North Carolina guide · last checked Oct 29, 2026
Public hunting land near Raleigh, North Carolina
Triangle-area public land shortlist—NC Wildlife Resources Commission game lands, Uwharrie National Forest and nearby refuges—with agency links.
Last checked Oct 29, 2026. Units below come from our PAD-US directory for North Carolina. PAD-US does not prove hunting is open. Confirm seasons, permits and access with North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the land manager before you hunt near Raleigh, North Carolina.
What “near Raleigh, North Carolina” means here
Raleigh hunters commonly use game lands such as Butner-Falls of Neuse, Chatham and others within a short drive, or push farther to Uwharrie National Forest. Units below are in our North Carolina directory.
Forests & grasslands
Forest Service and state forest units in our shortlist. Hunting rules come from the land manager plus a North Carolina hunting license—not from PAD-US alone.
- National Forest land
Uwharrie National Forest
51,868 acres
U.S. Forest Service (USDA) · Montgomery County, Randolph County + 1 more
Open access
Overview: U.S. Forest Service: hunting.
Wildlife management areas & game lands
State-managed units. Many need check-in, drawings or special permits—confirm on the agency page for each area.
- State wildlife / game area
Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Land
40,666 acres
Not recorded · Granville County, Durham County + 1 more
Open access - State wildlife / game area
Lee Game Land
1,392 acres
Not recorded · Lee County, Chatham County
Open access - State wildlife / game area
Shocco Creek Game Land
8,143 acres
Not recorded · Warren County, Halifax County + 2 more
Open access - State wildlife / game area
Sandy Creek Game Land
923 acres
Not recorded · Nash County, Franklin County
Open access - State wildlife / game area
Embro Game Land
8,869 acres
Not recorded · Warren County, Halifax County
Open access
National wildlife refuges
Refuge hunting, when offered, is often limited by season, unit or permit. Read the refuge page before you go.
- National Wildlife Refuge
Roanoke River National Wildlife Refuge
21,356 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Bertie County
Restricted access - National Wildlife Refuge
Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge
8,625 acres
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Anson County, Richmond County
Restricted access
How to use this guide with our directory
- Pick a named area below and open its page for acreage, counties, the PAD-US access tag, and nearby units.
- Follow the managing-agency link on that page (state wildlife agency, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, BLM, or Corps of Engineers).
- Buy the required state hunting license and any stamps/permits that agency lists for the species and land type.
- Confirm deer season dates for North Carolina if you are hunting deer in a verified state we cover.
- Recheck closures the week you go—fire restrictions, refuge hunt lotteries and WMA check-in rules change.
Agency hunting hub: North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Federal overviews: USFS hunting · FWS refuge hunting · Corps Lakes.
Common questions
Do I need a game land permit in North Carolina?
NCWRC sets game land permit and license rules. Read the current commission page for the land you plan to hunt.
Is Uwharrie close enough for a day hunt?
It is farther than the nearest game lands but still a common weekend destination from the Triangle. Check Forest Service and NCWRC rules.
Deer seasons?
See North Carolina deer season and NCWRC regulations.
Related guides
Not legal advice and not an official source. This independent site is not affiliated with any government agency. Season dates are copied from the agency pages linked above as of the “last checked” date and may have changed since. The agency’s current regulations are what count. Full disclaimer.