???? North Carolina east coast bear hunting

[RIng]

Hi I am interested in hunting the North Carolina east coast marches for bear . I have found little info. but not much . Is there public land ? Is there private land that can be accessed ?  Do you have any experience with hunting them ? It is my understanding that there are big bear and a expanding population . Thank You Rick

[OBXarcher]

Lived in kitty hawk for years.

Lots of public land with huge bears. Not bow friendly. Long shots down swamp roads. Get off the road and it is thick and you'll sink to your waste. Farmer complain about bears but won't give permission to hunt.

[Tom]

Don't want to hijack this thread but next June am going to Outer Bamks with the family. Am not a beach person but want to do a hog hunt if possible while there. Can anyone help with info on pigs near the outer banks. Thanks in advance.

[JARHEAD1371]

This is for both RIng and Tom. I have lived in several states, NC now twice, and this area is the toughest I have found to gain access to hunting land. That is, without paying some big $ (sometimes several thousand per year) to belong to a hunting club. Luckily I have access to hunt a couple Marine Corps bases in the area that have some good opportunities. I have talked with dozens of farmers about hunting deer and wild hogs on their land with most complaining about the animal destruction, but none willing to give access. Most farms had some type of water, creeks and/or ponds, and the farmer wouldn't even give me permission to fish. I have talked with farmers even as far as an hour drive from my house, all with the same answer.
Good luck to both of you.

[Scott E]

Sounds like a unique place to hunt bears. Too bad about the land owners though. I have the same thin here with deer. Lots of people,complaining about them but no one wants you to hunt them on their land. They would rather spend thousands on deer fences    

[J-dog]

Where are you planning to go? If you come down around the New Bern area there are game lands to hunt and plenty of bears, I see several 4, 5, 600 lbers killed every yr run with dogs. Walk any of the field edges and see some monster tracks.

Now with a bow? I been hunting good areas that I know like the back of my hand and it is just tough. The woods are thick to say the least, deer dogs being run, just a tough hunt. If the fields are mainly corn as this yr the bears will be on the fields, if not corn then they are deep looking mast.

The north east corner of. NC has huge bears a a well but it is mainly a private land thing, not much access at all.

Hogs are spotty but getting around - some in the upper north east and now getting good in the southeastern area too, Brunswick county and all.

Pm if you want some more specifics. Help any way I can if you want to give it a go. See if I can dig up some trail cam pics later.

Jason

[hvyhitter]

Croatan national forrest........Big bears, some pigs, some deer, really thick swamps, lots of squirrels, lots and lots of venomous snakes, carry a real compass and map, watch where you step/sit ............some of my most memorable hunts 20 yrs ago when first went back to trad.......... Part used to be bear "sancturary" so check your maps...........

[J-dog]

Hey Hhitter still is  bear sanctuary in those areas!! Got to cross the railroad tracks near Stella. Yeah Croatan can be fun, also a jungle. Was in the Croatan yesterday. The areas I was referencing in my earlier post are all Croatan too.

[J-dog]

 

Hope this works - and is to admin size limits????

Old pic but just a brute bear - Wish I could get an eye on him during season !!

and I'll add I hope he runs to the nearest rd and dies where I can get a truck to -

[Casper]

depending on what county you want to hunt there is a lot of public land but during bear seasons they get over ran with hunters, specially Tyrrell County an Hyde County  and Gates County