Hunting

The Uwharrie National Forest is part of the 2 million acres of public lands managed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for public hunting, trapping and fishing, and are designated as Game Lands. In addition to the appropriate basic annual hunting license, a Game Lands Privilege license must be obtained to hunt on the Uwharrie National Forest. Information concerning seasons, bag limits, and special Game Lands Restrictions are found in the annual N.C. Inlands Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest, available where licenses are sold.

Deer Hunting

Just a few years past, the Uwharrie Game Lands boasted the largest deer kill of any of the game lands in North Carolina. Today that is not true, but deer hunting is still a big tradition on the Uwharries. It has not always been that way. Back in the 1930’s deer were scarce in this area. Thanks to the local wildlife commission and past Forest Service employees, a stocking program was begun around 1944 that brought deer from the mountains of western North Carolina to the Uwharrie Game Lands. Today there is an estimated 2.5 deer per square mile on this public hunting land in the middle of the North Carolina Piedmont.

Every hunt begins with pre-season scouting and part of that is becoming familiar with your hunting area. General location maps are available at the Uwharrie Ranger Station in Troy and local country stores. A Game Lands Map Book, a companion book to the Regulations Digest, can be obtained at locations were hunting licenses are sold. For a more detailed map, USGS topographic maps may be purchased at the Ranger Station.

For hunters who like easy access to their hunting site, the “Uwharrie Reservation” off Hwy 109N offers ready access to 25 miles of open Forest Service roads.  This popular hunting area between Badin Lake and Hwy 109N draws a big crowd on opening day. Several developed campgrounds are available within the “reservation” and undeveloped roadside camping sites are plentiful.

For those hunters liking solitude, other areas such as Wood Run, Morris Mountain, Dark Mountain, and Pekin provide some limited access on public roads but all Forest Service roads remain closed to vehicular traffic. These areas are accessible by foot or the use of mountain bikes on gravel Forest Service roads.

Hunters wanting a “far off the road” hunt should try the Birkhead Mountain Wilderness, located along Lassiter Mill Road south of Asheboro. Being a Wilderness, this is strictly a walk-in hunting experience. Plenty of deer inhabit the older hardwood forests, but if successful, you will face the challenge of dragging your deer from deep in the forest. No wheeled devices are permitted in the Wilderness.

Some Do’s and Don’ts:

Be safe; Wear Hunter Orange.

Be sure of your target.

Use maps and compass to keep your location.

Carry a survival pack anytime you enter the forest.

Hunt with a friend.

Baiting is not permitted on Game Lands.

Hunting deer with dogs is not permitted on the Uwharrie Game Lands.

Turkey Hunting

Deer are not the only big game animal on the Uwharrie Game Lands. Following years of restoration work by the NCWRC biologists and the National Wild Turkey Federation, populations of Wild Turkey have reached huntable levels. Turkeys were live-trapped in other states and from other parts of North Carolina and released in restoration areas on the forest. Through a combination of stocking, closed turkey hunting seasons, and habitat improvement work, turkeys have now returned in great numbers to their former range. Mike Seamster, NCWRC restoration leader, estimates there are 100,000 turkeys in North Carolina. 

Spring turkey season is open from early April to mid-May for “bearded turkey” only. Exact dates for turkey season may be found in the Regulations Digest provided with your license. In the spring of 2000, hunters harvested 52 turkeys on the Uwharrie Game Lands. Many turkey hunters pursue their quarry on the Uwharries, so please be courteous to your fellow hunters and hunt ethically.

Small Game

Squirrels are plentiful in the hardwood and mixed hardwood/pine forests that predominate the northern half of the forest. Look for them along the ridge tops.

Rabbits can be found near planted wildlife openings and recently harvested areas. Dogs are permitted for rabbit hunting. 

Dove also like large expanses of open land; so they too can be found near planted openings and recently harvested areas, especially if planted with some type of seed producing plants. The NCWRC folks do plant several fields on the forest to attract dove. Some of these areas are near private residences, so hunters must be very cautious of their shooting direction. Observe safety zone signs.

Raccoons can be located near the numerous stream bottoms on the forest.   

Quail are scarce but may be found near the larger, planted wildlife openings and recently harvested areas with plenty of grass cover. Quail Unlimited is trying to improve the habitat for quail on the recently purchased 150 acre "Thornburg Farm” near the Birkhead Mountains Wilderness.

Waterfowl Hunting

Waterfowl hunting on the Uwharrie National Forest is confined to the shores of Badin Lake, Uwharrie River, and the Little River areas. Ducks are not plentiful anywhere, since the Uwharrie National Forest is not located on a major waterfowl flyway. Mallards, black ducks, pintails, and wood ducks can be found on Badin Lake. Wood Ducks can be found while floating the Uwharrie and Little Rivers.  

Besides the state licenses required for waterfowl hunting, you also must possess a current year Federal Duck Stamp and abide by special regulations for hunting migratory birds. Failure to conform to all the regulations could result in state and federal fines being levied.              

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UWHARRIE NATIONAL FOREST
NORTH CAROLINA