmond Chatham Game Land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this game land in Alleghany County and 1 more, 6,542 acres.
Photo: bobistraveling (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Thurmond Chatham Game Land
Parking, trailheads and gates near Thurmond Chatham Game Land
- Basin Cove OverlookParking · 1.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Bluff Mountain View OverlookParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Alligator Back OverlookParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- GateGate · 3.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Brinegar Cabin OverlookParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Wildcat Rock OverlookParking · 3.7 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.
Who owns and runs Thurmond Chatham Game Land
Thurmond Chatham Game Land sits in Wilkes and Alleghany counties and is listed as a NCWRC game land. For NCWRC staffing it belongs to District 7. The manager of record is the NCWRC. 6,542 acres are on file, per NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES. Line up all 95 game lands by acreage and it lands 37th.
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 Thurmond Chatham Game Land
Thurmond Chatham Game Land deer and bear zone dates
Deer dates for Thurmond Chatham Game Land by season zone (2), from the 2026-27 digest.
| Deer zone | Counties here | Archery | Blackpowder | Gun | Doe days (gun) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern CWD Management Area | Wilkes | Sep 12–Oct 30 | Oct 31–Nov 13 | Nov 14–Jan 1 | All open days |
| Northwestern | Alleghany | Sep 12–Nov 6 | Nov 7–Nov 20 | Nov 21–Jan 1 | All open days |
Thurmond Chatham Game Land: bear unit dates
| Bear unit | County list | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain BMU | Wilkes, Alleghany | Oct 3–Nov 21, Dec 12–Jan 1 |
The CWD area rules cover Thurmond Chatham Game Land; check the testing and carcass rules first. CWD zones.
Zones from deer seasons, bear seasons and duck and goose zone map in the 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026.
Thurmond Chatham Game Land regulations in plain terms
Thurmond Chatham Game Land carries the seven-days-per-week designation, so the calendar alone sets your days.
Gun-season antlerless days on Thurmond Chatham Game Land: Wilkes County: Nov. 14 – Nov. 27
Thurmond Chatham Game Land special regulations
- Deer with antlers may be taken on August 22 and 23 on the Wilkes County portion of the game land.
- 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. Participants age 16 or older must obtain a game lands license prior to horseback riding on this area.
- Camping is restricted to Sept. 1 through the last day of Feb. and March 31 – May 31 in areas both designated and posted as camping areas.
General game land rules for Thurmond Chatham 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 Thurmond Chatham 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 Thurmond Chatham Game Land
Part of Thurmond Chatham Game Land is a designated bear management area, where bear hunting is closed or allowed only by permit and dogs may not chase bears outside permit hunts.
| BMA | Bear rule | Tracts mapped |
|---|---|---|
| Thurmond Chatham | Closed to bear hunting | Basin Creek, Blackburn, Little Grandfather Mountain, Morrison, Russell, Selma Ray |
Posted zones inside Thurmond Chatham Game Land
| Posted area | Acres |
|---|---|
| Bear Management Area | 6,542 |
Download the maps: Thurmond Chatham
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands, designated bear management areas and the NCWRC game land GIS; checked October 25, 2026.
Thurmond Chatham Game Land game species
The source names white-tailed deer, wild turkey, red and gray fox and raccoon and more for Thurmond Chatham Game Land.
White-tailed deer
Northwestern CWD MA zone
Wild turkey
Season dates
Red and gray fox
Season dates
Raccoon
Season dates
Squirrel
Season dates
Ruffed grouse
Season dates
The NCWRC map flags special hunts for: Deer.
Species from NC digest regulations for specific game lands; checked October 25, 2026.
What is in season at Thurmond Chatham Game Land, row by row
Private land and game land share these dates in Thurmond Chatham 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 | Northwestern | Sep 12, 2026 | Nov 6, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth Deer Hunting Days | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Blackpowder | Northwestern | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 20, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Northwestern | Nov 21, 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.
Public ground within a drive of Thurmond Chatham Game Land
Thurmond Chatham Game Land and the 9 nearest public places, straight-line. Combined, 22,017 acres.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Days | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Fork State Forest | Game land | 1,270 | 6 days | 13 mi | southwest |
| Mitchell River | Game land | 2,432 | 4 days | 17 mi | east |
| Kerr Scott | Game land | 521 | 6 days | 20 mi | south |
| W. Kerr Scott Reservoir | Corps lake | 521 | – | 20 mi | south |
| Three Top Mountain | Game land | 3,460 | 7 days | 23 mi | west |
| Kings Creek | Game land | 2,361 | 6 days | 25 mi | southwest |
| Buffalo Cove | Game land | 7,030 | 7 days | 28 mi | southwest |
| Elk Knob | Game land | 721 | 7 days | 29 mi | west |
| Pond Mountain | Game land | 3,701 | 7 days | 30 mi | northwest |
Points: NCWRC Game Land Centroids layer (GL_points Lat/Long). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Local hunting laws by Thurmond Chatham Game Land
Alleghany County has local acts that reach hunters on and around Thurmond Chatham Game Land. It is unlawful to:
- Discharge a firearm from, on or across a public road without written permission from adjoining landowners.
