Holly Shelter Game Land
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 24, 2025
Holly Shelter Game Land is a wildlife management area located in southeastern North Carolina.
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Summary
The area covers over 64,000 acres and is home to a variety of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, wild turkey, black bear, and quail.
One of the main reasons to visit Holly Shelter Game Land is for hunting and fishing. The area is popular for deer hunting, turkey hunting, and small game hunting. There are also several bodies of water within the game land that are great for fishing, including the Northeast Cape Fear River, Holly Shelter Creek, and several ponds.
In addition to hunting and fishing, there are several points of interest within Holly Shelter Game Land. The game land is home to the longest uninterrupted sand roads in the state, which are popular for off-road vehicle enthusiasts. There are also several hiking trails within the game land, including the Holly Shelter Bay Trail, which offers scenic views of the Northeast Cape Fear River.
Interesting facts about Holly Shelter Game Land include its designation as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service due to its unique longleaf pine forest ecosystem. The area is also home to several endangered species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker and the eastern diamondback rattlesnake.
The best time of year to visit Holly Shelter Game Land depends on what activities you are interested in. Hunting season typically runs from September to January, while fishing is best in the spring and fall. The hiking trails are accessible year-round, but summer months can be hot and humid.
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Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Hampstead Kiwanis Park
Lea Island State Natural Area
Kenneth D. Batts Family Park
Stones Creek Game Land