Hello,

I need info on hunting in North Carolina. I saw a recent post, and some older ones, that have not been responded to. Is there good hunting in NC?

Specifically:
- Are public lands safe or overcrowded?
- What about private lands? Is there a lot, what do leases run per acre?
- Deer density
- Can you high fence private land and manage deer?
- Can you import exotics?

I live in Texas and hunt every weekend I get a chance to in the western Hill Country - Axis, Sika, Aoudad, Mouflon, Corsican, Hogs, etc. are huntable year around. Understand these aren't in NC, but trying to understand whether there is any good hunting for deer and bear.

How much does remote rural land go for per acre, say 2-3 hours from Raleigh?

AH,

You'll likely have better luck with Graybeardoutdoors, NAHC, and 24hourcampfire forums.

Be sure you talk with the military bases/forts in NC. They ofetn have considerable land available, though their processes are bureaucratic, and an awful lot of the guys who'd be hunting there are deployed.

Cheers,
Matt

unless they finally changed it, you can't hunt on Sunday

Austin Hunter; Have been researching North Carolina on the web, I am in the process of moving to the Charlotte area. 375hnh is correct, you cannot hunt on Sunday, although its being looked at. Other than that, its hard to find anyone on here or Graybeards that have info for the Charlotte area. Guess I will know more this weekend, were headed down to locate housing.

I just moved from Charlotte, and you will have a pretty good drive to get to hunting grounds. I would go to SC, as the drive will be shorter and the laws more sensable.

Forget about them allowing hunting on Sundays. They are going to "look at it" every legislative session, and every legislative ssession the realize just how much they like it with no hunting on Sunday. NC actually has very restrictive laws on a lot of things. I think it is the most commie state in the SE US.

Most people don't realize how diverse the geography is in NC. Beaches, rivers, lakes, true mountains, foot hills. piney hills, hardwood bottoms, totally flat and open agroculture, and too many growing urban areas. Most states do not have the diverse geography of NC. So game availability and density depend son where you are. NC has some very good hunting in places, and slim game populations in others.

And Oki-I know where you can get a kick-ass house in the Waxhaw area. Union county taxes, Weddington school district, close to shopping, it is just what you need. PM me and I'll give you my realtor's number!!!!!!!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Austin Hunter:
...Is there good hunting in NC?

There can be if you are in with a Hunt Club that matches the style of Hunting you like to do. Or, you can join the wrong Club and not enjoy it at all.

quote:

Specifically:
- Are public lands safe or overcrowded?

I realize this is not a good answer, but they can be both ways. There are a good many Fair Weather Hunters who go drive the Game crazy for a few days each year. But, a bit of bad weather will open the woods as if you had it pretty much to yourself. Later in the Season, it is also wide open.

quote:

- What about private lands? Is there a lot, what do leases run per acre?

The Hunt Clubs lease private farms and plantations. The Membership cost can run from $400 per year and on up to as much as you would ever imagine.

I can't answer your other questions well enough, so I'll pass on them. There are some Shooting Preserve operations in both Carolinas, but I'd be guessing at what they offer.

There is some AMAZING Hunting out near the Coast. I met a guy at the 2000 NRA Convention that was talking about an 830# or 850# Black Bear that was killed near Greenville, NC. Once he said 800#, my mind went a bit blank.
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The NC Rules and Regs are quite strange. They have done some Zone Separations by "highways" rather than Counties. So, if you happen to be North of Highway XXX on a specific date, you can Hunt certain things with a specific set of firearms. The other side of the road may be totally different.

When you get around to checking the Hunting Clubs, some prefer running Dogs, some Still Hunting, some Stand Hunting, some a mix. So, you just have to ask them how they operate.

Make as many contacts with other Hunters as you can. Just because you like a person does not necessarily mean you will enjoy the way their Hunt Club operates. You can go as a Guest to most of them a time or two and that lets you get an idea about how well they run.
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One of my buddies is the Regional Manager for the RMEF in that area. Elk have been reintroduced to the Smokies and the herd is doing quite well. He also belongs to a Hunt Club or two and would be glad to talk to you about any of it. He lives near Charlotte, but travels all over the state.

And I have a buddy in Knightdale(East of Raleigh), who is a bit under the weather right now, but I feel sure he would be glad to discuss the Hunting opportunities with you too.

If any of that is of interest to you, send me a PM and I'll give you the contact info.

Best of luck to you.

Well, I am new to NC and this forum(1st post). I have not seen much overcrowding on the public land I have hunted, but I did stay clear of the woods the first week of gun seaason( old Ohio habit). I am in Stokes Co. here it is all private land. As soon as I made some friends at work, I started getting invited hunting.

Lots of folks thought it was interesting that a yank knew about guns, fishing and such.Anyhow, through friends and meeting landowners, I have 500 or so acres to hunt- just got 9 more yesterday.

Folks are open to deer hunting if they trust you. Apparently there used to be much fewer deer- but now they are everywhere. Lots of farmers shoot a dozen a year keeping them out of their tobacco, gardens, beans... they do not mind help.

I have not looked into any clubs or exotics so I can not comment on that.

Charlotte is a different animal I am sure, but up here pickup gun racks are still very common, some kids come to school after an hour on the standor a night chasing racoons, and camo is a fashion statement!

I have not been here a year yet, but the chance to use high powered rifles got me to this forum so it looked like a good place for my first post.

Hey Kebs, Welcome Aboard! Always good to have another Hunter in the group.

Good Hunting and clean 1-shot Kills.

Thanks for all the feedback. I will be in the RTP area if I take the job.

I have to tell you, hunting is a deciding factor. I really have it good here in Texas with all the free range exotics on our lease. You just never know what might show up!

I just left the Raleigh/Durham area.

Lots of gamelands open for hunting near the area, but they are often very crowded. Remember, the deer rifle season os only about 6 weeks. Much better to hunt on private land.

I tried to hunt bear in coastal NC and the Smokies. To get a bear, you need to get on private land, so it depends on how much people will like you and invite you

Look into joining the Durham Rifle and Pistol CLub, a good range.

A very gun friendly state, but I hear South Carolina has a longer season and more acces to public hunting.

BTW there are SCADS of deer in the RTP area, you'll see them hit on I40, and along all the roads in the area, there is still a lot of open land, even in Raleigh/Durham.