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Hunting days, permits and rules on Uwharrie Game Land
A 2026-27 hunter guide to this game land in Montgomery County and 2 more, 52,709 acres.
Photo: Donald Lee Pardue (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Uwharrie Game Land
Parking, trailheads and gates near Uwharrie Game Land
- West Morris Mountain TrailheadParking · 1.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- 109 TrailheadParking · 2.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Hunt CampParking · 2.6 mi from the centreDirections
- Cottom Place TrailheadParking · 3.0 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.
Who owns and runs Uwharrie Game Land
Uwharrie Game Land sits in Montgomery, Randolph and Davidson counties and is listed as a NCWRC game land. For NCWRC staffing it belongs to District 6. The manager of record is the NCWRC. 52,709 acres are on file, per NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES. Line up all 95 game lands by acreage and it lands 6th.
Landowners inside Uwharrie Game Land
| Who owns it | Acres |
|---|---|
| USDA Forest Service | 50,713 |
| NC Wildlife Resources Commission | 881 |
8 tract names appear in the NCWRC layer: Birkhead, Capel, Coggins, Dark Mountain Peak, King Mountain, Panther Branch, Talbotts Branch, Watery Branch.
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 Uwharrie Game Land
Uwharrie Game Land deer and bear zone dates
Deer dates for Uwharrie Game Land by season zone (1), from the 2026-27 digest.
| Deer zone | Counties here | Archery | Blackpowder | Gun | Doe days (gun) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | Montgomery, Randolph, Davidson | Sep 12–Oct 30 | Oct 31–Nov 13 | Nov 14–Jan 1 | All open days |
Uwharrie Game Land: bear unit dates
| Bear unit | County list | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Piedmont BMU (group 2) | Montgomery, Randolph, Davidson | Nov 14–Jan 1 |
Zones from deer seasons, bear seasons and duck and goose zone map in the 2026-27 digest; checked October 25, 2026.
Uwharrie Game Land regulations in plain terms
Uwharrie Game Land carries the seven-days-per-week designation, so the calendar alone sets your days.
Gun-season antlerless days on Uwharrie Game Land: Nov. 14 – Nov. 27.
Uwharrie Game Land special regulations
- On the posted waterfowl impoundment, waterfowl may be taken only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays; on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s and Martin Luther King Jr. days; and on the opening and closing days of the applicable waterfowl seasons.
- Target shooting is prohibited except on the Flintlock Valley Shooting Range.
General game land rules for Uwharrie 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 Uwharrie 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 Uwharrie Game Land
Managed pools at Uwharrie Game Land
| Waterfowl impoundment | Acres |
|---|---|
| Lewis Mill Pond | 23 |
Impoundment hunts may need a permit from the drawings.
Posted zones inside Uwharrie Game Land
| Posted area | Acres |
|---|---|
| Archery Zone | 1,093 |
| Waterfowl Impoundment | 23 |
Download the maps: Uwharrie National Forest
From NC digest regulations for specific game lands and the NCWRC game land GIS; checked October 25, 2026.
Dove fields mapped on Uwharrie Game Land
Planted for doves on Uwharrie Game Land: 1 field, 3.5 acres, mainly wheat.
| Field name | Crops | Size (ac) | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uwharrie GL 1 | Wheat | 3.5 | 2021 |
Scout a field before you hunt it; dry or wet summers change the stand.
NCWRC dove field GIS and NCWRC dove hunting on game lands; checked October 25, 2026.
Uwharrie Game Land game species
The source names white-tailed deer, wild turkey, red and gray fox and raccoon and more for Uwharrie Game Land.
White-tailed deer
Central zone
Wild turkey
Season dates
Red and gray fox
Season dates
Raccoon
Season dates
Squirrel
Season dates
Mourning dove
1 dove field
Species from NC digest regulations for specific game lands; checked October 25, 2026.
What is in season at Uwharrie Game Land, row by row
Private land and game land share these dates in Uwharrie 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 | Central | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 30, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Youth Deer Hunting Days | Statewide | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Blackpowder | Central | Oct 31, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 | |
| White-tailed deer | Gun | Central | Nov 14, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| White-tailed deer | Urban Archery Season | Urban archery towns only | Jan 9, 2027 | Feb 14, 2027 | |
| Black bear | Group 2 | Piedmont BMU group 2 | Nov 14, 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 | |
| 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 Uwharrie Game Land
Uwharrie Game Land and the 7 nearest public places, straight-line. Combined, 97,280 acres.
| Public land | Type | Acres | Days | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yadkin River | Game land | 11,636 | 7 days | 15 mi | northwest |
| Pee Dee NWR | Wildlife refuge | 8,500 | – | 25 mi | south |
| Linwood | Game land | 169 | 7 days | 29 mi | northwest |
| Pee Dee River | Game land | 8,938 | 7 days | 30 mi | south |
| Sandhills | Game land | 65,235 | 3 days | 37 mi | southeast |
| Perkins | Game land | 1,696 | 4 days | 39 mi | northwest |
| Second Creek | Game land | 1,106 | Permit only | 41 mi | northwest |
Points: NCWRC Game Land Centroids layer (GL_points Lat/Long). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest reports around Uwharrie Game Land
Montgomery County hunters reported 2,984 deer in 2025-26, 330 of them on game lands (11.1%).
