November Calendar of Wildlife & Habitat Happenings

Opportunities to experience natural North Carolina are as diverse as our state’s spectacular landscape. And there’s no shortage of things to do, see and hear this month – from quail hunting to emerging buck moths to spectacular leaf-peeping. Take a look at the November calendar below and explore NCWF’s upcoming events.

Nov. 1: Most female marbled salamanders are guarding nests by now. Several aster species are still in bloom.

Nov. 3: White-tailed deer rut peaks in the Coastal Plain. Good fishing for spotted seatrout on the coast.

Nov. 4: Fall hardwood foliage colors are peaking in parts of the Piedmont and Coastal Plain. The Uwharries are a good place to view Piedmont fall colors after most trees in the Mountains have dropped their leaves.

Nov. 6: Dove season begins. Duck and Canada goose seasons reopen.

Nov. 9: Wood duck migration is peaking.

Nov. 11: Pintail, widgeon and green-winged teal migration is peaking. 

Nov. 13: See a rich variety of waterfowl and other birds at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. 

Nov. 15: Tundra swans are arriving at Lake Mattamuskeet and other parts Down East.

Nov. 16: Groundhogs, chipmunks and jumping mice begin hibernating. Most bats, depending on species, have either hibernated or migrated.

Nov. 18: Turkey oak leaves are turning bright red on the sand ridges of the Coastal Plain. Peak rut for white-tailed deer in the Piedmont.

Nov. 20: Quail season opens. 

Nov. 22: Most reptiles have entered their winter refugia.

Nov. 25: Be especially thankful today for wild things, wild places and the beauty and wonder to be found in all seasons.

Nov. 26: Buck moths emerge and fly on sunny autumn days. Unlike most of their nocturnal, summer-flying relatives, these showy silk moths are diurnal.

Nov. 27: Dove and duck season ends. 

Nov. 30: Watch for hummingbirds. Many seen in North Carolina during this time of year are likely to be vagrant rufous hummingbirds or other species besides the usual ruby-throats.