North Carolina › Species › Red Wolf
No open season
North Carolina Red Wolf status, 2026-27
The legal status of red wolves in North Carolina.
Photo: Monkeystyle3000 (CC BY 2.0)
The 2026-27 North Carolina rules give red wolves no hunting season; the status, range and penalties are summarized here.
Red wolf rules in one list
- Limit summary: None – protected.
- Seasons in brief: No season.
- Also: Federally endangered; report if shot within 24 hours.
NCWRC source page (as of Oct 25, 2026), checked October 25, 2026.
Red Wolf protection and status
- Federally endangered, state threatened; no hunting or trapping season. Report a red wolf shot within 24 hours.
- Federally endangered, state threatened; no season; report any red wolf shot within 24 hours to USFWS (855-496-5837) and NCWRC (800-662-7137).
NCWRC source, checked October 25, 2026.
Red Wolf calendar by zone and method
1 season line for red wolves, opening to closing.
| Hunt | Applies to | Weapons | Start | End | Days | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No season | Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell, Washington | – | Closed this year |
What the red wolf rows add
- Federally endangered, state threatened; no hunting or trapping season. Report a red wolf shot within 24 hours.
From NCWRC page and the Season Dates at a Glance, checked October 25, 2026.
Red Wolf zone map in table form
The digest splits red wolf seasons by these lines.
| County | Rule |
|---|---|
| Beaufort | Daylight-only coyote hunting by free permit; harvest reported |
| Dare | Daylight-only coyote hunting by free permit; harvest reported |
| Hyde | Daylight-only coyote hunting by free permit; harvest reported |
| Tyrrell | Daylight-only coyote hunting by free permit; harvest reported |
| Washington | Daylight-only coyote hunting by free permit; harvest reported |
small game and other seasons, checked October 25, 2026.
Red Wolf and other protected wildlife
| Species | Rule |
|---|---|
| Bear cubs (under 75 lb) and female bears with cubs | Unlawful to take (15A NCAC 10B .0202; G.S. 113-291.7(b)). |
| Red wolf | Federally endangered, state threatened; no season; report any red wolf shot within 24 hours to USFWS (855-496-5837) and NCWRC (800-662-7137). |
| Cougar (Felis concolor) | Unlawful taking/possession/sale is a Class 1 misdemeanor (G.S. 113-294(c2)). |
| Bald and golden eagles | Class 1 misdemeanor to take, possess, sell or buy any eagle, part, nest or egg (G.S. 113-294(l)); also federally protected. |
| American alligator | State threatened and federally threatened (similarity of appearance); take only by permit in municipality-requested population reduction hunts. |
| Elk | No season; unlawful taking, possession or transport is a Class 1 misdemeanor with a $2,500 minimum fine (G.S. 113-294(c3)). |
| Nongame migratory birds (songbirds, woodpeckers, raptors) and waterbirds | Federally protected; posted Waterbird Nesting Areas closed March 1-Sept. 15 except by permit. |
| Endangered, threatened and special concern species | Listed in 15A NCAC 10I; permits required for collection. |
| Harlequin duck | Season closed. |
| Black and mottled ducks | Closed until Nov. 21, 2026. |
From laws compiled from the NCWRC digest and N.C.G.S. 113-294, checked October 25, 2026.
Red Wolf: statutory classes
| 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.
Alternatives to red wolves this season
| Species | Season | Where | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coyote | Trapping (statewide) | Statewide | Oct 1–Feb 28 |
| Gray Fox | Firearms season east of I-77 | Counties and parts of counties east of I | Nov 21–Jan 1 |
| Gray Fox | January weapons and trapping season | Clay, Graham, Henderson, Macon, Tyrrell | Jan 2–Jan 23 |
| Gray Fox | Trapping (January season) | Clay, Graham, Henderson, Macon, Tyrrell | Jan 2–Jan 23 |
NCWRC digest, checked October 25, 2026.
What hunters ask about red wolves
Is there a season row for red wolves?
No season (Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell, Washington).
Where are red wolves found in the state?
The red wolf area: Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington counties.
Are red wolves hunted on public land?
Game lands follow the statewide seasons, and red wolves have none.
Which seasons are open instead of red wolves?
Coyote and Gray Fox; each has its own page with dates and limits.
What sources cover red wolves?
From NCWRC pages, the 2026-27 digest and N.C. statutes listed on this page, checked October 25, 2026.
Is there a red wolf lottery?
No. None of the 286 hunt items in the 2026-27 Permit Hunt Book covers red wolves.
Can coyotes be hunted where red wolves live?
Daylight-only coyote hunting by free permit, harvest reporting, game lands by permit hunt only; no contests on public lands.
Is there a reporting rule for red wolves?
Federally endangered, state threatened; no season; report any red wolf shot within 24 hours to USFWS (855-496-5837) and NCWRC (800-662-7137).
Does North Carolina have an open season on red wolves?
There is no open season. Federally endangered, state threatened; no hunting or trapping season. Report a red wolf shot within 24 hours. Federally endangered, state threatened; no season; report any red wolf shot within 24 hours to USFWS (855-496-5837) and NCWRC (800-662-7137).
Other photos on this page: U.S. Geological Survey (CC0 1.0); watts_photos (Public Domain Mark 1.0); jasonferrell (CC BY 2.0); Drew de F Fawkes (CC BY 2.0).