| Season | Total | Bucks | Game land share | Gun | Archery tackle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | 2,806 | 1,372 | 256 | 1,920 | 269 |
| 2020-21 | 2,881 | 1,454 | 297 | 2,153 | 259 |
| 2021-22 | 3,123 | 1,731 | 298 | 2,254 | 306 |
| 2022-23 | 2,790 | 1,530 | 321 | 2,201 | 237 |
| 2023-24 | 3,608 | 1,907 | 354 | 2,779 | 356 |
| 2024-25 | 2,989 | 1,555 | 307 | 2,259 | 270 |
| 2025-26 | 2,984 | 1,593 | 330 | 2,156 | 287 |
Montgomery County bears, recent years
| Season | Bears |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 |
Montgomery County spring turkey reports
| Year | Gobblers | Jakes | Game lands | Birds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 169 | 28 | 42 | 197 |
| 2024 | 163 | 27 | 26 | 190 |
| 2025 | 147 | 35 | 29 | 182 |
| 2026 | 190 | 32 | 60 | 222 |
County figures from NCWRC harvest statistics, bear harvest report, spring turkey report and CWD testing; checked October 25, 2026.
Base camp towns for Uwharrie Game Land
Nearest towns with pages of their own, then businesses.
| Town | County | Miles | Population | Public land near |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Troy | Montgomery | 6.4 mi | 2,978 | 33,156 |
| Badin | Stanly | 8.3 mi | 1,871 | 34,705 |
| Albemarle | Stanly | 13 mi | 17,344 | 15,568 |
| Mount Gilead | Montgomery | 15 mi | 1,185 | 16,723 |
Counties under Uwharrie Game Land, each with a page: Montgomery County, Randolph County, Davidson County.
Who can cut or mount a deer from Uwharrie Game Land
NCWRC and federal offices near Uwharrie Game Land
Biology questions for Montgomery County go to Rupert Medford ((910) 220-2677).
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.
The rest of the Uwharrie Game Land picture
These records cover the same ground as Uwharrie Game Land or sit above or beside it.
Uwharrie Game Land hunting-hour table from the digest
Legal light at Uwharrie 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 | 6:54 a.m. | 7:43 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 8:13 p.m. | 6:24 a.m. to 7:43 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 6:59 a.m. | 7:33 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 8:03 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 7:33 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:27 a.m. | 6:44 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 7:14 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 6:44 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 6:53 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 6:23 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 7:06 a.m. | 5:10 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:40 p.m. | 6:36 a.m. to 5:10 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:25 a.m. | 5:16 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:46 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 5:16 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:27 a.m. | 5:20 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. | 6:57 a.m. to 5:20 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:44 a.m. | 7:55 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 8:25 p.m. | 6:14 a.m. to 7:55 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.
Uwharrie Game Land, events on and around the property
1 upcoming event and 1 NCWRC class here or close by, as of October 25, 2026.
On the calendar
| When | Event | Away | Location | Tickets or entry | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 26, 2027 | Little River Chapter Banquet ⋅ NWTF banquet | 6 | Troy ⋅ Montgomery Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
NCWRC classes
| Date | Course | Away | Hours | Place | Seat | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2–4, 2026 | Montgomery Central 2026 Hunter Safety Course ⋅ hunter education course | 6 | 3:15 PM–6:15 PM | Montgomery Central High School ⋅ Troy ⋅ Montgomery Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
Sighting in before a hunt on Uwharrie Game Land
From Uwharrie Game Land, Flintlock Valley Shooting Range is the closest public range the NCWRC lists (5 miles). Nearby gun clubs fill the remaining cards.
Lanes for rifle, handgun
Lanes for shotgun, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery
From the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Scenes from around Uwharrie Game Land
Uwharrie Game Land: short answers from the data
Is overnight camping allowed for hunters on Uwharrie Game Land?
Digest camping rule: unrestricted.
What do I buy before hunting Uwharrie Game Land?
No extra pass: a hunting license includes game land use.
Which town with a page is closest to Uwharrie Game Land?
Troy (6.4 mi).
What changes on Sundays at Uwharrie Game Land?
Sunday firearm hunting pauses 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and migratory birds stay closed.
Whose rules apply on Uwharrie Game Land?
The record names the NCWRC.
What county is Uwharrie Game Land in, and does it cross county lines?
Mostly Montgomery County, plus 2 more by overlay.
On what days does Uwharrie Game Land allow hunting?
Uwharrie Game Land carries the seven-days-per-week designation, so the calendar alone sets your days.
Is Uwharrie Game Land big enough for a full season of scouting?
NCWRC Game Lands – general GIS SUM_ACRES gives 52,709 acres.
What game is Uwharrie Game Land managed for?
Primary species are white-tailed deer, wild turkey, red and gray fox, raccoon, squirrel and mourning dove.
When can I hunt deer with a rifle near Uwharrie Game Land?
Central zone: gun Nov 14, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027.
Where can I shoot doves on Uwharrie Game Land?
3.5 acres in 1 fields.
How many impoundments are on Uwharrie Game Land?
Lewis Mill Pond.
Before loading the truck for Uwharrie Game Land
Report your harvest through Go Outdoors North Carolina after a day on Uwharrie 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: fishhawk (CC BY 2.0); Cindy Sue Causey (CC BY 2.0); Rob Bixby (CC BY 2.0); watts_photos (Public Domain Mark 1.0).