No controversial deer changes on Commission’s January hearings list

The good news for hunters who attend January’s public hearings is the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission won’t propose controversial deer-season date changes for 2010.

In fact, sportsmen will notice no deer proposals. But 2010’s basic archery, muzzleloader and gun seasons should resemble 2009, Commission Executive Director Gordon Myers said.

The reason 2010 deer-season dates aren’t listed in the Commission’s proposals is that several 2009 deer proposals were held up in the 2009 legislature. Those proposals aren’t likely to be adopted or rejected until the 2010 legislature convenes — which will occur after January’s public hearings.

Many postponed 2009 deer proposals could be passed by the 2010 legislature and be included in the Commission’s 2010-11 fishing, hunting and trapping digests that will be published in late June. However, some controversial proposals might not pass legislative scrutiny.

The January 2010 hearings schedule (sessions start at 7 p.m.) includes:
• Jan. 4, District 4, Dublin, Bladen Community College;
• Jan. 6, District 5, Graham Middle School Auditorium;
• Jan. 7, District 6, Norwood, South Stanly High School;
• Jan. 12, District 8 , Morganton Municipal Auditorium;
• Jan. 13, District 9, Sylva Southwestern Community College;
• Jan. 14, District 7, Mount Airy High School Auditorium;
• Jan. 19, District 1, Edenton, Swain Auditorium;
• Jan. 20, District 2, New Bern Courthouse;
• Jan. 21, District 3, Rocky Mount Nash Community College.

Major proposals for the 2010-2011 season include:

•  27 proposals dealing with trout regulations, most changing stream designations;

• a reduction of minimum sizes for largemouth bass to 14 inches from the current 16 inches at Jordan and Falls lakes. The daily creel would remain five bass, including two shorter than 14-inches long;

• a 14-inch minimum-size limit for Lake Norman spotted bass (also with two shorter than 14 inches allowed in a five-fish daily creel);

• At Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids lakes, anglers could keep striped bass of any size from June 1 through Sept. 30 inside a four-fish daily creel;

• Muskellunge minimum-size limit would be 42 inches statewide;

• No one would be permitted to possess American shad at Kerr Lake, Lake Gaston or the Roanoke River because the Commission is stocking those fish in that river system;

• Early December bear season at Hertford County would increase from three days to two weeks;

• Bear season at a designated 8,000-acre section of Chowan Swamp Game Land would increase from three days in the December first-season segment to 12 days (to match the rest of Gates County). The remainder of Chowan Swamp GL would keep a three-day season;

• Squirrel season would open the Monday on or nearest to October 15 and end the last day of February;

• Use of dogs for hunting deer at Brinkleyville and Embro game lands would be banned, and the either-sex deer season at Jordan Lake Game Lands would go to the maximum season;

• CURE areas at the Wayne Bailey Caswell Game Lands and Sandhills Game Lands would open to permit-only quail and woodcock hunting.

• elimination of the requirement that a landholder must get a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit for the taking of migratory birds before getting a Commission permit to do so.

For a complete list of proposed fish and game changes for 2010-11, visit http://www.ncwildlife.org/Regs/documents/Public_Hearing_Book.pdf.

January 2010’s public hearings for sportsmen could be the last January public hearings: The Commission is considering moving January 2011’s public hearings to Sept. 2010.