Temporary Rules Proposed By NC Wildlife Resources Commission

The NC Wildlife Resources Commission sent out notice of temporary rules that will go into effect on October 1st. The new rules are needed due to changes in wildlife laws made by the General Assembly. It impacts crow, coyote, and hog hunters.

Temporary Rules

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is proposing temporary rules to allow hunters to use electronic calls for crows and coyotes and to establish an open season with no bag limits for feral swine (hogs).

Crow and coyote hunters are probably aware that they can use electronic calls, but they may not be aware that this practice is legal because it is currently allowed in state law, G.S. § 113-291.1. House Bill 432, which was passed by the General Assembly in June, removes this practice from G.S. § 113-291.1 and gives authority to the Commission to regulate electronic calls for all game animals and birds. The law goes into effect October 1. In order for hunters to continue using electronic calls for crows and coyotes after September 30, the Commission must pass temporary and permanent rules to maintain the status quo. If approved, the temporary rules will go into effect on October 1 and would likely be replaced by permanent rules on January 1, 2012. The Commission’s public hearing schedule appears below.

House Bill 432 also changes the status of feral swine to wild animals and deletes the term “wild boar.” All wild animals must have a season set by Commission rules to make hunting that species legal. The Commission is proposing a temporary rule which declares feral swine (hogs) as a species with no closed season and no bag limits. This temporary rule would also go into effect October 1. An identical permanent rule is proposed to go into effect January 1, 2012.

Please note that as of October 1, all persons shooting feral swine (hogs) must have a hunting license or a depredation permit, except for people who are otherwise license-exempt.

Public Hearing for Proposed Temporary Rules for Crows, Coyotes and Feral Swine (Hogs)

July 27
7 p.m.
Centennial Campus for Wildlife Education
1751 Varsity Dr.
Raleigh, N.C. 27606

Comments may also be submitted between July 18, 2011 and August 8, to kathryn.pipkin@ncwildlife.org or Temporary Rule Comments, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, 1701 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1701.

Hearings on permanent rule changes will be held around the State of North Carolina beginning in early September.