From the coastal plains to the mountain valleys, feral hogs are now a permanent part of North Carolina’s landscape. Once limited to isolated populations, these invasive animals have expanded rapidly — rooting through crops, tearing up forests, and threatening native wildlife, which is why hog hunting has become increasingly common across the state.
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) classifies feral swine as nuisance, nongame animals — which means landowners can remove them year-round without bag limits. But while hunting is legal and popular, it’s often ineffective at controlling entire sounders.
This guide breaks down North Carolina’s 2025 hog-hunting laws, license requirements, and land-access rules, and explains why trapping — not hunting — remains the only proven way to reduce populations long-term.
If you’re dealing with hog damage in crops, pastures, or timberland, this article will show you how to stay compliant while trapping smarter using systems like the Boar Blanket Wild Hog Trap.
Feral Hogs in North Carolina: Growing Range and Impact
According to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission, feral hog populations now exist in more than 80 counties, with the highest concentrations in the Coastal Plain, Sandhills, and Piedmont regions.
Each year, wild hogs cause an estimated $30–50 million in agricultural and environmental damage, uprooting corn, peanuts, and soybeans, and degrading wetland ecosystems that deer, turkey, and waterfowl depend on.
“Feral swine are one of the most destructive invasive species we manage,” notes NCWRC biologist Colleen Olfenbuttel. “Hunting can help, but trapping entire sounders is the only way to truly reduce numbers.”
North Carolina Hog Hunting Laws (2025 Overview)
The NCWRC allows feral-hog hunting year-round, day or night, on both private and some public lands — but rules vary depending on property type.
Private Land Regulations
- No closed season or bag limit.
- Landowner permission required for all hunters.
- Night hunting permitted with artificial lights or night vision.
- Suppressors are legal for feral hog hunting.
- Trapping is permitted year-round with landowner consent.
Public Land Regulations
- Hog hunting is allowed only during open seasons for other game species (e.g., deer or small game).
- All hunters must hold a valid North Carolina hunting license and Game Lands Use Permit.
- Baiting is prohibited on public game lands.
- Trapping on public land requires written authorization from the NCWRC and daily trap checks.
You can view official rules on the NC Wildlife Resources Commission Hog Management Page
Required Licenses & Permits
| Activity | License Type | Cost (Resident) |
| Hog Hunting (Private Land) | None required | $0 |
| Hog Hunting (Public Land) | Hunting License + Game Lands Use Permit | ~$36 total |
| Trapping (Private Land) | None (landowner exemption) | $0 |
| Trapping (Commercial/Public) | Trapping License | $32 |
| Out-of-State Hunters | Big Game License | $80–$125 |
North Carolina keeps the process intentionally simple for landowners — encouraging trapping over constant hunting pressure.
Why Hog Hunting Alone Doesn’t Work
While hunting is legal and can temporarily reduce numbers, it rarely eliminates entire sounders.
Feral hogs are highly intelligent and learn quickly — once pressured, they go nocturnal, scatter, and become harder to catch.
Problems with hunting-based control:
- Only removes a few hogs per outing.
- Causes surviving hogs to relocate and reproduce faster.
- Makes future trapping more difficult due to avoidance behavior.
In contrast, trapping targets complete sounder removal — a strategy proven effective by NCWRC field studies and USDA Wildlife Services programs.
Learn more in How Whole-Sounder Trapping Works — The Most Effective Strategy for Controlling Feral Hogs.
Trapping vs. Hog Hunting: North Carolina Terrain Advantage
| Method | Advantages | Limitations |
| Hunting | Flexible, recreational, immediate results | Doesn’t reduce population; hogs adapt quickly |
| Cage Trapping | Durable, reusable | Heavy, hard to level in Sandhills and Piedmont soils |
| Drop Gates | Remote monitoring | Require cell signal and power; costly |
| Boar Blanket Net Trap | Silent, lightweight, no power required | Must be staked properly in sandy or rocky soil |
North Carolina’s coastal sandhills and clay foothills make large steel traps hard to deploy.
The Boar Blanket Wild Hog Trap performs where others fail — laying flat across uneven or soft terrain and capturing entire sounders passively.
Public-Land Access & Private-Land Best Practices
Public Land:
- Obtain and carry your Game Lands Use Permit at all times.
- Follow local firearm restrictions; night hunting prohibited in most Game Lands.
- Check traps every 24 hours and remove any captured hogs humanely.
Private Land:
- Trap year-round; no permit required.
- Keep bait contained and minimize non-target attraction.
- Use camera monitoring if possible, but Boar Blanket does not require signal or power — ideal for remote farms.
Many North Carolina landowners now use Boar Blanket traps in agricultural transition zones — corn, peanuts, and timber edges — where soil shifts and slope variation make cage traps unreliable.
Regional Hotspots for Hog Activity
| Region | Counties Affected | Key Notes |
| Coastal Plain | Duplin, Pender, Bladen | Floodplains and river bottoms with dense sounders |
| Sandhills | Moore, Richmond, Scotland | Light, sandy soils ideal for portable traps |
| Piedmont | Rowan, Stanly, Montgomery | Mixed ag and woodland; hogs move along creek systems |
| Western Foothills | Burke, Caldwell | Emerging populations; ideal for early trapping efforts |
FAQs
Can I trap hogs on my own property without a license?
Yes. Private landowners can trap feral swine year-round without permits.
Do I need a license to hunt hogs at night?
Only on public land. Private property night hunting is allowed with permission.
Are electronic or cell-activated traps legal?
Yes, but they must comply with animal welfare and property-access regulations.
Final Takeaway
Feral hogs are now one of the biggest threats to North Carolina’s farmlands and forests — and hunting alone won’t stop them. The most successful landowners across the Sandhills and Coastal Plain are switching to passive, net-based trapping systems that work quietly and continuously.
The Boar Blanket Wild Hog Trap combines portability, silence, and simplicity — no power, signal, or crew required. Designed for the Southeast’s variable terrain, it’s the practical solution that aligns with NCWRC-approved best practices for humane, whole-sounder removal.
Smarter trapping. Cleaner land. Fewer hogs — for good.
See how it performs in the Boar Blanket Case Study or explore other guides on the Boar Blanket Blog.