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Onslow County · Coastal hunting
Swansboro, NC hunting guide
A trip sheet for hunters basing in Swansboro: public land with acres and miles, 2026-27 dates for Onslow County, legal light and the nearest NCWRC depot.
Photo: Croatan Game Land, 2.1 mi from Swansboro; a nearby stand-in, not the town. pmuellr (CC BY 2.0)
In Onslow County, Swansboro is a town in the Coastal Plain. White Oak River Game Land is why Swansboro is on the list: its closest line is 4 miles away. With 4,165 residents in the 2024 estimate, Swansboro is the starting point here. Draw a 10-mile circle around town and it holds some 37,999 acres of public hunting ground (4 listed). The nearest choice is Croatan Game Land, whose closest boundary is 2 miles away.
Town point and land area from the Census 2024 Gazetteer, population from the Census Vintage 2024 estimates; public acreage and boundary distances within 10 miles are a GIS measure over the NCWRC game land, USFS, USFWS and NPS boundaries. Checked October 25, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Swansboro, North Carolina
Game lands and federal land near Swansboro
Land whose boundary comes within 10 miles of Swansboro leads the table, closest line first; mapped tracts farther out follow by distance to their center.
By size, Croatan Ranger District (Croatan National Forest) heads the 10-mile list with 167,687 acres. For game land hunting, Croatan Game Land comes first, with 2 more in the circle. Antlerless deer by gun on Croatan Game Land: Oct. 17 – Jan. 1. Rocky Run Game Land is permit-only, so hunting there takes a permit drawn through the Permit Hunting Opportunities Program. Federal land in the circle: Croatan Ranger District (Croatan National Forest).
| Area | Direction | Category | Agency | Boundary miles | Center miles | Acres | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croatan Game Land northeast, 2.1 mi | NE | 7-day game land | NCWRC | 2.1 mi | 13 mi | 166,267 | Permit hunts |
| Croatan Ranger District (Croatan National Forest) northeast, 2.1 mi | NE | Ranger district | USDA Forest Service | 2.1 mi | 13 mi | 167,687 | Drawn hunts |
| White Oak River Game Land northwest, 3.5 mi Anchor | NW | 3-day game land | NCWRC | 3.5 mi | 10.0 mi | 2,597 | Permit hunts |
| Rocky Run Game Land west, 8.8 mi | W | Permit-only game land | NCWRC | 8.8 mi | 9.6 mi | 390 | Permit hunts |
| Stones Creek Game Land southwest, 22 mi | SW | 6-day game land | NCWRC | farther | 22 mi | 4,136 | Dove fields |
| Neuse River Game Land north, 29 mi | N | 6-day game land | NCWRC | farther | 29 mi | 5,965 | deer, turkey |
| Light Ground Pocosin Game Land northeast, 34 mi | NE | 7-day game land | NCWRC | farther | 34 mi | 942 | deer, bear |
| Holly Shelter Game Land west, 35 mi | W | 6-day game land | NCWRC | farther | 35 mi | 65,139 | Permit hunts |
| Dover Bay Game Land north, 39 mi | N | 6-day game land | NCWRC | farther | 39 mi | 2,898 | deer, bear |
| Angola Bay Game Land west, 40 mi | W | 7-day game land | NCWRC | farther | 40 mi | 34,148 | deer, bear |
Lands, acreage and designations from the NCWRC regulations digest, NCWRC game land GIS and federal hunting pages (lands.json); boundary distances inside 10 miles from places.json; center distances are straight lines from the Census point for Swansboro. Checked October 25, 2026. Statewide public land map.
Swansboro season dates, 2026-27
Private land and game land share these dates in Swansboro unless a game land rule says otherwise; refuges and bases set their own.
| Animal | Segment | Area | Starts | Ends | Open now? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 (either sex) | 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 only | 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; local acts vary | Nov 21, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | |
| Gray fox | Firearms season | East of I-77; local acts vary | 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.
Swansboro hunter services, nearest first
The shop list keeps gun, archery, outdoor and chain sporting stores; gas stations and hardware counters that only sell licenses are not in it. Nearest Hunters for the Hungry drop: Riverside Meats (28 mi). For a CWD test, Lilly's Taxidermy & Wild Game Processing (18 mi) is a cooperator that takes samples.
| Type | Inside 15 | Inside 35 | Nearest one | Distance | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Processing shops | 0 | 4 | Lilly's Taxidermy & Wild Game Processing | 18 mi E | Newport |
| Mount makers | 1 | 7 | Bubba's Taxidermy | 15 mi W | Jacksonville |
| Outdoor stores | 11 | 40 | Stumpies Custom Guns | 0.5 mi E | Swansboro |
Processing shops
Mount makers
Outdoor stores
Processors from NC Hunters for the Hungry, the NCWRC Cervid Health Cooperator layer and Yellow Pages; taxidermists from the cooperator layer and Yellow Pages; shops from Yellow Pages, Academy store pages and NCWRC CWD freezer hosts; guides and preserves from Yellow Pages. Checked October 25, 2026; hours were not checked.
