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Ranger district · NC
Uwharrie Ranger District (Uwharrie National Forest), from open days to drawn permits
Everything we could verify about this ranger district in Montgomery County and 2 more (53,011 acres).
Photo: Donald Lee Pardue (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Uwharrie Ranger District (Uwharrie National Forest)
Parking, trailheads and gates near Uwharrie Ranger District (Uwharrie National Forest)
- West Morris Mountain TrailheadParking · 0.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 1.8 mi from the centreDirections
- 109 TrailheadParking · 2.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Hunt CampParking · 2.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Cottom Place TrailheadParking · 2.7 mi from the centreDirections
- Jumping Off Rock TrailheadParking · 3.9 mi from the centreDirections
- Dutch John TrailheadParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.0 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 4.2 mi from the centreDirections
- Flatwoods TrailheadParking · 5.1 mi from the centreDirections
- Wolfden TrailheadParking · 5.1 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 Uwharrie Ranger District
Uwharrie Ranger District (Uwharrie National Forest): a national forest ranger district hunted under game land rules reaching into Montgomery, Randolph and Davidson counties. Most of it falls in NCWRC District 6, part of the Piedmont. The USDA Forest Service runs the property. Recorded size: 53,011 acres (USFS ranger district page ("53,011 acres")). By acres it is number 8 among 8 ranger districts here. The district covers the whole forest.
From USFS uwharrie national forest 0; acreage USFS ranger district page ("53,011 acres"); checked October 25, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Uwharrie Ranger District (Uwharrie National Forest)
Uwharrie Ranger District: zone-by-zone season dates
Uwharrie Ranger District takes the deer dates of the county it sits in; the zone group below set archery, blackpowder and gun days.
| Deer zone group | Counties | Archery | Blackpowder | Gun | Antlerless with gun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | Montgomery, Randolph, Davidson | Sep 12–Oct 30 | Oct 31–Nov 13 | Nov 14–Jan 1 | All open days |
Bear dates at Uwharrie Ranger District
| Bear management unit | Counties here | Open |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Days, rules and licenses for Uwharrie Ranger District
National forest land in North Carolina is managed for hunting as an NCWRC game land (seven-days-per-week): NCWRC game land rules, seasons and licenses apply (game land use is included with most hunting licenses). USFS: hunting license must be on your person; 36 CFR 261.10(d) bans discharging a firearm within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area, across or on a forest road or body of water, or into a cave; permanent structures (permanent stands/blinds) are prohibited on federal land; camping only where allowed (NCWRC: designated areas on Nantahala/Pisgah, unrestricted on Uwharrie and Croatan per the regulations digest tables).
Standing rules for Uwharrie Ranger District 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 |
National forest land in North Carolina is managed for hunting as an NCWRC game land (seven-days-per-week): NCWRC game land rules, seasons and licenses apply (game land use is included with most hunting licenses). USFS: hunting license must be on your person; 36 CFR 261.10(d) bans discharging a firearm within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area, across or on a forest road or body of water, or into a cave; permanent structures (permanent stands/blinds) are prohibited on federal land; camping only where allowed (NCWRC: designated areas on Nantahala/Pisgah, unrestricted on Uwharrie and Croatan per the regulations digest tables).
A hunting license covers game land use on Uwharrie Ranger District; 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 USFS uwharrie national forest 0; checked October 25, 2026.
Uwharrie Ranger District: species list
6 species groups top the list for Uwharrie Ranger District, each linked to its season page.
White-tailed deer
Central zone
Wild turkey
Season dates
Red and gray fox
Season dates
Raccoon
Season dates
Squirrel
Season dates
Mourning dove
Season dates
Species from USFS uwharrie national forest 0; checked October 25, 2026.
Uwharrie Ranger District: opening and closing days
35 species and 54 dated segments reach Uwharrie Ranger District; the last column checks each one against today.
| Quarry | Season | Covers | From | To | Status today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Where Uwharrie Ranger District sits among public tracts
Big pin: Uwharrie Ranger District. Small pins: the 7 closest public tracts. Together they list 97,280 acres.
| Property | Type | Acres | Days a week | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 40 mi | northwest |
Points: USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics (Forest Service ownership in the district) (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside) of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Statewide public land map.
