North Carolina hunters asked to give input on deer management

NCWRC holding nine forums to discuss future deer regulations

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will conduct nine interactive public forums across the state to solicit input regarding white-tailed deer management, including potential changes to seasons and bag limits. All forums will begin at 7 p.m.

In recent years, Commission biologists and technicians have intensified harvest and biological data collections to evaluate buck and doe age structures, population trends, and timing of the rut across the state. Information about this biological evaluation of the herd was presented at public deer forums across the state in the summer of 2015.

As part of the evaluation process of the state’s current deer season frameworks, the Commission also conducted a statewide scientific survey of deer hunters in 2016 to understand the most critical component of deer management – the expectations and desires of deer hunters.

The upcoming forums will be used to present the 2016 survey results, discuss potential management options and solicit additional feedback from hunters and others interested in deer management. These public discussions are critical to management efforts and will help determine the best way to meet the desires of the state’s constituency while maintaining a healthy deer herd.

It is important to note these forums are not public hearings, and the potential management options presented are not proposed regulation changes. The Commission will utilize the data gathered through the multi-year biological evaluation, deer hunter survey, and these forums before determining if any changes in deer hunting regulations will be presented at public hearings in January 2018.

The locations and dates are:

Tuesday, May 16 at Haywood Community College (Auditorium) located 185 Freedlander Dr. in Clyde.

Wednesday, May 17 at Western Piedmont Community College (Auditorium), located at 1001 Burkemont Ave. in Morganton.

Thursday, May 18 at Wilkes County Agriculture Center, located at 416 Executive Dr. in Wilkesboro.

Tuesday, May 23 at Stanly County Agri-Civic Center, located at 26032 Newt Rd. in Albemarle.

Wednesday, May 24 at Alamance Community College (Auditorium), located at 1247 Jimmie Kerr Rd. in Graham.

Thursday, May 25 at Bladen Community College (Auditorium), located at 7418 N.C. 41 West in Dublin.

Tuesday, May 30 at Martin Community College (Auditorium), located at 1161 Kehukee Park Rd. in Williamston.

Wednesday, May 31 at Craven Community College (Orringer Auditorium), located at 800 College Ct. in New Bern.

Thursday, June 1 at Nash Community College, located at 522 N. Old Carriage Rd. in Rocky Mount.