Neuse River Game Land: hunting rules, deer harvest and access
Neuse River Game Land is 5,965 acres of public hunting land in Craven County, a Six Days per Week area by NCWRC's rule for it. Hunters reported 51 deer on it in the 2025-26 season, 24 antlered bucks among them (NCWRC). NC Wildlife Resources Commission owns nearly all of it.
Data updated October 2026. Rules: 15A NCAC 10D as NCWRC adopted it. Harvest: NCWRC's game land reports, 2023-24 to 2025-26. Seasons: NCWRC's 2026-27 dates.
Neuse River Game LandOther NCWRC game landsLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 5,965 acres (NCWRC) |
|---|---|
| County | Craven County |
| Hunting days | Six Days per Week Area |
| Owner | NC Wildlife Resources Commission (5,965 acres) |
| Deer reported, 2025-26 | 51 (24 antlered bucks, 24 does) |
| Target shooting | Not prohibited on 5,965 acres, by NCWRC's tract data; posted rules apply |
| Nearest towns | Bridgeton (next to it), New Bern (3 mi) and Vanceboro (4 mi) |
What are the rules on Neuse River Game Land?
Six Days per Week Area: Hunting Monday through Saturday during the open seasons.
- Neuse River game land is a Six Days per Week Area, in which the following applies:
- (1) Deer of either sex may be taken all the open days of the applicable Deer With Visible Antlers Season.
- (2) Camping is allowed any time within 100 yards of the Neuse River on that portion of the game land that lies west of NC-43.
Source: 15A NCAC 10D .0253, in effect since November 1, 2022. Game land rules apply on top of the county's season dates.
How many deer are taken on Neuse River Game Land?
NCWRC reports 51 deer on Neuse River Game Land in the 2025-26 season. That compares with 46 in 2024-25 and 53 in 2023-24.
| Season | Deer reported | Antlered bucks | Antlerless males | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 51 | 24 | 3 | 24 |
| 2024-25 | 46 | 19 | 5 | 22 |
| 2023-24 | 53 | 22 | 4 | 27 |
Source: NCWRC reported deer harvest by game land, 2023-24 to 2025-26; NCWRC 2024-25 deer harvest by game land; NCWRC 2023-24 deer harvest by game land. NCWRC's 2023-24 report calls antlerless males button bucks.
Who owns Neuse River Game Land?
Game lands are owned by NCWRC or by partners who open their land to public hunting under NCWRC's rules. NCWRC's tract data for Neuse River Game Land (8 named tracts):
| Owner | Acres |
|---|---|
| NC Wildlife Resources Commission | 5,965 |
Source: NCWRC game land tracts.
Which county is Neuse River Game Land in?
| County | Acres of the game land in it | Deer season zone | Gun season opens, 2026 | County deer, 2025-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craven County | 5,947 | Southeastern | Oct. 17 | 3,034 |
Acres measured by FilledTag on NCWRC game land boundaries and the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries. Zones and dates: NCWRC hunting and trapping season dates, 2026-27. County harvest: NCWRC 2025-26 reported deer harvest by county.
How do you get to Neuse River Game Land?
Highways within 5 miles: NC 55, US 17, US 70 and NC 43. Nearest towns: Bridgeton (next to it), New Bern (3 miles), Vanceboro (4 miles) and Trent Woods (5 miles).
The closest other game lands with a page here: Croatan Game Land (3.1 miles), Dover Bay Game Land (4.9 miles), Light Ground Pocosin Game Land (8.9 miles) and Goose Creek Game Land (13.9 miles).
On Sundays on game lands, firearm hunting is not allowed between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., deer may not be taken with a firearm while being chased by dogs, and migratory game birds may not be hunted (15A NCAC 10D .0103).
Questions hunters ask
What days can you hunt Neuse River Game Land?
Neuse River Game Land is a Six Days per Week Area (15A NCAC 10D .0253). Hunting Monday through Saturday during the open seasons.
How many deer are killed on Neuse River Game Land?
NCWRC reports 51 deer taken on Neuse River Game Land in the 2025-26 season: 24 antlered bucks, 3 antlerless males and 24 does. The two seasons before: 46 in 2024-25 and 53 in 2023-24.
What county is Neuse River Game Land in?
All of it is in Craven County, by NCWRC's boundary.
When is deer gun season on Neuse River Game Land in 2026-27?
The county's zone sets the dates: Craven County (Southeastern zone) opens gun season Oct. 17, and it runs to January 1, 2027 (NCWRC 2026-27 season dates). The game land's hunting days still apply.
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Where these numbers come from
- Game land rules: NCWRC game land rules, 15A NCAC 10D. Designations, owners and tracts: NCWRC game land tracts.
- Deer harvest on the game land: NCWRC reported deer harvest by game land, 2023-24 to 2025-26. County harvest: NCWRC 2025-26 reported deer harvest by county.
- Boundary: NCWRC game land boundaries. Counties, highways and towns: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries; U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line 2024 roads; U.S. Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer. National forest and refuges: U.S. Forest Service national forest ownership; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuge boundaries.
FilledTag is not part of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Numbers are copied from NCWRC or measured from public maps; nothing on this page is estimated by FilledTag.
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