North Carolina › Species › Bullfrog
Year-round and nongame
North Carolina Bullfrog hunting, 2026-27
North Carolina bullfrog seasons and rules for 2026-27.
Photo: ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0)
This guide covers bullfrogs under the 2026-27 NCWRC digest: the season is set by rule, without fixed dates, with every row and source below. Private land is open to bullfrogs all year.
Bullfrog at a glance
- Bag: Daily 24.
- Dates and gear: Year-round; game lands April 1-Aug. 31.
- Notes: Nongame.
NCWRC source page (as of Jul 13, 2026), checked October 25, 2026.
When bullfrogs are open in North Carolina
These are the 2026-27 bullfrog rows; game land and refuge rules can be stricter.
| Segment | Where | Legal methods | First day | Last day | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year-round (nongame) | Statewide; WRC property April 1-Aug. 31 only | Any method; artificial lights allowed | No closing date | Year-round |
Fine print for bullfrogs
- Daily limit 24 (noon to noon); no license needed off WRC property; on game lands April 1-Aug. 31 with a license that allows game land use (15A NCAC 10B .0226).
From NCWRC digest page and the Season Dates at a Glance, checked October 25, 2026.
Bullfrog bag and license table
The bullfrog limits, followed by license prices for residents and nonresidents.
| Bag row | What it allows |
|---|---|
| Bullfrog | Daily 24 (noon to noon). |
Bullfrog license costs
| License | Who | Term | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Land License | anyone | Annual | $20 |
NCWRC digest bag limits and the license and fee table, checked October 25, 2026. North Carolina hunting license guide.
Bullfrog regulations to know
When to shoot bullfrogs
The daily hours rule is written for hunting game animals and birds, so bullfrogs follow their season dates.
Harvest reporting for bullfrogs
Bullfrogs are not on the NCWRC reporting list.
shooting hours, G.S. 113-291.8 hunter orange, G.S. 103-2 Sunday hunting, digest baiting rules, harvest reporting, checked October 25, 2026. Sunday hunting guide · Legal shooting hours.
Bullfrog: legal gear and penalties
Taking bullfrogs: the method rules
- Lights and electronic calls: Unlawful except: lights to retrieve big game; lights for feral swine and coyotes at night where legal; bullfrogs; raccoon/opossum hunting with dogs. Electronic calls legal for crows, coyotes and feral swine (and light geese/Sept. Canada geese where allowed). Shining lights on deer is restricted by county; flashing lights at night in deer areas with a weapon available is prima facie evidence of taking deer with a light.
From laws compiled from the NCWRC digest, 15A NCAC 10B and N.C.G.S. Chapter 113, checked October 25, 2026. North Carolina hunting laws.
How the statutes group bullfrogs
| Group | Species | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Game animals (G.S. 113-129(7c)) | bear, elk, fox, rabbit, squirrel, white-tailed deer, bobcat (except when trapped), opossum (except when trapped), raccoon (except when trapped) | Elk is a game animal by statute but has no open season (NCWRC species page classifies the herd as nongame). |
| Upland game birds (G.S. 113-129) | grouse, pheasant, quail, wild turkey | |
| Migratory game birds | ducks, geese, brant and swans (Anatidae), doves, rails, gallinules, moorhens, coots, woodcock, snipe | Those for which the U.S. Department of the Interior prescribes open seasons; federal seasons are adopted as state rules (G.S. 113-291.2(a)). |
| Fur-bearing animals (G.S. 113-129(7a)) | beaver, mink, muskrat, nutria, otter, skunk, weasel, bobcat, opossum and raccoon when trapped | |
| Nongame with seasons set by rule | coyote, groundhog, nutria (hunting), striped skunk (hunting), armadillo, feral swine, crow, bullfrog, snapping turtle, American alligator (permit only) | Feral swine = any free-ranging Sus scrofa (G.S. 113-129(5c)); classified nongame since 2011. |
| Birds not protected by federal migratory bird law | house (English) sparrow, feral pigeon (rock dove), European starling, mute swan, Eurasian collared-dove | Listed as exceptions to federal protection in the digest; mute swan release is regulated (15A NCAC 10B .0125). |
From laws compiled from N.C.G.S. 113-129 and the NCWRC digest, checked October 25, 2026.
Bullfrog: common questions
What months are game lands open for bullfrogs?
April 1 through Aug. 31 on WRC property.
What is the bag limit for bullfrogs in North Carolina?
Daily 24 (noon to noon).
Which license covers bullfrog hunting in North Carolina?
Game Land License $20. Go Outdoors North Carolina sells them online, by phone and at agents.
Can you hunt bullfrogs after sunset?
The daily hours rule is written for hunting game animals and birds, so bullfrogs follow their season dates.
Do you have to report bullfrogs in North Carolina?
Bullfrogs are not on the NCWRC reporting list.
Do frog giggers need a license?
No license is needed off Wildlife Resources Commission property; on game lands bullfrogs may be taken April 1-Aug. 31 with a license that allows game land use.
Can bullfrogs be taken at night with a light?
Yes. Artificial lights are allowed for bullfrogs, one of the listed exceptions to the light rule.
Can snapping turtles be taken too?
Daily 10; 100 per year; minimum 13 in. curved carapace; collection license needed for 5+ per year (residents only).
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); rengber (CC BY 2.0); James St. John (CC BY 2.0); YellowstoneNPS (Public domain).