Croatan national forest game lands

In the past, the Forest Service has considered opening a firing range in the Croatan, however, there are no current plans. While the Wildlife Commission promotes shooting sports and receives income from taxes levied on the sale of guns and ammunition, its mission also includes protecting threatened and endangered wildlife. That, too, has been impacted at some shooting sites in the Croatan and throughout game lands.

Environmental hazards aside, land managers are particularly worried that a stray bullet may one day harm a human being. Kincaid said education may be helpful in taming the problem, but he discourages approaching anyone with a loaded weapon. While most gun and shooting enthusiasts are safe and law-abiding, he said, the reckless behavior may be the result of a small minority.

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Due to Croatan's terrain travel can be tough in areas but is well worth the trip. There are also very good fishing opportunities. Facilities for camping, hiking, and canoeing are broadly offered and well maintained. The Sandhills Game Land is a very special land to many hunters.

There is good, but relatively high pressured, deer hunting. Last edited: Sep 15, Smitty has great advice but do be aware that deer are generally small in that part of the state.

For a few years in the 90's I deer hunted at a private club located in the Croatan and over the seasons the largest bodied buck I harvested on the 18, acres of the club was around almost a club record for weight with the average being much smaller. For does the club rules was they should be 60 some odd pounds or larger to be fair game which is proof of the smaller deer in the coastal plain.

Stillhunter Four Pointer. It's not what you think of as a game land. Far from it. There are some nice deer taken near the Brice's Creek end every year. Most of the woods are cut up in blocks some have good road system. There is a lot of vehicle traffic in and out of the game land as well as a major road that hundreds of people travel everyday from Jones and Craven County. If you are dead set on hunting there, hunt the boundaries in and around the game land that has limited access by others.

There is also a power line that crosses the eastern side that a lot of people hunt. Looks like a pumpkin patch with all the orange hats down it. If its any indication it's in my county and we don't go there.

Be careful if you do go lots of snakes and a lot of bears. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Ldsoldier Old Mossy Horns. North Carolina Quail Hunting Forecast Quail Forever. Quail Hunting Forecast. Declining habitat negatively affects quail numbers in North Carolina, but those who are willing to work to find quality cover can still find birds By Curtis Niedermier Habitat loss has taken its toll on bobwhite quail in North Carolina, but the birds are still there in areas where good habitat exists.

Quail Forever member involvement in these key areas is critical for executing local projects to improve on current conditions. We estimate that we have approximately 5, hunters that make at least one hunting trip for wild quail each year.