This website is a testing environment only. The contents of this site are not refreshed regularly and should not be relied upon.
For up-to-date information on North Carolina licenses, regulations and other wildlife resources, please visit the agency’s website NCWildlife.org.
RALEIGH, N.C. (August 30, 2011) – The N.C Wildlife Resources Commission has set season dates, bag limits and applicable regulations for the 2011-12 seasons.
Of special note this year is the addition of a second Youth Waterfowl Day. In recent years, the Commission has chosen the Saturday after the end of the duck season as the Youth Waterfowl Day. However, with recent changes to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guidelines, a second Youth Waterfowl Day will be offered. Youth Waterfowl Days this season will be Dec. 10, 2011 and Feb. 4, 2012.
Working within mandatory frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Commission set the following regulations:
BAG LIMITS
a) Conventional bag: 6 ducks with no more than 4 scoters, 4 mallards with no more than 2 hen mallards, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 scaup, 2 pintails, 1 black or mottled duck (season closed until November 19), 1 canvasback, or 1 fulvous whistling duck. The season on harlequin ducks is closed. (Possession limits are twice the daily bag limit unless otherwise noted.)
b) Other limits:
HOURS: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
Ducks, Mergansers and Coots
October 5-8, November 12 – December 3 and December 17 -– January 28 [Black and mottled ducks closed until Nov. 19]
Sea Ducks (in special sea duck area only)
October 1 – January 31
Dark Geese (includes Canada geese and white-fronted geese) To view a map of the goose hunt zones, refer to the Regulations Digest or www.ncwildlife.org.
Resident Population Hunt Zone: Oct. 5-15, Nov. 12 – Dec. 3 and Dec. 17 – Feb. 4 Southern James Bay Hunt Zone (Gaddy Goose refuge closed after Sept. 30): Oct. 5 – Nov. 4 and Nov. 12 – Dec. 31. Northeast Hunt Zone: Jan. 21 – Jan. 28 (by permit only)
Light Geese (includes snow and blue geese, and Ross’ geese)
October 19 – October 22 November 12 – March 10 Electronic calls and unplugged guns are allowed from February 6 – March 10.
Brant
November 19 – December 3 and December 17 – January 28
Tundra Swan
November 12 - January 31 (1 per season by permit only – 5,000 will be issued)
Youth Waterfowl Days (includes ducks, geese, brant, mergansers, coots and tundra swans.) The youth must have a valid permit to harvest a tundra swan or a Canada goose (NE Hunt Zone only).
December 10 and February 4 Youth must be 15 years of age or younger and accompanied by a properly licensed adult. The adult cannot duck hunt but may participate in other seasons that are open on the special youth day.
This information is also available by calling 1-800-675-0263. Report all bands by calling 1-800-327-BAND or www.reportband.gov.