On 4/19/17, there is another group meeting in addition to the NC General Assembly. A few miles away, the NC Wildlife Resources Commission will hold committee meetings all day, with the full Commission meeting on Thursday, 4/20/17. Anyone in town who would like to drop by, visit at 10:15 am to hear an explanation to the Big Game Committee of how North Carolina’s bear hunters responded to the proposed “alignment” of bear hunting seasons to biological “zones” in the “Coastal Bear Management Unit”. It should be interesting. Further, they intend to follow the 2016 Deer Hunter Survey with May 2017 Deer Forums. More surveys, and more decisions. Pay attention, bear & deer hunters!
Bear News
Bear News
April 21, 2016 The NC Wildlife Resources Commission modified the bear hunting rules at its regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, 4/21/16 in Raleigh. As reported by the NC WRC, “As amended, the second temporary rule will extend the time that bears can be taken with the aid of unprocessed food as bait to the entire open season with the exception of the western part of the state. The Commission will allow baiting for the first segment of the western bear season (Oct 17-Nov 19), but not at all during the second segment (Dec.12- Jan.2). Nothing in this rule changes the ability for dog hunters to release dogs in the vicinity of unprocessed food products during the entire open bear season.”
June 19, 2015 US Congressman Mark Meadows (Republican, NC District #11) will conduct a Public Hearing about “Operation Something Bruin”, the sting operation conducted in 2013 by the NC WRC and other governmental agencies. Cong. Meadows is spearheading an investigation into the abusive tactics used by law enforcement officers in “Operation Something Bruin”. The Public Hearing will be held at the Haywood County Courthouse in Waynesville, NC on Friday morning, 6/19/15. No official meeting time stated yet. We will update this entry and FaceBook when we get more information. All mountain bear hunters and interested persons are invited to attend.
November 2014 Second largest bear (782 lbs.) killed on the second day of bear season in Hyde County, NC.
February 27, 2014 NC WRC full commission approves proposed rule changes for bearing hunting, including rule to allow the taking of bear with the aid of unprocessed food. These changes go into effect for the 2015 season.
February 26, 2014 NC WRC Big Game Committee debates proposed rule changes for bear hunting, with input from Joe McClees, lobbyist for the NC Sporting Dog Assn. and Jim Noles, President of the NC Bear Hunters Assn., as well as other bear hunters from eastern and western NC.
November 6, 2013 NC WRC full commission agenda includes changes in rules for bearing hunting.
Wednesday, November 5, 2013 NC WRC Big Game Committee agenda includes changes in rules for bear hunting.
Thursday, October 10, 2013 NC WRC piedmont regional meeting on new bear law, Guilford Tech. Community College, Sears Applied Tech. Center auditorium, Room 120, 601 High Point Road, Jamestown, NC 27282 at 6:30 pm.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013 NC WRC mountain regional meeting on new bear law, Haywood Tech. Community College auditorium, 185 Freedlander Drive, Clyde, NC 28721 at 6:30 pm.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013 NC WRC southeastern regional meeting on new bear law, Bladen Community College auditorium, 7418 NC Hwy. 41, Dublin, NC 28332 at 6:30 pm.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013 NC WRC northeastern regional meeting on new bear law, Martin Community College, Building 2 auditorium, 1161 Kehukee Park Road, Williamston, NC 27892 at 6:30 pm.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013 NC WRC Big Game Committee meeting, discussing new bear law and announcing public regional meetings about new bear law.
Thursday, July 18, 2013 Governor signed Omnibus Wildlife Resources Commission Act HB#296, Session Law 2013-283. This bill raised license fees and opened the way for still hunting bear with the use of bait.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 NC WRC Big Game Committee meeting.
Thursday, November 8, 2012 NC WRC met in Raleigh. Click here for information published by WRC about processed peanuts and the placement of peanuts.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012 The Big Game Committee of the NC WRC will hold a meeting at 10:30 am in Raleigh. It will consider adoption of its Black Bear Management Plan.
Spring 2012: The NC Wildlife Resources Commission held public meetings and informal meetings with interest groups regarding its next “Bear Management Plan”. A draft of this Bear Management Plan was removed from the WRC website on April 15, 2012 for further amendments and revisions.