What to Hunt | NC Wildlife

State Classifications

To understand the law governing the hunting of wildlife, one must know and understand the definitions of certain key terms as they are used in the text of the statutes and rules dealing with this subject. These definitions may vary substantially from common usage. N.C.G.S. ß113-129 lists a number of the basic ones. Those relevant to these subjects are:

Game status includes species that can be hunted in North Carolina.
Nongame status includes species that are not classified as game or furbearer. These species are regulated by the NCWRC and may be hunted or trapped with the appropriate licenses/permits.
Big Game status includes species that can be hunted and must be registered with the NCWRC upon harvest.
Furbearer status includes species that can be trapped in North Carolina.

Migratory Bird and Waterfowl Information

Tab/Accordion Items

A class of warm-blooded animals with fur or hair on their bodies. Mammals are vertebrates. The young are born live and feed on milk from their mothers.

Species	Scientific Name	State Classification	Additional Information
Armadillo, Nine-banded	Dasypus novemcinctus	NonGame	More Information
Bear, Black	Ursus americanus	Big Game	More Information
Bobcat	Lynx rufus	Game & Furbearer	More Information
Coyote	Canis latrans	NonGame	More Information
Fox, Gray	Urocyon cinereoargenteus	Game	More Information
Groundhog	Marmota monax	NonGame	Profile
Nutria	Myocastor coypus	NonGame	Profile
Opossum, Virginia	Didelphis virginiana	Game & Furbearer	Profile
Raccoon	Procyon lotor	Game & Furbearer	More Information
Fox, Red	Vulpes vulpes	Game	More Information
Skunk, Striped	Mephitis mephitis	Furbearer	Profile
Deer, White-tailed	Odocoileus virginianus	Big Game	More Information
Squirrel, Fox	Sciurus niger	Game	More Information
Squirrel, Gray	Sciurus carolinensis	Game	More Information
Feral Swine	Sus scrofa	NonGame	More Information
Rabbit, Eastern Cottontail	Sylvilagus floridanus	Game	More Information
Rabbit, Marsh	Sylvilagus palustris	Game	More Information

A class of warm-blooded, egg-laying vertebrates. Birds are covered in feathers, have wings and a beak. Many birds are able to fly.

Species	Scientific Name	State Classification	Additional Information
Bobwhite quail, Northern	Colinus virginianus	Game Species	Additional Information
Dove, Mourning	Zenaida macroura	Game Species	Additional Information
Duck, Black	Anas rubripes	Game Species	Profile
Duck, Canvasback	Aythya valisineria	Game Species	Profile
Duck, Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	Game Species	Profile Sandy Mush Game Land Birding Check List (PDF)
Goose, Canada	Branta canadensis	Game Species	Additional Information
Rail, Clapper	Rallus longirostris	Game Species	Additional Information
Turkey, Wild	Meleagris gallopavo	Big Game	Additional Information
Swan, Tundra	Cygnus columbianus	Game Species	Additional Information
Grouse, Ruffed	Bonasa umbelius	Game Species	Additional Information
Pintail, Northern	Anas acuta	Game Species	Additional Information
Waterfowl in North Carolina	N/A	Game Species	Additional Information
Wigeon, American	Anas americana	Game Species	Additional Information
Woodcock, American	Scolopax minor	Game Species	Additional information
Duck, Wood	Aix sponsa	Game Species	Profile North Carolina Wood Ducks Natural History and Management (PDF