Wildlife Commission adopts new regulations

NC Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) commissioners have adopted new rules for the 2024-25 seasons, effective August 1. The new rules, adopted at the Commission’s February Business Meeting and endorsed by the Rules Review Committee in April, include:

Wildlife Poaching Bounty Scheme – Include inland fishing offenses to be eligible for the scheme.

Deer Hunting – Move the gunpowder and gun seasons in the West so that blackpowder season begins two Saturdays before Thanksgiving and runs two weeks into gun season. The gun season will begin the Saturday after Thanksgiving and run through Jan. 1, before moving the schedule for the week-long and one-day black powder antlerless season to the second Saturday of the season. Additionally, Thanksgiving Day and the Friday after Thanksgiving will be designated as Western Season Youth Day, and youth under 18 years of age will be permitted to use any legal weapon, including any firearm, to hunt deer on those days.

Game areas – a small game focal area at Caswell should be established as an area exclusively dedicated to quail and woodcock hunting, and only allow rabbit and squirrel hunting outside the normal three days a week at the point of sale.

Trout Water Classification – Remove wild trout/natural bait water classification from public mountain trout waters.

The adopted proposals were presented at various public hearings held throughout the state and virtually in January. The NCWRC received comments from constituents via email, the online comment portal, mail, and at public hearings. Commissioners reviewed the comments carefully before voting.

The full text of all adopted provisions can be found in the Commission agenda package. The 2024-2025 regulatory overview will be available on August 1, 2024.

The NCWRC adjusted its annual rulemaking schedule to better align with the General Assembly’s legislative calendar. Proposed rules for the 2025-2026 seasons will be presented at the (June meeting) and a virtual public hearing will be held in August. Previously proposed regulations were introduced in October and adopted the following February, with public hearings held in January.

“Aligning our annual rulemaking schedule with the legislative calendar will help the Commission more effectively and efficiently manage seasonal changes if the public opposes the rules,” said Carrie Ruhlman, policy development manager.