Aaron Sutton
Broker in Charge
WHERE GIANTS ROAM
2,244 Acres | Trophy Black Bear Sanctuary & Waterfowl Habitat | Engelhard, Hyde County, North Carolina
A rare opportunity to own an extraordinary sporting property in the heart of North Carolina's legendary trophy black bear country.
Situated at the southern end of the famed Albemarle Peninsula near Engelhard, North Carolina, this remarkable 2,244-acre property offers a unique combination of exceptional wildlife habitat, historical trophy black bear production, established waterfowl impoundments, and tremendous potential for the discerning sportsman.
The property's geographic setting is truly special. With the Alligator River to the northwest, Pamlico Sound to the east, and Lake Mattamuskeet just miles to the south, this tract lies within one of the East Coast's most celebrated black bear and waterfowl regions. Its location adjoining protected wildlife refuge lands, where bear hunting is prohibited, adds to the appeal of this exceptional sporting landscape.
What makes this property particularly compelling is its history as a carefully preserved wildlife sanctuary. The current ownership family has hunted and managed neighboring lands for more than 25 years. Since acquiring this tract approximately six years ago, the family has intentionally refrained from harvesting a single black bear, allowing the property to remain a largely undisturbed refuge. Prior to their ownership, multiple exceptional trophy black bears were harvested here, with photographs documenting the property's remarkable hunting history.
The tract consists predominantly of natural woodland and wetland habitat, offering extensive cover, seclusion, and resting areas for black bears and other wildlife. With minimal clearing and limited hunting pressure under current ownership, it presents a rare opportunity to acquire a substantial, established sanctuary in an outstanding trophy bear region.
Waterfowl enthusiasts will appreciate four established impoundments totaling approximately 46 acres, including individual impoundments of 5, 11, 13, and 17 acres. One impoundment currently contains a planted crop, while the remaining three offer meaningful opportunities for restoration and enhanced wildlife management. These existing impoundments, combined with the property's location in the greater Lake Mattamuskeet region, create an exciting foundation for a premier private waterfowl program.
An additional distinguishing feature is approximately 20 acres fronting U.S. Highway 264 that are excluded from the property's permanent Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) conservation easement. With electrical infrastructure running along the highway, this parcel presents an attractive potential location for a private hunting lodge, equipment storage, game-processing facilities, and a complete sporting headquarters. Site development, utilities, and necessary approvals remain to be evaluated.
The balance of the property is protected by a permanent WRP conservation easement, preserving its natural character while providing opportunities for recreational use, access, and wildlife habitat management consistent with the applicable easement terms and required approvals.
This is not simply another large hunting tract. It is an opportunity to acquire an extraordinary wildlife sanctuary with a documented history of trophy black bears, established waterfowl infrastructure, a rare potential lodge site, and the acreage and location to create a truly exceptional private sporting retreat.
For the serious trophy hunter, dedicated conservationist, or family seeking a generational recreational landholding, properties offering this combination of scale, location, wildlife history, and untapped potential are increasingly difficult to find.
Some properties are measured in acres. Others are measured in the experiences, traditions, and legacies they make possible. This one offers both.
For more information give Aaron Sutton a call at 252-560-9593.
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