- Take any game or nongame animal or bird in Sam Brown Park.
Local laws by county, 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026. All county local laws.
Harvest reports around Thurmond Chatham Game Land
Alleghany County hunters reported 2,585 deer in 2025-26, 11 of them on game lands (0.4%).
| Season | Total | Bucks | Game land share | Gun | Archery tackle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 1,915 | 928 | 5 | 1,234 | 215 |
| 2020-21 | 2,103 | 1,019 | 7 | 1,373 | 251 |
| 2021-22 | 1,745 | 903 | 6 | 1,128 | 223 |
| 2022-23 | 1,832 | 985 | 8 | 1,286 | 196 |
| 2023-24 | 1,895 | 1,064 | 9 | 1,327 | 223 |
| 2024-25 | 2,269 | 1,197 | 12 | 1,512 | 273 |
| 2025-26 | 2,585 | 1,310 | 11 | 1,690 | 372 |
Alleghany County bears, recent years
| Season | Bears |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 23 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 29 |
| 2024 | 31 |
| 2025 | 13 |
Alleghany County spring turkey reports
| Year | Gobblers | Jakes | Game lands | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 142 | 19 | 2 | 161 |
| 2024 | 180 | 13 | 2 | 193 |
| 2025 | 124 | 32 | 0 | 156 |
| 2026 | 175 | 19 | 2 | 194 |
County figures from NCWRC harvest statistics, bear harvest report, spring turkey report and CWD testing; checked October 25, 2026.
Base camp towns for Thurmond Chatham Game Land
Nearest towns with pages of their own, then businesses.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sparta | Alleghany | 9.3 mi | 1,894 | 3,825 |
| Millers Creek | Wilkes | 13 mi | – | 1,806 |
| Jefferson | Ashe | 16 mi | 1,648 | 3,475 |
| Wilkesboro | Wilkes | 16 mi | 3,620 | 524 |
Counties under Thurmond Chatham Game Land, each with a page: Wilkes County, Alleghany County.
Who can cut or mount a deer from Thurmond Chatham Game Land
NCWRC and federal offices near Thurmond Chatham Game Land
Biology questions for Alleghany County go to Jason Smith ((704) 546-5130; (336) 830-9794).
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.
Thurmond Chatham Game Land hunting-hour table from the digest
Legal light at Thurmond Chatham 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 | 7:00 a.m. | 7:49 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 8:19 p.m. | 6:30 a.m. to 7:49 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 7:05 a.m. | 7:39 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 8:09 p.m. | 6:35 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:33 a.m. | 6:50 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 7:20 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 6:59 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 7:12 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 6:42 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:31 a.m. | 5:22 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:52 p.m. | 7:01 a.m. to 5:22 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:33 a.m. | 5:26 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 5:56 p.m. | 7:03 a.m. to 5:26 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:50 a.m. | 8:01 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 8:31 p.m. | 6:20 a.m. to 8:01 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 Thurmond Chatham Game Land
From Thurmond Chatham Game Land, Van Camp Family Shooting Range at YMCA Camp Hanes is the closest public range the NCWRC lists (46 miles). Nearby gun clubs fill the remaining cards.
Lanes for smallbore rimfire, archery
Lanes for trap, sporting clays, benchrest, shotgun
Lanes for sporting clays, 5-stand, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire
From the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Scenes from around Thurmond Chatham Game Land
Thurmond Chatham Game Land: short answers from the data
What game is Thurmond Chatham Game Land managed for?
Primary species are white-tailed deer, wild turkey, red and gray fox, raccoon, squirrel and ruffed grouse.
When can I hunt deer with a rifle near Thurmond Chatham Game Land?
Northwestern CWD Management Area zone: gun Nov 14, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027.
Where is bear hunting limited on Thurmond Chatham Game Land?
Yes, outside the bear management areas (Thurmond Chatham: closed).
Is overnight camping allowed for hunters on Thurmond Chatham Game Land?
Digest camping rule: designated areas only.
What do I buy before hunting Thurmond Chatham Game Land?
No extra pass: a hunting license includes game land use.
Which town with a page is closest to Thurmond Chatham Game Land?
Sparta (9.3 mi).
What changes on Sundays at Thurmond Chatham Game Land?
Sunday firearm hunting pauses 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and migratory birds stay closed.
Whose rules apply on Thurmond Chatham Game Land?
The record names the NCWRC.
What county is Thurmond Chatham Game Land in, and does it cross county lines?
Mostly Alleghany County, plus 1 more by overlay.
On what days does Thurmond Chatham Game Land allow hunting?
Thurmond Chatham Game Land carries the seven-days-per-week designation, so the calendar alone sets your days.
Is Thurmond Chatham Game Land big enough for a full season of scouting?
NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES gives 6,542 acres.
Before loading the truck for Thurmond Chatham Game Land
Report your harvest through Go Outdoors North Carolina after a day on Thurmond Chatham 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: ncwetlands.org (CC0 1.0); GerryT (CC BY 2.0); Chris Hunkeler (CC BY-SA 2.0); James Willamor (CC BY-SA 2.0).