Order online, pick up at a licensed dealer in New Hanover County. Wilmington serves as the seat of New Hanover County and houses North Carolina's primary deepwater port, located on the Cape Fear River near the Atlantic Ocean. Orders ship to FFL dealers in and around Wilmington, Wrightsville Beach, and Carolina Beach.
Pick an FFL dealer near you that accepts shipped transfers and name it at checkout. We confirm their license and ship the firearm to them. Ammunition, optics and parts ship straight to your door where North Carolina law allows.
North Carolina no longer requires a pistol purchase permit as of March 2023, eliminating state permits and waiting periods for handgun or long gun purchases. At a licensed dealer, present photo ID, complete ATF Form 4473, and undergo a federal NICS background check. A valid North Carolina concealed handgun permit can substitute for the NICS check. Federal law mandates a minimum age of 18 for rifles and shotguns, and 21 for handguns. Private sales between residents require no state permit, and the state does not maintain a firearm registry.
Dealers in these communities all work for Wilmington-area buyers:
Open carry of a lawfully owned handgun is permitted in North Carolina without a license. Concealed carry requires a concealed handgun permit, issued by the New Hanover County Sheriff. Applicants must be 21, have resided in the county for at least 30 days, pass background and mental health checks, and complete an approved course including live fire and state law instruction. The permit is valid for five years. Firearms are prohibited in schools, courthouses, law enforcement buildings, state and federal offices, and private property with posted restrictions. Cities may also ban firearms from their buildings and parks.
The Wildlife Resources Commission organizes deer hunting by zones. For 2026-27, archery season begins statewide on September 12, 2026. Gun season spans October 17, 2026 to January 1, 2027 in the Northeastern and Southeastern zones, November 14 to January 1 in the Central zone and Northwestern chronic wasting disease area, November 21 to January 1 in the Northwestern zone, and November 28 to January 1 in the Western zone. Legal firearms include bows, crossbows, blackpowder guns, shotguns, rifles, and handguns during gun season, with hunter orange required. The season limit is six deer, with a maximum of two antlered. Always verify specifics in the New Hanover County listing before hunting.
New Hanover County falls in the Southeastern zone, with gun season running from October 17, 2026 to January 1, 2027. Duck hunting is prominent, with the coastal zone season active October 23-24, November 7-28, and December 17-January 30.
Hunters in Wilmington frequent the Cape Fear and Brunswick river marshes, as well as the waters near Masonboro Island. Holly Shelter Game Land and its public range are accessible just half an hour north in Pender County.
The ranges on the city pages are public ranges run or listed by the state wildlife agency, a state forest or a national forest, chosen by distance from each city. Fees, passes and hours are the agency's.
Source: State wildlife agency and public-land range listings, September 2026. Distances are approximate; call or check the agency site before you drive out.
Yes. Order here, name a licensed FFL dealer in Wrightsville Beach, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wilmington or anywhere in New Hanover County, and we ship the firearm to them. You fill out ATF Form 4473 at their counter and they run the background check.
No. North Carolina repealed the pistol purchase permit in March 2023, so no state permit or registration is required. You must complete a NICS check and Form 4473 at the licensed dealer in Wilmington handling your order.
No. North Carolina imposes no waiting period; once the dealer's background check is approved, you can take the firearm home the same day.
The New Hanover County Sheriff issues concealed handgun permits. Applicants must provide fingerprints, a mental health release, and a certificate from an approved course, with the sheriff required to respond within 45 days.
A 12-gauge with nontoxic shot, a three-shell plug, a federal duck stamp and the state license. The city page lists the zone and public water.
Each dealer sets its own fee, commonly $20 to $75. Call before you order to confirm the price and that they accept firearms shipped from an online store.
General information, not legal advice. Rules current as of September 2026. See our buying guide and check with New Hanover County Sheriff or a local attorney about your own situation.