Hunting in North Carolina: 6 Animals to Hunt in the Spring

While most hunting in North Carolina takes place in the fall and early winter months, there is also some hunting for those who prefer the springtime weather. Spring hunting in North Carolina offers a chance to take wild turkey and other smaller game animals.

Here are six animals that hunters in North Carolina can take during the spring, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission website.

Wild Turkeys

Wild turkey hunts take place during the spring in North Carolina. A statewide youth season for male or bearded turkeys takes place during the first part of April. The official wild turkey season opens after the youth season ends and runs through the beginning of May. There is a one turkey daily limit and a two turkey season limit. It is unlawful to use dogs, handguns, or rifles during spring wild turkey season.

Coyotes

Coyotes also are open for hunting in North Carolina during the spring. There is no bag limit and no closed season on taking a coyote. Coyotes can be hunted at day or night as they are considered an invasive species. However, there are some counties that do not allow coyote hunting at all.

Striped Skunks and Armadillos

There is no closed season or bag limit for hunting striped skunks or armadillos in North Carolina. Skunks in northern sections of the state are trapped for their fur, which is finer and the black color more intense.

Feral Swine

The feral swine is an invasive species in North Carolina, and the state encourages hunting the animals. Feral swine carry diseases, which they spread to other animals in the area, and they also destroy crops and more as they dig for food. A person must have a valid hunting license, but it is open season all year on these hogs, and there is no bag limit. Trapping of feral swine is legal, but the swine must be euthanized before being removed from the trap.

Foxes

There are two official fox hunting seasons in the fall and winter months, but hunting in North Carolina for fox can take place year-round. In the spring and summer, foxes must only be taken with dogs. There are some local laws concerning using dogs to hunt fox, and those can be found on the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission website. There are no limits to the number of fox taken.

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