Youth under age 16 are exempt from the requirements of a basic inland fishing license and trout privilege license. Youth who have obtained a Certificate of Competency, may hunt without being accompanied by an adult, but must carry their certificate while hunting.

Fishing Licenses

Anglers in North Carolina must purchase a fishing license before casting their line. There are different permits for freshwater and saltwater fishing, referred to as Inland and Coastal licenses by the state DNR. 1, 1953, are eligible to purchase a senior lifetime license when they turn 70 years of age.

Currently, under a legal precedent known as the “open fields doctrine,” law enforcement may generally enter private land adjacent to public land without a warrant in their investigations. Jarchow, an attorney by trade, said allowing wardens on private property without reason is unconstitutional.

Since 1868, hunting on Sundays has been prohibited by State law. However, in 2015, the Outdoor Heritage Act of 2015 was passed, removing the absolute prohibition on hunting with firearms on Sunday in North Carolina.

Squirrels can be taken during the established hunting season with a valid state hunting license. A landowner would not need to purchase a license to hunt on their own property. Squirrels can be relocated, but it must be onto private property with the permission of the landowner.

How many deer can you kill in NC? The season and possession bag limit is six deer, two of which may be antlered, and four of which may be antlerless.

A landowner or person leasing land primarily for cultivation, their spouse, and dependents under 18 residing with them, may hunt, trap and fish on such land without a license.