Currituck County rose to fame as a vacation destination in the early 1900s because of its exceptional duck and waterfowl hunting, and off-season visitors will find ample opportunities to enjoy these same fantastic hunting conditions today.

Before you go, be sure to brush up on the following information regarding permits, applications, seasons, and bag limits, to ensure a good (and completely legal) time.

Where to Hunt

The bulk of hunting in Currituck County takes place along or in the Currituck Sound. On the mainland, hunters can explore the Hog Quarter Landing off of Spot Road, or the regions near Piney Island and the adjacent Church Island. All of these regions are located just off of US 158 and are easily accessible.

The Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge, a very popular hunting destination, can be accessed by driving down from the state of Virginia or by taking the 45 minute free Knotts Island Ferry, which departs daily 4-6 times per day from the town of Currituck. Note that the Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge is generally open for hunters from 5:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. in season.

On the beaches, the best hunting is within the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge, which is divided into four distinct units: the South Marsh Unit, the Swan Landing Unit, the Station Landing Unit and the Currituck Marsh Unit.

  • The South Marsh Unit is located at the southern edge of the refuge, close to the town borders of Corolla. This region includes several marshy islands in the sound.
  • The Swan Landing Unit is located in the center of the refuge and is one of the larger on-land parcels. Though it borders the sound, there are a limited number of outlaying islands for duck blinds or concealed skiffs.
  • The Station Landing Unit is the smallest parcel of terrain and is located close to the residential area of Carova.
  • The Currituck Marsh Unit is almost strictly comprises of islands, which are among the largest in the region and border both the barrier island as well as the Mackay National Wildlife Refuge.

Please note that a boat or a 4WD vehicle is required to access the majority of the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge.

A complete map of the region, provided by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) can be found online at http://www.ncwildlife.org/Portals/0/Hunting/GameLand_Maps/Coastal/Currituck_Banks.pdf/.

The Geography of Currituck County Hunting Grounds

Big and small game hunters will want to stick to the wooded areas - of which there are many, both within the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge and the Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge. These regions are large parcels of maritime forest that are thick with cedars, live oaks, pines, and other evergreen trees, and while there are a handful of rustic nature trails throughout both refuges, the terrain is rugged.

Waterfowl hunters will want to head to the Currituck Sound. A series of marshy islands can be found throughout the sound, (close to both refuges), and the mainland borders miles of open water for easier-to-navigate terrain.

What to Hunt in Currituck County

Currituck County is best known for duck hunting, and a number of species can be targeted in the area including teal, pintails, mallards, black ducks, blackheads, ruddy ducks, buffleheads, canvasbacks, and redheads. Ducks are best found in various water-based habitats in the county, from open water regions to marsh estuaries and grassy flats.

Small and big game hunting is also popular in the county, particularly in the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge. Deer, feral pigs, squirrels, rabbits, and other smaller species can often be found, especially in the densely wooded regions.

Hunting Seasons, Rules and Regulations.

Currituck County is unique in that its hunting is regulated by both the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) as well as the Currituck Game Commission.

As a result, hunters will want to keep the following regulations and rules in mind when visiting Currituck County.

  • A NCWRC Hunting License is required to hunt in Currituck County. This license can be picked up at the Outer Banks Center for Education in Corolla, (next to the Whalehead in Historic Corolla), or can be purchased online at http://www.ncwildlife.org/Hunting.aspx.
  • Seasons vary from year to year, but mainly fall between the months of October through January. Seasons also vary by species, and hunters can find an updated schedule on the NCWRC's website at http://www.ncwildlife.org/Hunting/SeasonsLimits.aspx.
  • A special blind license is required to construct and / or use a duck blink in Currituck County. Blind permits are administered and granted by the Currituck Game Commission, and complete information on rules regarding duck blinds, as well as forms for new applicants, can be found online at http://www.currituckgamecommission.org/commissionrmit may be required to hunt in the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge, and can be obtained via mail or in person at the Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor's Center on Knott's Island. Information on obtaining a permit, as well as associated fees and a printable application, can also be found online at http://www.fws.gov/Currituck/BigGameApp.html.
  • A deer hunting permit may be required to hunt in the Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge. The permit can be found online at http://www.fws.gov/southeast/pubs/mckhnt.pdf, and more regulation-specific information can be found online at http://www.fws.gov/Mackayisland/reg.html.

Regardless of where a hunter explores in Currituck County, the following guidelines generally apply throughout the area, and in both National Wildlife Refuges.

  • While 4WD vehicles are often required to access certain hunting grounds, use of ATV's and any other unlicensed and unregistered vehicles are prohibited.
  • Hunting is not allowed outside designated areas, or within 300' feet of the refuge office(s.)
  • Carrying a loaded firearm or bow on or within 50' feet of gravel roads is prohibited.
  • Shooting from a vehicle or shooting on or across roads or roadways is prohibited.
  • Alcoholic beverages are generally not allowed within the refuge and hunting areas.
  • Hunters may not camp or leave a portable stand out overnight in the refuges.
  • Hunters may not dump animal parts within 100' feet of roads, wetlands and waterways.
  • Blazing, or marking trees and vegetation with flags or other markers, is prohibited.
  • All hunters must wear blaze orange.
  • All hunters are subject to inspections of permits, licenses, tags, hunting equipment, bag limits, boats, vehicles, and their contents during compliance checks by Refuge Officers, North Carolina Wildlife Officers, and any state or local law enforcement officer.

For a complete list of laws as well as current bag limits by species, visit the NCWRC website at http://www.ncwildlife.org/Hunting/LawsSafety.aspx.