When deer season opens around Swansboro
The deer season zone for Onslow County is Southeastern. Deer season in Onslow County spans Sep 12 to Jan 1, 2027 across the three weapon segments. Antlerless harvest is allowed on all open days of the zone. CWD area restrictions do not apply in Onslow County.
| Weapon | Opening | Closing | Antlerless |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 2, 2026 | All days |
| Blackpowder | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 16, 2026 | All days |
| Gun | Oct 17, 2026 | Jan 1, 2027 | All days |
| Youth days | Sep 26, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | Youth only |
Deer zones and dates from the 2026-2027 Season Dates at a Glance and the digest deer seasons; urban archery from the digest deer regulations; CWD counts from the NCWRC CWD testing chart; light-shining hours from 15A NCAC 10B. Checked October 25, 2026.
Deer reported around Swansboro
Onslow County logged 2,378 deer on report cards in 2025-26. The split was 110 game land deer to 2,268 on private and other land.
| Season | Deer | Bucks | Rifle/shotgun | Bows | Blackpowder | Game land |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 1,999 | 973 | 1,585 | 269 | 145 | 68 |
| 2023-24 | 2,363 | 1,125 | 1,966 | 281 | 116 | 91 |
| 2024-25 | 2,347 | 1,091 | 1,947 | 277 | 123 | 81 |
| 2025-26 | 2,378 | 1,108 | 1,911 | 346 | 121 | 110 |
Reported harvest (Big Game Harvest Report Card) from the NCWRC 2025-26 deer harvest by county; earlier seasons from the NCWRC harvest statistics page. Checked October 25, 2026.
Swansboro bear, turkey and duck zones
For black bear, Swansboro hunters use the Coastal BMU Zone 5 dates, Nov 9, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027. 105 bears were reported in Onslow County in 2025. From Apr 17 to May 15, 2027 hunters may take gobblers anywhere in the state. Spring 2026 turkey harvest in Onslow County: 418, with 57 jakes. For waterfowl, Onslow County is Coastal for ducks and Resident Population Zone for geese.
| Year | Bears reported | Spring turkeys |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 60 | 453 |
| 2022 | 72 | 487 |
| 2023 | 62 | 471 |
| 2024 | 98 | 475 |
| 2025 | 105 | 395 |
Bear units and dates from the digest bear seasons; bear harvest from the NCWRC bear harvest by county; spring turkey from the NCWRC spring 2026 turkey harvest; waterfowl zones from the digest migratory bird seasons. Checked October 25, 2026.
Onslow County local laws for Swansboro hunters
Before hunting near Swansboro, read the local acts for Onslow County. Items stated as actions are prohibited:
- Hunt any wild animal or bird from the right-of-way of any public road without written permission of the owner or lessee of the land that abuts the road.
From the digest local laws by county; checked October 25, 2026.
Swansboro shooting time on key dates
On Sundays firearm hunting stops from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and migratory birds are closed all day; the hours below are for the other days.
| Date | Why | Sunrise | Sunset | Legal for game | Legal for ducks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 5, 2026 | Dove opener | 6:43 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 8:02 p.m. | 6:13 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Archery deer opener | 6:48 a.m. | 7:22 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:52 p.m. | 6:18 a.m. to 7:22 p.m. |
| Oct 17, 2026 | Eastern gun opener | 7:16 a.m. | 6:33 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 7:03 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 6:33 p.m. |
| Nov 14, 2026 | Central gun opener | 6:42 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:12 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Nov 28, 2026 | Western gun opener | 6:55 a.m. | 4:59 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 5:29 p.m. | 6:25 a.m. to 4:59 p.m. |
| Dec 26, 2026 | Late December | 7:14 a.m. | 5:05 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 5:35 p.m. | 6:44 a.m. to 5:05 p.m. |
| Jan 1, 2027 | Deer gun close | 7:16 a.m. | 5:09 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:39 p.m. | 6:46 a.m. to 5:09 p.m. |
| Apr 17, 2027 | Spring turkey opener | 6:33 a.m. | 7:44 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 8:14 p.m. | 6:03 a.m. to 7:44 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.
Swansboro: NCWRC and federal contacts
Questions about deer, bear or game land work near Swansboro go to the district biologist; depots keep field hours, so call first.
NCWRC New Bern Depot, 25 mi north of Swansboro
National Forests in North Carolina Croatan Ranger District, 22 mi to the northeast
District 2 biologist
From the NCWRC facilities layer, the NCWRC district biologist sheet and the federal office pages listed in services.json, checked October 25, 2026.
Swansboro area hunting events
A 30-mile circle drawn around Swansboro holds 4 upcoming events and 9 NCWRC classes. Kinds: DU banquet, NWTF banquet and hunter education course.
