Can You Turkey Hunt on Sundays in North Carolina?

Turkey hunting continues to grow in popularity across North Carolina. With spring gobbler season offering exciting camaraderie and challenge, many hunters look forward to this annual tradition. But regulations surrounding Sunday hunting have caused confusion in the past. So what’s the current law – can you legally hunt turkeys on Sundays in NC?

The answer is yes! As of 2020, North Carolina lifted its longstanding prohibition on Sunday hunting for all game species, including wild turkeys. This change opened up new opportunities for hunters who previously had difficulty finding time to hunt during the work week.

Overview of the Updated NC Sunday Hunting Law

Here are some key details on the current regulations for Sunday turkey hunting in North Carolina

Sunday hunting is now permitted on private lands statewide. Public land rules vary by property.
On private land, you must remain 500 yards away from residences and places of worship.
Shooting hours are limited on Sundays. You cannot hunt wild turkeys with firearms between 9:30 AM and 12:30 PM.
The use of dogs for deer hunting remains prohibited on Sundays across North Carolina.
Migratory bird hunting, including waterfowl, remains illegal on Sundays.
On public lands, additional restrictions may apply. Check regulations for specific game lands before hunting there on Sundays.
The NC Wildlife Resources Commission may open Sunday hunting on certain public game lands in the future through an inclusive evaluation process.

By following these rules, you can now legally hunt wild turkeys on private lands in North Carolina on Sundays. Public land rules vary. Always confirm regulations before hunting.

Benefits of Expanded Sunday Hunting

Lifting the ban on Sunday hunting provided several benefits for North Carolina sportsmen and women:

Allows greater opportunity to participate in the sport amid work and family commitments. Weekday hunting is difficult for many.
Boosts business for rural hotels, restaurants, outfitters and sporting goods stores through increased tourism.
Provides additional options for scientifically managing overpopulated game species.
Lets hunters better adjust around variable weather conditions from week to week.
Supports conservation funding through license sales and excise taxes on equipment.

Tips for Hunting Turkeys on Sundays

If you plan to hunt wild turkeys on Sundays in North Carolina, keep these safety tips in mind:

Obtain landowner permission and scout prospective hunting areas in advance.
Take a hunter safety course if you’re new to turkey hunting.
Use turkey decoys safely and ethically. Don’t over-call.
Choose a shotgun or archery equipment appropriate for turkeys. Pattern your shotgun.
Use a turkey vest and sit still against a tree or blind to avoid detection.
Wear blaze orange when moving between setups even if not required.
Keep your hunting license and permits handy. Follow all regulations.
Let someone know where you’re hunting and when to expect your return.

With thoughtful preparation and safe practices, North Carolina hunters can now enjoy the exciting tradition of Sunday turkey hunting on private lands. Follow the updated rules and scout areas thoroughly beforehand. Stay safe and enjoy time in the spring woods with friends and family.

can you turkey hunt on sunday in nc

Motor Vehicles, Boats and Vessels

It is unlawful to use any of the following in taking wild birds or animals:
- a motor vehicle while the passenger area is occupied or while the vehicle engine is running;
- vessels: under sail, under power, or with the engine running, or while still in the motion from such propulsion, except crippled waterfowl (see Migratory Game Bird Regulations); or
- airplanes
Deer may not be hunted from boats or other floating devices in some counties (see âLocal Lawsâ section).

General Restrictions

Lawful seasons and bag limits for each species apply beginning with the first day of the listed season and continuing through the last day of the listed season with Sunday hunting restrictions listed in the next paragraph.

On Sundays the following apply:

Hunting with firearms between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. is prohibited except on controlled hunting preserves;
Hunting migratory birds is prohibited;
The use of firearms to take deer that are run or chased by dogs is prohibited;
Hunting with a firearm within 500 yards of a place of worship or any accessory structure thereof is prohibited;
Archery equipment may be used to hunt on Sundays without the restrictions applied to hunting with firearms.

Shooting hours: Game birds and animals may be taken only between 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset with rifle, pistol, shotgun, archery equipment, dogs or by means of falÂconry with the following exceptions: raccoons, feral swine and opossums may be taken at night. Coyotes may be taken at night in all counties except Beaufort, Dare, Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington. Migratory game birds may be taken only during the hours and in the manner permitted by federal regulations. See Migratory Game Bird Seasons for shooting hours for migratory birds.