Hunting Guide Services

Currituck's tourism economy was initially built on the income produced by local hunting guides, and there are still a number of hunting guide services that serve the waterfront regions of Currituck County.

Hunters can typically book a half-day or full-day trip, and prices vary both by the length of the excursion, as well as the type of game.

For example, waterfowl hunting and boating trips tend to be more expensive, due to the extra costs of gas, wear and tear, and general boat maintenance.

Advanced reservations are required, and most guide services can cater to parties of 1-6 hunters. A sample of the hunting guide services in Currituck County is listed below.

  • Fourth Generation Outfitters of North Carolina - 252-453-8243 or 252-619-2880
  • Franks Guide Service of Walnut Island Sports Center - 252-453-2261
  • Cutawhiskie Creek Outfitters - 252-333-2279
  • East Coast Charters - 252-714-1467
  • Monquin Creek Outfitters - 804-337-8247
  • River To Woods Guide Service - 919-201-8054
  • Lonely Pines Hunt Club - 252-207-3272

 

Brindley Beach Vacations

Brindley Beach Vacations

Brindley Beach Vacations offers premier real estate and property management services on the entire Outer Banks. Representing more than 600 vacation rental homes, Brindley Beach caters to all regions from the south beaches of Hatteras Island, Frisco, Buxton, Avon, Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, to Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk and north to Southern Shores, Duck, and Corolla, as well as the 4WD area of Carova Beach. As a result, vacationers will find a wide range of homes or lots to choose from, from sunny condos with a host of amenities to massive sandcastles on the edge of the beach.

The Cotton Gin

The Cotton Gin

For those traveling to the Outer Banks, The Cotton Gin is a beloved landmark with its large windmill and picturesque gardens. The Cotton Gin has stood in the same location since 1929, starting as a working cotton gin and growing to a gift store with 4 locations. Visitors are treated to a unique shopping experience in our main store in Jarvisburg, as well as our beach stores in Corolla, Duck, and Nags Head. Explore room after room filled with décor for your home and coastal fashions for both men and women. Discover the brands you really want, like, Vera Bradley, Vineyard Vines, La Mer Luex, Simply Southern, Lindsay Phillips, Scout, Pandora, Kameleon, Brighton, Spartina, Tommy Bahama, Southern Tide and Salt Life and Old Guys Rule - all under one roof!

 

Don’t forget the gourmet market, or shop our beautiful linens for your bedroom and bath. We also feature coastal books and fine art, or just a whimsical fun gift to bring home to family and friends. Stop by soon and don’t forget to try our estate grown wines in our stores or visit our vineyard and winery, Sanctuary Vineyards, located adjacent to the original Cotton Gin in Jarvisburg.

 

Most know The Cotton Gin as a must-stop shop for fine gifts, beachwear, souvenirs and so much more, but this retailer has a long-standing history within the Outer Banks. A local landmark that holds almost a century of memories, The Cotton Gin started from humble beginnings and continues to adapt to the times and tourists. Tommy Wright’s family has been in the Outer Banks for nearly 200 years. His great-great grandfather, Jacob Francis Wright, shipwrecked in Duck back in the early 1800s. Calling these barrier islands his new home, Wright and his family acclimated to their new environment.

 

Adaptation is a common theme for the Wright family. Tommy and his wife Candace, who continue to steer The Cotton Gin, have seen not only their business change with the times, but the Outer Banks as a vacation destination as well. A farm market in Jarvisburg eventually transformed and flourished into several retail locations dotting the Outer Banks.

 

“As the area changed and tourism took off in the 1960s, the family saw people coming for vacations, so they began to grow vegetables and things developed from there,” says Tommy Wright. The Wright family expanded upon the farm market and began to remodel a working cotton gin, later transforming the gin into The Cotton Gin general store in the late 1960s. While the additions to the farm store drew visitors, it was their encounters with the Wright family that kept people coming back year after year, which is something that remains true today.

(More Locations)
Gray's

Gray's

Gray’s Outer Banks Lifestyle Clothing Company offers the absolute best in Outer Banks T-shirts and Sweatshirts including Champion, Under Armour with "Outer Banks” and Gear! We carry quality fashions and accessories for the whole family by all your favorite brands including Tommy Bahama, Tribal, ESCAPE, Billabong, Quiksilver, Jack O’Neill, RVCA, Olukai, Cobian, Spartina, Scout, Brighton.

 

Whether you’re shopping for apparel, shoes & accessories, gifts & toys or OBX and Big Duck souvenirs, Gray’s offers the best brands and quality for a beach lifestyle at any of our 4 locations! From sportswear to beachwear and everything in between, Gray’s will outfit your entire family. You can also find great beach accessories at Gray’s, such as Costa sunglasses, Olukai sandals and Sun Bum sunscreen and hair products. Be sure to shop Gray’s signature Big Duck found on t-shirts, sweatshirts and gift items!

 

Established in 1948 by Walter and Stelle Gray, Gray’s began as a single store on the beach road in Nags Head, a land mark that has been beautifully transformed into Seagreen Art Gallery. Visitors to the original Gray’s may remember that the family home was located above the store and that Walter Gray had a passion for Big Band music that was often playing on the store speakers, giving shoppers a little swing in their step.

 

Modern-day Gray’s is still family owned and operated by their children Ronnie and Julie Gray, who carry on a legacy of superior customer service and traditional values. Ronnie’s wife Susan is also an important part of the business. “It really was always a family operating as a business rather than a business being run by a family,” explains Ronnie Gray. “When our visitors come in, they are greeted by a warm hello and a ‘Welcome to Gray’s.’ We try to welcome them as if they’re entering our own home”

(More Locations)