North Carolina · Bear · 2026–27 Edition
North Carolina Bear Season 2026–27: Dates, Zones & Bag Limits
01 — Seasons
| Season | Zone | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain BMU — segment 1 | In and west of Surry, Wilkes, Caldwell, Burke, Cleveland counties | Oct 3 – Nov 21 |
| Mountain BMU — segment 2 | Same counties as above | Dec 12 – Jan 1 |
| Piedmont BMU — zone A | Franklin, Harnett, Hoke, Johnston, Moore, Richmond, Scotland, Vance, Wake, Warren | Oct 17 – Jan 1 |
| Piedmont BMU — zone B | Alamance, Anson, Cabarrus, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Durham, Granville, Guilford, Lee, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Orange, Person, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly, Union | Nov 14 – Jan 1 |
| Piedmont BMU — zone C | Alexander, Catawba, Davie, Forsyth, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Stokes, Yadkin | Nov 21 – Jan 1 |
| Coastal BMU zone 1 — segment 1 | Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell | Nov 14 – Nov 29 |
| Coastal BMU zone 1 — segment 2 | Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell | Dec 12 – Dec 27 |
| Coastal BMU zone 2 — segment 1 | Currituck, Gates, Perquimans | Nov 14 – Nov 22 |
| Coastal BMU zone 2 — segment 1 | Camden, Chowan, Pasquotank | Nov 13 – Nov 22 |
| Coastal BMU zone 2 — segment 2 | Currituck, Gates, Perquimans, Camden, Chowan, Pasquotank | Dec 12 – Dec 27 |
| Coastal BMU zone 3 — segment 1 | Beaufort, Bertie, Craven, Hertford, Jones, Martin, Washington | Nov 14 – Nov 22 |
| Coastal BMU zone 3 — segment 2 | Same as above | Dec 12 – Dec 27 |
| Coastal BMU zone 4 | Edgecombe, Greene, Halifax, Lenoir, Nash, Northampton, Pitt, Wayne, Wilson | Nov 21 – Dec 20 |
| Coastal BMU zone 5 | Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Robeson, Sampson — dogs prohibited for bear in Pamlico County | Nov 9 – Jan 1 |
02 — Bag limits & check-in
| Statewide | 1 bear per day, 1 per season — taking a cub under 75 lbs or a female with cub(s) is prohibited |
|---|---|
| Harvest reporting | Validate and register the harvest (Go Outdoors NC app, 800-I-GOT-ONE, or a wildlife service agent) before moving, skinning or transferring the animal, or by noon the next day — whichever comes first |
| Biological sample | Mail in at least one premolar tooth using the NCWRC Tyvek envelope by January 31 following the season |
| License | General NC hunting license plus a Bear Management E-Stamp — free for hunters under 16. License-exempt hunters need a License-Exempt Big Game Harvest Report Card plus the E-Stamp |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (October 3, 2026) 06:44 — 19:27
Rule: Game birds and animals may be taken only between 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset — NCWRC's single rule for all game birds and animals. Its night-hunting exceptions cover raccoon, feral swine, opossum and coyote, not bear. Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local North Carolina sun times for any other date.
04 — License
Bear hunters in North Carolina need a North Carolina hunting license — a Bear Management E-Stamp in addition to the general hunting license — free for hunters under 16 Check-in or reporting a harvest is typically mandatory; see the row above for North Carolina's specific rule.
North Carolina hunting license cost →
Where to hunt public land in North Carolina — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — Scouting gear
Patterning bear activity before North Carolina's opener usually means glassing feeding areas and running a trail camera through summer — check the state's own rules on baiting before you set one over bait.
- Hunting binoculars on Amazon →
- Trail cameras on Amazon →
- Trail camera SD cards — class, capacity & format explained →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These are category links, not a single named pick — we run no product tests of our own.
06 — FAQ
When does bear season open in North Carolina?
The earliest 2026–27 opener is October 3, 2026. See the table above for each method and zone.
When does bear season end in North Carolina?
The latest 2026–27 closing date is January 1, 2027. Individual segments and zones can close earlier — see the table above.
Do I need a separate bear license or tag in North Carolina?
a Bear Management E-Stamp in addition to the general hunting license — free for hunters under 16
How many bears can you shoot in North Carolina?
2026–27 bag limits: Statewide — 1 bear per day, 1 per season — taking a cub under 75 lbs or a female with cub(s) is prohibited. Harvest reporting — Validate and register the harvest (Go Outdoors NC app, 800-I-GOT-ONE, or a wildlife service agent) before moving, skinning or transferring the animal, or by noon the next day — whichever comes first. Biological sample — Mail in at least one premolar tooth using the NCWRC Tyvek envelope by January 31 following the season. License — General NC hunting license plus a Bear Management E-Stamp — free for hunters under 16. License-exempt hunters need a License-Exempt Big Game Harvest Report Card plus the E-Stamp. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting bear in North Carolina?
On opening day (October 3, 2026) legal light runs 06:44 to 19:27. The rule is: Game birds and animals may be taken only between 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset — NCWRC's single rule for all game birds and animals. Its night-hunting exceptions cover raccoon, feral swine, opossum and coyote, not bear. Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local North Carolina sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt bear on my own land in North Carolina without a license?
A North Carolina landholder — owner, or a lessee who mainly cultivates the land — plus their spouse and dependents under 18 living with them, may hunt, trap, and fish it without a license. Elk, alligator, and the bear stamp aren't included, and deer, bear, or turkey still need a free License-Exempt Big Game Harvest Report Card.
Verified · North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission · Last verified 2026-08-13
Publisher's note. Official 'Hunting and Trapping Season Dates for July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027' PDF, read directly. Bag limit and the ban on taking a cub or a female with cub(s) corroborated by 15A NCAC 10B .0202 (NC Administrative Code). Harvest-reporting and biological-sample rules confirmed via NCWRC's own mandatory-tooth-submission flyer. North Carolina does NOT split bear season into archery/muzzleloader/gun segments the way it does deer — each Bear Management Unit runs a single either-weapon season, sometimes in two date segments. Not independently confirmed on an official page this round: the exact dollar cost of the Bear Management E-Stamp, and whether shooting hours carry any bear-specific exception versus the general rule — confirm both directly with NCWRC before relying on them.