If a hunter kills or wounds a big game animal during legal shootÂing hours the hunter may use a portable light source and a single dog on a leash to assist the hunter in retrieving the dead or woundÂed big game animal and may dispatch a wounded big game animal using a .22-caliber rimfire pistol, archery equipment, or a handÂgun otherwise legal for that hunting season. If necessary, the hunter may also retrieve wounded big game in this manner from 30 minÂutes after sunset to 11:00 p.m. The hunter may not use a motorÂized vehicle when searching for the wounded animal.

When used for hunting in North Carolina archery equipment is defined as any device that has a solid stationary handle with two limbs and a string that uses non-pneumatic means to propel a single arrow or bolt.
Longbows, recurved bows, compound bows and crossbows are legal for hunting all species with an open hunting season.
When used to hunt bear, deer, elk, wild turkey, alligator and feral swine:
- Longbows and recurved bows must have a minimum pull of 40 pounds
- Compound bows must have a minimum pull of 35 pounds.
- Crossbows must have a minimum pull of 100 pounds
- Only arrows and bolts with a fixed minimum broadhead width of seven-eighths of an inch or a mechanically opening broadhead with a width of at least seven-eighths of an inch in the open position shall be used.
Slingbows having a minimum pull of 40 pounds may be used during legal hunting seasons for hunting deer, wild turkey, small game animals, nongame animals and nongame fish.
Blunt-type arrow heads may be used in taking small game animals and birds, including rabbits, squirrels, quail and grouse.
Poisonous, drugged, or explosive arrowheads shall not be used for taking any wildlife.

Shotguns must be no larger than 10-gauge.
When hunting migratory game birds, shotguns must be plugged so as to limit their maximum capacity to three shells.

During the open hunting season for rabbits, squirrels, opossums, raccoons, furbearing animals and legal nongame animals and birds, these species may be taken with a pistol. There are no restrictions on caliber and barrel length.
Deer and bear may be taken with a handgun during the established gun hunting season. There are no restrictions on barrel length or caliber.
A hunter or trapper lawfully taking wildlife by another method may use a pistol to dispatch the animal or bird taken, except as noted below.
It is unlawful to hunt or take wild turkeys with pistols.
During established archery season only a .22-caliber rimfire pistol may be used to dispatch deer (see âRetrievalâ).

Fully automatic rifles are unlawful. All other rifles are legal except:
- Rifles are prohibited by federal law in hunting migratory game birds.
- Local laws prohibit or restrict rifles in some counties. See the âLocal Lawsâ section.
- It is unlawful to hunt or take wild turkeys with rifles.

During the blackpowder deer season, the only lawful firearms are blackpowder shotguns, rifles and handguns. The Commission defines a blackpowder firearm as any firearm â including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system â manufactured in or before 1898, that cannot use fixed ammunition; any replica of this type of firearm if such replica is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition; and any muzzle-loading rifle, muzzle-loading shotgun, or muzzle-loading or cylinder-loading handgun that is designed to use blackpowder, blackpowder substitute, or any other propellant loaded through the muzzle, cylinder, or breech and that cannot use fixed ammunition.

OPENING WEEKEND TURKEY HUNT!!!! AFTERNOON TURKEY HUNTING IN NORTH CAROLINA!!!!

FAQ

Can you turkey hunt on Sunday in NC on private property?

On private lands: Hunters may hunt within 500 yards of a residence, potentially opening millions of acres of private land previously off-limits to Sunday hunters. Hunters may not hunt at any time on Sunday within 500 yards of a place of religious worship, nor hunt deer with the use of dogs.

What time can you hunt in NC on Sunday?

On Sundays the following apply: Hunting with firearms between 9:30 a.m.and 12:30 p.m. is prohibited except on controlled hunting preserves; Hunting migratory birds is prohibited; The use of firearms to take deer that are.

Can you hunt turkeys all day in NC?

Hunting times are 30 minutes before sunrise until 30 minutes after sunset. Turkeys may not be taken with the use of dogs or with a pistol or rifle. Turkeys may not be taken with the aid or use of bait (e.g., corn, bird seed, etc…) or within 300 yards or any area where bait has been placed.

How close to a house can you hunt?

Discharging a firearm (including a bow and arrow) is prohibited in or within 150 yards of a developed recreation site, a residence, or any place where people are likely to be. Shooting across bodies of water or a Forest Service road is prohibited. Shooting into or within any cave, mine or open shaft is prohibited.