Commission votes on proposals to take to public hearings

Youth-only turkey season would expand by five days

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission voted on July 12 to take to statewide public hearings 68 proposed changes to the state’s wildlife management and fishing regulations for the 2013-2014 seasons. An online comment form also will be available in early August.

The wildlife management proposals include creating a one-week Spring Youth Only Wild Turkey Season from the first Saturday in April through the following Friday. The bag limit for this entire week will be one bird. In addition, the Commission is proposing allowing an adult to accompany more than one youth during the Spring Youth Only Wild Turkey Season.

The proposals also include removing restrictions on carrying firearms during the deer bow-and-arrow season and pistols during the muzzleloader season in accordance with state law, and allowing hunting with muzzleloading pistols.

Fishing proposals include reclassifying 2.2 miles of Fires Creek in Clay County and 2.8 miles of Big Snowbird Creek in Graham County to Delayed Harvest Trout Waters.

The proposals also include adding bighead and silver carp to the list of species that are unlawful to transport, purchase, possess, sell or stock into public or private waters.  In addition, another proposal reduces the possession limit of American shad in the inland fishing waters of the Cape Fear River and its tributaries to five fish per day within the 10-fish creel for American and hickory shad in combination.

For a complete list of the proposed regulations changes, see the Proposed Changes in Fishing and Wildlife Management Regulations for 2013-2014 for Public Notice and Presentation at Public Hearings document.

The schedule for the 2013-2014 public hearings follows. Hearings will begin at 7 p.m.

Sept. 11, District 4, Bladen C.C., Dublin;

Sept. 12, District 5, Alamance Courthouse, Graham;

Sept. 13, District 6, South Stanly H.S., Norwood;

Sept. 18, District 9, Tri-County C.C., Murphy;

Sept. 19, District 8, Municipal Auditorium, Morganton

Sept. 20, District 7, Wilkes C.C., Wilkesboro;

Sept. 25, District 1, Swain Auditorium, Edenton;

Sept. 26, District 2, Craven County Courthouse, New Bern;

Sept. 27, Distict 3, Nash C.C., Rocky Mount.