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Public hunting · Educational state forest
What a hunter should know about Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest (permit hunts)
Days, special rules, drawings and season zones for a educational state forest in Bladen County.
Photo: ncwetlands.org (CC0 1.0)
Getting to Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest (permit hunts)
Parking, trailheads and gates near Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest (permit hunts)
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 1.0 mi from the centreDirections
- GateGate · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 3.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Boat rampBoat ramp · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 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.
How big Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) is and whose land it is
Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest (permit hunts) is an educational state forest with drawn deer hunts in Bladen County. The Commission counts it in District 4. Rules on the ground come from the N.C. Forest Service. Acreage: 876, from NCWRC Game Lands – detail GIS ACRES of the Turnbull Creek Educ. Forest tract of Bladen Lakes State Forest Game Land. Bladen Lakes State Forest Game Land rules: "Youth-adult permit hunts are available on Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest."
From NCWRC; acreage NCWRC Game Lands – detail GIS ACRES of the Turnbull Creek Educ. Forest tract of Bladen Lakes State Forest Game Land; checked October 25, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest (permit hunts)
Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) hunting rules for 2026-27
Closed to general hunting; hunting only by NCWRC permit hunt (youth / youth-adult either-sex deer hunts in the Permit Hunt Book).
From NCWRC; checked October 25, 2026.
Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) permit hunts for 2026-27
Read the 2 drawn hunts for Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) below; each has its own deadline and quota.
| Hunt | Species | Weapon | Apply by | Fee | Age | Choices (quota) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Youth & Adult Either-Sex Deer | Either-Sex Deer | Designated Weapon | Sep. 1, 2026 | $8.00 | Youth under 16, Adult 18 or older | Turnbull Creek Educ. State Forest (10) | 10 hunters |
| Youth & Adult Turkey | Turkey | Any Legal | Mar. 1, 2027 | $8.00 | Youth under 16, Adult 18 or older | Turnbull Creek Educ. State Forest (4) | 4 hunters |
Disabled hunts can be applied for together for $10 in one transaction; most others cost $8 each.
NCWRC Permit Hunt Book 2026-27 and the Permit Hunting Opportunities page; checked October 25, 2026.
Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) and the permit program
Statewide the 2026-27 book has 286 hunts across 704 areas; Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) is one of them.
| Deadline | Items in the book |
|---|---|
| Aug. 1, 2026 | 1 |
| Aug. 10, 2026 | 47 |
| Sep. 1, 2026 | 79 |
| Oct. 1, 2026 | 70 |
| Nov. 1, 2026 | 16 |
| Dec. 1, 2026 | 7 |
| Jan. 1, 2027 | 4 |
| Mar. 1, 2027 | 62 |
Permit Hunting Opportunities; checked October 25, 2026. All permit hunts.
Game to target at Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts)
Expect white-tailed deer on Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts).
White-tailed deer
Southeastern zone
Species from NCWRC; checked October 25, 2026.
2026-27 zone dates for Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) hunters
Deer seasons on Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) follow its 1 zone group, unless a game land rule above changes them.
| Deer zone | Counties | Archery | Blackpowder | Gun | Gun antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeastern | Bladen | Sep 12–Oct 2 | Oct 3–Oct 16 | Oct 17–Jan 1 | All open days |
Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) bear unit and season
| Unit | Counties | Bear season |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal BMU Zone 5 | Bladen | Nov 9–Jan 1 |
Zones from deer seasons, bear seasons and duck and goose zone map in the 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026.
Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) and the public land around it
The bold marker is Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts), with 10 neighbors around it. Acres across the list: 59,926.
| Area | Category | Acreage | Schedule | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suggs Mill Pond | Game land | 11,117 | Permit only | 11 mi | northwest |
| Whitehall Plantation | Game land | 6,734 | Permit only | 15 mi | southeast |
| Sampson | Game land | 197 | 4 days | 24 mi | east |
| Columbus County | Game land | 10,744 | 4 days | 26 mi | south |
| Bullard and Branch | Game land | 256 | 4 days | 27 mi | southwest |
| Cape Fear River Wetlands | Game land | 7,548 | 7 days | 36 mi | southeast |
| Rhodes Pond | Game land | 471 | Permit only | 39 mi | north |
| Juniper Creek | Game land | 20,481 | 7 days | 39 mi | south |
| Sutton Lake | Game land | 1,357 | 7 days | 42 mi | southeast |
| Nicholson Creek | Game land | 1,021 | 3 days | 43 mi | northwest |
Points: NCWRC Game Lands – detail GIS (Bladen Lakes State Forest tract "Turnbull Creek Educ. Forest") (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Season dates that apply around Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts)
Dove, squirrel, rabbit and quail run statewide, while the deer zone, bear unit, I-95 duck line and goose zone set the rest for Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts).
| Species | Season | Applies | Opens | Closes | Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-tailed deer | Archery | Southeastern | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 2, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth Deer Hunting Days | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Blackpowder | Southeastern | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Southeastern | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Coastal BMU Zone 5 | Coastal BMU Zone 5 | Nov 9, 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 | |
| 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 | 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.