Harvest figures from Montgomery County, home of Uwharrie Ranger District
The 2025-26 report shows 2,984 deer for Montgomery County, 1,593 of them antlered bucks.
| Year | Total | Antlered | Game lands | Gun | Archery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Bears reported in Montgomery County
| Season | Bears reported |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 0 |
Spring turkey numbers, Montgomery County
| Spring | Adults | Jakes | Game land birds | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Uwharrie Ranger District trip planning: towns and services
Services are in this county or the next one over.
| Town | County | Distance | Population | Public ground, 10 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Troy | Montgomery | 6.5 mi | 2,978 | 33,156 |
| Badin | Stanly | 8.0 mi | 1,871 | 34,705 |
| Albemarle | Stanly | 13 mi | 17,344 | 15,568 |
| Mount Gilead | Montgomery | 15 mi | 1,185 | 16,723 |
County detail for Uwharrie Ranger District: Montgomery County, Randolph County, Davidson County.
Uwharrie Ranger District: businesses close by
Uwharrie Ranger District: the nearest agency desks
Montgomery County biologist: 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.
How Uwharrie Ranger District fits with nearby records
Uwharrie Ranger District is linked to 2 other records.
Hunting hours worked out for Uwharrie Ranger District
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 | 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.
Events tied to Uwharrie Ranger District (Uwharrie National Forest)
Read October 25, 2026: 1 upcoming event and 1 NCWRC class at or near the property (NWTF banquet and hunter education course).
Scheduled
| Held | What | How far | Where | Register | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 26, 2027 | Little River Chapter Banquet ⋅ NWTF banquet | 6 | Troy ⋅ Montgomery Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
Hunter education dates
| When | Course | How far | Hours | Venue | Sign up | Read at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Where Uwharrie Ranger District (Uwharrie National Forest) hunters can shoot
Closest range on the NCWRC list to Uwharrie Ranger District (Uwharrie National Forest): Flintlock Valley Shooting Range, roughly 5 miles. Closer club ranges are shown too.
Firing lines: rifle, handgun
Firing lines: shotgun, rifle, handgun, smallbore rimfire, archery
From the NCWRC shooting range pages and directory listings, checked October 25, 2026.
Photos for Uwharrie Ranger District
Straight answers about hunting Uwharrie Ranger District
How many acres does the record give for Uwharrie Ranger District?
53,011 acres, from USFS ranger district page ("53,011 acres").
Who is allowed to hunt Uwharrie Ranger District?
National forest land in North Carolina is managed for hunting as an NCWRC game land (seven-days-per-week): NCWRC game land rules, seasons and licenses apply (game land use is included with most hunting licenses). USFS: hunting license must be on your person.
When does gun deer season open around Uwharrie Ranger District?
It is in the Central zone, gun season Nov 14, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027.
Which animals top the Uwharrie Ranger District species list?
White-tailed deer, wild turkey, red and gray fox, raccoon, squirrel and mourning dove.
Where can I stay near Uwharrie Ranger District?
Troy is 6.5 mi away.
Which license and privileges cover Uwharrie Ranger District?
A regular hunting license covers game land use; the Game Land License is for non-hunters.
Which agency writes the rules for Uwharrie Ranger District?
The USDA Forest Service manages hunting there.
Can I shoot ducks on Uwharrie Ranger District on a Sunday?
Only where the designation allows; firearms stop 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and migratory birds are closed.
Where does Uwharrie Ranger District sit by county?
Montgomery, Randolph and Davidson counties, per the GIS overlay.
Uwharrie Ranger District: confirm these before you go
Print the Uwharrie Ranger District map, carry your license and privileges, and read the posted signs at the gate.
Sources: USFS uwharrie national forest 0 · USFS hunting shooting · USFS EDW · USFS EDW; regulations from the 2026-27 NCWRC regulations digest. Checked October 25, 2026.
Other photos on this page: James St. John (CC BY 2.0); cuatrok77 (CC BY-SA 2.0); YoungSue (Public Domain Mark 1.0); greenebriar (Public domain).