Urban Archery: Backyard bowhunting for deer in North Carolina

As urban deer populations grow, more North Carolina cities are choosing to allow controlled archery hunting inside municipal limits. The 2026 Urban Archery Season runs January 10 through February 15 (archery only). 

Over 60 towns, cities, and municipalities are expected to participate in 2026 (this number fluctuates based on which towns file opt-in letters). Below is a practical guide for hunters who want to engage responsibly and legally.

What Is Urban Archery?

Urban archery is a special extension of the deer archery season, but only within participating municipalities. It is not statewide, only towns that file to participate may allow hunting within their corporate limits. The goals are reducing vehicle collisions, protecting landscapes, minimizing deer over-population, and giving landowners added options. 

Step-by-Step: How to Participate

1. Verify That Your Town Participates

Not all cities opt in each year. Below you can view a map that indicates which towns participated in the 2025 season. Check your town’s website or contact local offices to verify.

2. Acquire State Hunting Permits and Licenses

You still need all the standard NC hunting licenses and must follow state regulations (bow equipment rules, tagging/reporting, etc.). Make sure you’re current on deer harvest reporting (electronic or paper). 

3. Understand & Comply with Local Ordinances

Because each municipality can layer its own rules, this is the make-or-break step. Here are some representative examples:

Lenoir, NC

• Only archery allowed (no firearms) 

• Hunting only on private property, with written permission from the landowner, and no hunting on public lands. 

• No discharge within 100 ft of property line (a 100-ft “buffer”) 

• Minimum parcel size is 3 acres (or combined contiguous parcels with permission) 

• Must be 100 ft inside property line before shooting 

Indian Trail, NC

• Hunting prohibited on public (town) land. 

• Only on private land with permission. 

• All state hunting rules apply. 

Wake Forest, NC

• Private contiguous tracts of at least 5 acres required 

• Hunters must show written permission from all landowners 

• Arrows must be fired from at least 10 ft above ground, and toward the interior of the parcel 

• Cannot discharge a bow within 50 yards of a dwelling or roadway right-of-way 

• Also, cannot discharge within 100 yards of schools, churches, or town parks 

Norwood, NC

• During urban archery, only bow and arrow or crossbow allowed – no firearms. 

• Only on private land with written permission. 

• Hunters must follow all state and local rules including tagging/reporting and retrieval obligations. 

These are only sample municipalities. Your town may have additional or stricter rules (buffers from schools, roads, minimal distances, allowed parcels, elevation of stands, etc.). Always get the ordinance or local guidelines in writing.

4. Scout & Secure Land Access

Identify parcels meeting local size rules and with a safe shooting environment. Contact landowners well in advance. Get written, dated permission (within the last 12 months) and carry that permission when hunting. Ensure that your shooting direction is inward toward your parcel, not outward across property lines. Many towns require that arrows remain within the parcel. Respect buffers (no shooting within X yards of dwellings, roads, churches, parks, etc.).

FREE SAMPLE: NC Urban Archery Landowner Permission Letter

Sign up below to download a free resource to help you get access to outdoor experiences, even in an urban context. The document was developed with NC regulations in mind.

5. Safety, Shooting Ethics & Tracking

Know your target and what lies beyond it – residential areas, roads, pets, etc. Use elevated stands or blinds when allowed. Some municipalities specify a minimum elevation above ground (e.g. 10 ft or more). Use proper arrowhead design (broadheads) consistent with state regulations. If you wound a deer, make every effort to track and recover it. Leaving carcasses or parts is usually prohibited. 

6. Tagging, Reporting & Processing

Tag the deer per state law before moving it. Report your harvest via the proper NC channels (online or phone). Respect any municipal requirements about carcass removal (some towns may require prompt removal from properties).

Bonus Tips for Bagging Your Limit … Within City Limits

• Scouting is everything. Use trail cams, look for deer sign (rub lines, trails, browse, scrapes) prior to the season.

• Hunt during low-traffic hours. Early morning and late afternoons tend to be safer and more effective.

• Sound control is critical. Use muffled or suppressed movement, quiet entry/exit, and approach downwind when possible.

• Be conservative with shot opportunities. A bad shot in a residential setting can lead to accidents or legal trouble.

• Stay up to date on changes. Municipalities may adjust their ordinances, buffer zones, or approved zones from year to year.

• Educate neighbors. Communicate your intentions where appropriate (without disclosing locations) to build goodwill and reduce the risk of complaints.