Carteret County, North Carolina
Unit info
- Game species
- White-tailed Deer, Wild Turkey, Waterfowl, Black Bear
- Group
- Piedmont
- Area
- N/A
- Public land
- N/A
Black Bear — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 52
Draw odds for Black Beararen't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
White-tailed Deer — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 944
Draw odds for White-tailed Deeraren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
Eastern Wild Turkey — season & harvest
- Reported harvest
- 171
Draw odds for Eastern Wild Turkeyaren't on file for this unit yet. Check your state wildlife agency website for current draw statistics.
Season & harvest data is published for Black Bear, White-tailed Deer, Eastern Wild Turkey so far. Wild Turkey, Waterfowl also occur here — that data can be added as the community contributes.
About this unit
AI-compiled · sourcedCarteret County commands the Crystal Coast from the Croatan National Forest interior to the Cape Lookout barrier islands, creating a uniquely coastal hunting experience that combines productive whitetail habitat with excellent turkey ground and serious waterfowl action. The Croatan National Forest — a coastal mosaic of longleaf pine, pocosin, and hardwood swamp — provides open public hunting access and sustains one of the highest documented black bear densities of any national forest in the eastern US. Winter waterfowl hunting on Core Sound and associated marshes rivals the best in North Carolina.
Low coastal terrain featuring Croatan NF longleaf pine-pocosin matrix, Core Sound marsh systems, tidal creeks, barrier island hammocks, and Newport River bottomlands.
Moderate — Croatan NF is well known among eastern NC hunters but the acreage keeps pressure manageable; barrier island access is self-limiting.
NC OTC statewide license; Croatan NF is open-access hunting under national forest rules with standard NC season frameworks.
Wild Turkey are abundant in Croatan NF longleaf savannas and hardwood creek corridors. Waterfowl hunting on Core Sound and Bogue Sound is exceptional during peak migration. Black bear numbers in Croatan NF are among the highest of any national forest in the East.
Croatan National Forest black bear hunting — a nationally recognized bear population in a coastal forest; Core Sound and Bogue Sound waterfowl hunting during winter migration.
Questions, tips & discussion
Ask anything about Carteret County— or drop a tip or trick: access points, where game holds, glassing spots, conditions, crowding, gear that worked. This is where the unit's species-specific intel gets built, hunter by hunter.
Nothing posted yet about Carteret County.
Be the first — ask a question (“Best public access on the north end?”) or share a tip (“Glass the burn scars off the main ridge at first light”).
Boundaries: NCWRC county-based deer management units. Community info last updated 15d ago.