Bladen County deer, bear and turkey numbers
Bladen County, home county of Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts), logged 2,597 deer in 2025-26.
| Season | All deer | Bucks | Game land deer | Firearm | Bow/crossbow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 2,429 | 1,197 | 98 | 2,286 | 73 |
| 2020-21 | 2,408 | 1,215 | 89 | 2,238 | 93 |
| 2021-22 | 2,553 | 1,316 | 114 | 2,406 | 91 |
| 2022-23 | 2,516 | 1,224 | 138 | 2,357 | 80 |
| 2023-24 | 2,351 | 1,242 | 156 | 2,199 | 98 |
| 2024-25 | 2,379 | 1,270 | 149 | 2,245 | 80 |
| 2025-26 | 2,597 | 1,322 | 169 | 2,446 | 87 |
Bladen County bear numbers by year
| Year | Bear harvest |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 137 |
| 2021 | 144 |
| 2022 | 147 |
| 2023 | 176 |
| 2024 | 161 |
| 2025 | 197 |
Bladen County spring turkey harvest
| Season | Gobblers | Jakes | Game lands | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 605 | 47 | 28 | 652 |
| 2024 | 548 | 39 | 31 | 587 |
| 2025 | 465 | 62 | 26 | 527 |
| 2026 | 471 | 59 | 37 | 530 |
County figures from NCWRC harvest statistics, bear harvest report, spring turkey report and CWD testing; checked October 25, 2026.
Local rules that reach Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts)
Bladen County local acts (from the digest) make it unlawful to:
- Hunt deer with the aid of a boat or floating device on the Cape Fear River or its tributaries.
- Possess a firearm aboard a motor-propelled vessel on the Cape Fear River during open deer season.
- Hunt any game from a public road adjoining posted land without having in possession written permission of the owner or lessee.
- Hunt, take or kill any bird or animal or to attempt to hunt, take or kill any bird or animal on property adjacent to Bladen Lakes State Forest without written permission of the owner or lessee.
- Hunt, take or kill any bird or animal or attempt to hunt, take or kill any bird or animal on, from or across the right-of-way of any public road adjacent to property adjacent to Bladen Lakes State Forest without written permission of the owner or lessee.
Local laws by county, 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026. All county local laws.
Records linked to Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts)
Records tied to Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts).
Services within reach of Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts)
Services are in this county or the next one over.
| Town | County | Miles off | People | Public acres, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown | Bladen | 4.5 mi | 3,290 | 28,604 |
| White Lake | Bladen | 5.5 mi | 852 | 37,126 |
| White Oak | Bladen | 8.8 mi | – | 26,964 |
| Kelly | Bladen | 21 mi | – | 6,416 |
Go county by county from Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts): Bladen County.
Where Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) hunters buy shells and drop off deer
Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts): the nearest agency desks
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.
Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest (permit hunts) on the North Carolina events calendar
Hunter education course: 1 NCWRC class on site or a few miles away.
Free NCWRC courses
| When | Course | Miles away | Hours | Venue | Sign up | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 8, 2026 | Hunter Safety A3,D4 ⋅ hunter education course | 5 | 6:00 PM–9:00 PM | Elizabethtown Fire Dept. ⋅ Elizabethtown ⋅ Bladen Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
Range time before Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest (permit hunts)
For hunters on Turnbull Creek Educational State Forest (permit hunts), the nearest Commission range is Holly Shelter Shooting Range in Pender County (45 miles). Two nearer club ranges follow.
On offer: rifle, handgun, archery, 3D archery
On offer: trap, skeet, sporting clays, shotgun, rifle
On offer: sporting clays, shotgun
From the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
When shooting starts and stops on Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts)
The digest prints one sunrise and sunset table for Charlotte and a minute offset for each county. For Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) the offset is -10 minutes.
| Date | Season point | Sunrise | Sunset | Big and small game | Migratory |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
The look of Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) country
Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) hunter questions, answered from the record
What acreage is on file for Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts)?
The record lists 876 acres (NCWRC Game Lands – detail GIS ACRES of the Turnbull Creek Educ. Forest tract of Bladen Lakes State Forest Game Land).
Is Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) known for deer, birds or waterfowl?
Listed species: white-tailed deer.
When is the deadline for Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) permit hunts?
Yes: 2 drawn hunts, covering either-sex deer and turkey.
Which deer season zone covers Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts)?
Southeastern: Oct 17, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027 for guns, unless game land rules differ.
What town should I base out of for Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts)?
Try Elizabethtown, 4.5 mi off.
How do Sunday rules work on Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts)?
Yes on open days, without migratory birds and without guns from 9:30 to 12:30.
Who manages hunting on Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) day to day?
Managing agency: the N.C. Forest Service.
In which county or counties will I find Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts)?
Bladen County alone, per the overlay.
Is Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts) open to the public for hunting?
Closed to general hunting.
One more look before driving to Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts)
Boundaries on the ground beat any web page; watch for posted zones on Turnbull Creek ESF (permit hunts).
Sources: NCWRC · NCWRC permit hunting opportunities · www.ncagr.gov state forests; regulations from the 2026-27 NCWRC regulations digest. Checked October 25, 2026.
Other photos on this page: Sarah and Jason (CC BY-SA 2.0); NPS Photo (Public domain); Casavell (CC BY 2.0); ShenandoahNPS (Public domain).