I'm planning a beach vacation at the end of August, and would like to hunt a pig while we are there. We don't know where we are going, yet.

Questions: The state website says feral hogs are not regulated. Does this mean I don't need an out of state hunting license?

Does anyone know of somewhere I can hunt? I'm not opposed to a preserve, but would love to find a farmer with a pig problem.

Any help is appreciated.

Jason, I've never hunted in North Carolina, but wild hogs are considered a nuisance in nearly every state and they usually don't require a license to hunt them. I think Texas may be the exception to the rule.

Jason,
Well, here's the bad news: Free ranging wild boars are considered a big game animal in N.C., with a season that begins in mid-October and this does require a hunting license.
Worse than that, although there are about 150-175,000 deer taken in N.C. each year, and many many hundreds of black bear, there are less than 100 truly wild free ranging hogs taken in the state each year!
However, hogs taken on game preserves are not considered big game and do not require a license. That's good, but here's more bad news: I'm only aware of 2 such preserves in N.C., both of which are well inland from the coast. Goldmine is located in the piedmont (central) region of the state, but I have no experience with them, and therefore cannot comment. Another, Chestnut Hunting Preserve, is located in Caldwell County, near Taylorsville in the western end of the state. Frankly, I know the owner, know people who have hunted hogs there,and did once myself, and although I have nothing whatever bad to say, some reviews have been mixed.
There is also some hog hunting done in Coastal South Carolina, but pretty far south from the state line.

Oops! Add N. Carolina to the exception to the rule column!

The FAQ on the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission site seems to be saying that Wild Hogs in the mountains are regulated differently from ferals in the east.
"Feral Hogs
Does the Wildlife Resources Commission regulate feral hogs?

Outside of Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties, feral hogs are not considered to be wild boars and our agency does not regulate them. Therefore, the Wildlife Resources Commission does not set bag limits, season restrictions, or times when feral hogs may be taken.

Can feral hogs be hunted on Sunday, at night, year round, or with dogs?

Feral Hogs cannot be hunted on Sunday. They can be hunted at night and year round. Also, dogs can be used to take these animals.

Are there any exceptions when hunting feral hogs on game lands?

There is an exception on our game lands, where hunters may only take feral hogs during open seasons of game animals while using a legal manner of take for the game species with the open season. Also on game lands, dogs may only be used for hunting feral hogs if dog hunting for deer and/or bear is lawful. On such game lands, dogs may only be used for hunting feral hogs during the applicable deer and bear seasons."

I'm sure I saw a pig run across Route 158 a few years ago. Was this a once in a lifetime sighting?

If it was a "pig", who knows? If it was a wild hog, probably.

I do live over on the Crystal Coast of NC and have hunted here for over 20 years. And while you do hear from someone who knew someone who knew his Uncle's sister's brother who sighted a wild pig over this way....I dunno anyone who hunts them in eastern NC because they just aren't out here. As previously stated...wild hogs, feral pigs are hunted in the Piedmont and Western part of the state and down in SC.

And I dunno about the rest of the state, but unless you are a member of hunting club, lease land, or know someone who does? Or are military or retired military and able to gain access to any of the bases...the only place to hunt in this area would be on public lands.

Thanks for the input guys. You have talked me out of taking a rifle and a cooler along with a family of four in a Saturn!

Now I have to decide what fishing stuff to take. We have a sound side house with a dock. Whats biting labor day. I have surf rods, a 7 weight fly rod, and lots of spinning tackle.