15A NCAC 10D .0271      SANDHILLS GAME LAND IN HOKE, MOORE, RICHMOND, AND SCOTLAND COUNTIES

Sandhills game land is a Three Days per Week Area, in which the following applies:

(1)           Hunting is prohibited on the J. Robert Gordon Field Trial Grounds from the Wednesday on or nearest October 18 through March 31 except as follows:

(a)           Antlered or antlerless deer may be taken with archery equipment on the open days of the archery season through the fourth Friday before Thanksgiving Day; with blackpowder firearms and archery equipment the open days of the blackpowder firearms season through the third Wednesday before Thanksgiving Day; and only deer with visible antlers may be taken with all lawful weapons from the second Saturday before Thanksgiving Day through the Saturday following Thanksgiving Day;

(b)           dove may be taken on open days from the opening day of the dove season through the third Saturday thereafter;

(c)           gray and fox squirrel may be taken on open days from the second Saturday before Thanksgiving Day through the Saturday following Thanksgiving Day;

(d)           rabbit may be taken on open days from the second Saturday preceding Thanksgiving Day through the Saturday following Thanksgiving Day;

(e)           waterfowl may be taken on open days during waterfowl season;

(f)            wild animals and wild birds may be taken as part of a Disabled Sportsmen Program Permit Hunt; and

(g)           raccoon and opossum may be taken on open days from sunrise Monday on or nearest October 15 through the last day of February.

(2)           The Deer With Visible Antlers season is the open hunting days from the second Saturday before Thanksgiving Day through the third Saturday after Thanksgiving Day except on the J. Robert Gordon Field Trial Grounds.

(3)           The archery season is on open days from the Saturday on or nearest to September 10 to the fourth Friday before Thanksgiving Day and, except on the J. Robert Gordon Field Trial Grounds, the third Monday after Thanksgiving Day through January 1. Antlered or antlerless deer may be taken with archery equipment on open hunting days during the archery season, by permit during the Deer with Visible antlers season, and the blackpowder firearms season as stated in this Subparagraph. Only deer with visible antlers may be taken from the third Monday after Thanksgiving Day through January 1.

(4)           Blackpowder firearms season is the open days from the fourth Saturday preceding Thanksgiving Day through the Wednesday of the second week thereafter and, except on the J. Robert Gordon Field Trial Grounds, the third Monday after Thanksgiving Day through January 1. Antlered or antlerless deer may be taken with blackpowder firearms on open hunting days during the blackpowder firearms season. Only deer with visible antlers may be taken from the third Monday after Thanksgiving Day through January 1.

(5)           Antlered and antlerless deer hunting during the All Lawful Weapons Season for Deer With Visible Antlers is by permit only.

(6)           In addition to the regular hunting days, waterfowl may be taken on the opening and closing days of the applicable waterfowl seasons.

(7)           Wild turkey hunting is by permit only.

(8)           Horseback riding on field trial grounds from the Wednesday on or nearest October 18 through March 31 is prohibited unless participating in authorized field trials. Horseback riding is allowed on the remainder of the Sandhills Game Land seven days per week on roads that are open to vehicular traffic and gated roads and trails posted for equestrian use.

(9)           Camping is restricted to September 1 through the last day of February and March 31 through May 14.

(10)         Target shooting is prohibited, except at the John F. Lentz Hunter Education Complex.

(11)         Swimming is prohibited in the lakes.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-264; 113-291.2; 113-291.5; 113-296; 113-305;

Eff. October 1, 2022;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2023.