Most people have covered this but I'm from NC also. In NC small game require a Hunting liscense and hunting license require you to take a hunters safety course to get it. A .22 or shotgun ( I feel) is a better way to take squirrels and rabbits but with today's high speed air rifles and BB gun are acceptable. Also it seems that ( like stated before) your trying to shoot them in your backyard which if in NC is illegal to discharge a firearm in city limits