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North Carolina Legal Hunting Hours (2026)

Info: In North Carolina, legal hunting hours for game are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset; raccoon, opossum and other species may be hunted at night.

InfoVerified Jun 18, 2026

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Official source: ncwildlife.gov →

North Carolina legal hunting hours by date

The rule above (game): 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, worked out from each place’s own sunrise and sunset. Start times are rounded up and end times down to the minute.

Legal hunting hours for Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh	Start (EDT)	End (EDT)
Sat, Oct 17	6:53 AM	7:06 PM
Sun, Oct 18	6:54 AM	7:04 PM
Mon, Oct 19	6:55 AM	7:03 PM
Tue, Oct 20	6:56 AM	7:02 PM
Wed, Oct 21	6:57 AM	7:01 PM
Thu, Oct 22	6:58 AM	7:00 PM
Fri, Oct 23	6:59 AM	6:58 PM
Sat, Oct 24	7:00 AM	6:57 PM
Sun, Oct 25	7:01 AM	6:56 PM
Mon, Oct 26	7:02 AM	6:55 PM
Tue, Oct 27	7:03 AM	6:54 PM
Wed, Oct 28	7:03 AM	6:53 PM
Thu, Oct 29	7:04 AM	6:52 PM
Fri, Oct 30	7:05 AM	6:50 PM

Sunrise moves about 4 minutes for every 50 miles east or west, so times where you hunt can differ from Raleigh. Seasons, species, special areas and Sundays can have their own hours — check the official source before you hunt. Sunday hunting in North Carolina

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Legal Hunting Hours in states bordering North Carolina

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

GeorgiaInfo
In Georgia, legal hunting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset; alligator, raccoon, opossum, fox, coyote, bobcat and feral hog may be hunted at night.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: georgiawildlife.com · Full Georgia rule →
South CarolinaInfo
In South Carolina, legal hours for deer are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset; raccoon, opossum and other species may be hunted at night.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: dnr.sc.gov · Full South Carolina rule →
TennesseeInfo
In Tennessee, big game and small game may be taken from 30 minutes before legal sunrise to 30 minutes after legal sunset, and spring turkey from 30 minutes before sunrise to legal sunset.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: tn.gov · Full Tennessee rule →
VirginiaInfo
In Virginia, nonmigratory birds and game animals may be hunted from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. Spring turkey has separate hours.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: dwr.virginia.gov · Full Virginia rule →

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