Next dates
| Date | Event | Away | Where | Sign up | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 21, 2026 | Carteret County Banquet ⋅ DU banquet | 23 | Crystal Coast Civic Center ⋅ Morehead City ⋅ Carteret Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
| Dec 4, 2026 | Jones County Banquet ⋅ DU banquet | 28 | Jones County Civic Center ⋅ Trenton ⋅ Jones Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
| Feb 6, 2027 | Neuse Chapter NWTF Banquet ⋅ NWTF banquet | 28 | New Bern ⋅ Craven Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
| Mar 15, 2027 | New River Longbeards Banquet ⋅ NWTF banquet | 15 | Jacksonville ⋅ Onslow Co. | Buy tickets | Source |
Hunter education classes
| Date | Course | Away | Hours | Place | Seat | Source page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 1, 2026 | Hunter Safety (D2, A3, Craven) ⋅ hunter education course | 28 | 2:00 PM–8:00 PM | West of New Bern Fd ⋅ New Bern ⋅ Craven Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Nov 7, 2026 | Women's Hunter Education Course (Coastal Region)D2, A3, Craven ⋅ hunter education course | 20 | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Craven Community College ⋅ Havelock ⋅ Craven Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Nov 8, 2026 | D2 Jones Co. Hunter Safety Class ⋅ hunter education course | 28 | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Jones County Civic Center ⋅ Trenton ⋅ Jones Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Nov 15, 2026 | Hunter Education (D2) ⋅ hunter education course | 15 | 8:00 AM–4:00 PM | Half Moon Volunteer Fire Dept ⋅ Jacksonville ⋅ Onslow Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Dec 6, 2026 | D2 Jones Co. Hunter Safety Class ⋅ hunter education course | 28 | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Jones County Civic Center ⋅ Trenton ⋅ Jones Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Jan 16, 2027 | Hunter Safety (D2, A3, Craven) ⋅ hunter education course | 28 | 9:00 AM–2:00 PM | West of New Bern Fd ⋅ New Bern ⋅ Craven Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Feb 14, 2027 | D2 A4 Onslow Hunter Education ⋅ hunter education course | 15 | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Rhodestown Fire Department ⋅ Jacksonville ⋅ Onslow Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
| Mar 14, 2027 | D2 A4 Onslow Hunter Education ⋅ hunter education course | 15 | 9:00 AM–4:00 PM | Rhodestown Fire Department ⋅ Jacksonville ⋅ Onslow Co. | Register on GONC | Source |
1 more NCWRC classes are on the hunter education page. More classes
Closest firing lines to Swansboro
Flatwoods Guns is the closest, roughly 6 miles from Swansboro.
Built for skeet, shotgun
Holly Shelter Shooting Range, about 39 miles away, is the Commission range closest to Swansboro. Open
Straight-line miles from the town center; ranges checked October 25, 2026.
Swansboro hunters want to know
Which local laws cover Onslow County?
The digest lists 1 local rule for Onslow County, starting with: Hunt any wild animal or bird from the right-of-way of any public road without written permission of the owner or lessee of the land that abuts the road.
How do Swansboro hunters register a deer, bear or turkey?
Register before skinning or leaving the animal, and no later than noon the day after, using the Go Outdoors North Carolina app, phone, web or an agent.
Can a deer shot near Swansboro be processed locally?
Lilly's Taxidermy & Wild Game Processing in Newport is the closest listing, 18 mi away. Call ahead; hours were not checked.
How far is Swansboro from a game land or national forest?
Start with Croatan Game Land, whose closest boundary is 2 miles away. Croatan Ranger District (Croatan National Forest) follows it in the table.
Can Swansboro hunters use a gun on Sunday?
Sunday hunting is allowed with limits: no firearms from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., no migratory birds, no deer chased by dogs with firearms, and no firearms within 500 yards of a place of worship.
What deer dates apply to Swansboro hunters?
Archery opens Sep 12, 2026 and the Southeastern gun season closes Jan 1, 2027. There is no short doe window.
How much game land and federal ground lies around Swansboro?
Inside a 10-mile reach of town the count runs near 37,999 acres.
Where does Onslow County stand on CWD?
It is not in any CWD area.
What bear unit is Onslow County in?
The Coastal BMU Zone 5 season applies: Nov 9, 2026 to Jan 1, 2027. 105 bears were reported here in 2025.
How do waterfowl zones work for Onslow County?
The duck zone is Coastal; the goose zone is Resident Population Zone. No migratory bird hunting on Sundays.
Answers drawn from the sources listed in each section above; reporting from the digest deer regulations; Sunday rules from G.S. 103-2. Checked October 25, 2026.
Swansboro hunters, one last look
Wear hunter orange during deer gun season, carry your Big Game Harvest Report Card and register by noon the day after a harvest.
Other photos on this page: pmuellr (CC BY 2.0); pmuellr (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); watts_photos (Public Domain Mark 1.0); ImagePerson (CC BY 4.0); ilouque (CC BY 2.0); Ryan Hodnett (CC BY-SA 2.0); kdwood2 (CC BY-SA 2.0).