June 1, 2015 NC Senate sent Jimmy Dixon's Sunday Hunting Bill back to the House for concurrence.

May 28, 2015 Senate passed Jimmy Dixon's Sunday Hunting Bill, with some amendments.  Sunday hunting can begin after 12:00 noon in the Senate version.

March 9, 2015  Rep. Jimmy Dixon (Dt.#4, R) "Stakeholders Meeting" re changes to hunter trespass law and Sunday hunting.

January 14, 2015  NC General  Assembly convenes for 2015 session.

November 4, 2014 General Election in which NC legislators were elected.

August 20, 2014  NC General Assembly adjourned for 2014.

October 1, 2011:  The new "Landowner Protection Act" becomes law on October 1, 2011.  This law applies only to posted land.

August 19, 2011:  We are receiving many good questions about the new hunter trespass law, which will take effect on October 1, 2011.  The NC Sporting Dog Association wrote to Gordon Myers, Executive Director of the NC Wildlife Resources Commission and asked specific questions.  On August 19, 2011 Mr. Myers provided the following answers to these specific questions.

2011 NEW HUNTER TRESPASS LAW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

Question #1.  If a Club has a written lease in which it is the Lessee (the tenant under the lease), can the Club, as Lessee, prepare and sign the written permission slips for its members?
Answer to Question #1: Yes, per the modifications made to NC General Statute 14-159.6(a) in Session Law 2011-231.  The land owner, lessee, or agent can issue written permission.  If the lease is in the name of a Club, an authorized representative (secretary, president, etc.) of the Club can sign as the agent.

Question #2.  Is a Club having a written lease with a land owner considered to be the Lessee for the purpose of NC General Statute Section 14-159.6(a), such that the Club can issue the permission slips? (similar to Question #1).
Answer to Question#2.  Yes, in the case that you have described, the Club is the Lessee.

Question #3.  Suppose a Club is the Lessee (the tenant under the lease) for 20 leases for 20 separate parcels of land from 20 land owners.  Is an individual member of the Club required to have on his person 20 copies of the 20 separate permission slips?  If so, can the Club copy the 20 signed permission slips and reduce the size of each slip, by photocopier, so that numerous slips can be copied on to only one or two pieces of paper?
Answer to Question #3.  If the Lessee is the same in each instance as described in your question, it is acceptable to consolidate the permission to a single form.  I would strongly recommend that the Club keep a map of the leased parcels available for inspection at a central location. 

Question #4.  Suppose a Club is the Lessee (the tenant under the lease) for 20 leases for 20 parcels of land from 20 land owners.  Can the Club prepare a Master Permission slip (one page) and have all 20 land owners sign the one page Master Permission slip?
Answer to Question #4.  Absolutely.

Question #5.  If the land is NOT posted, then what part, if any, of House Bill #762/Session Law 2011-374 applies to hunters on the unposted land?
Answer to Question #5.  The new legislation applies to posted land only.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission website has been updated with additional information about the new 2011 hunter trespass law.  Visit their website for further information, including wallet sized permission forms.

2011 Legislative Sessions:  The 2011 NC General Assembly convened in January 2011 and adjourned on June 18, 2011.  Though there was a Redistricting Session this summer and a Constitutional Amendment Session scheduled for September, we do not expect any more hunting bills to be heard until 2012.

CLICK HERE for Landowner Permission Form.  We recommend the use of this form to avoid confusion.  You may complete and reduce in size, and may copy several permission slips onto one piece of paper.  Written permission to hunt on posted land is now required by newly passed Landowner Protection Act, House Bill #762, Session Law 2011-374.  This new law goes into effect 10/1/2011.

Here are highlights of legislation passed into law in the 2011 legislative session.  Click on the links to read each new law.

STATEWIDE BILLS
Retrieval of Big Game, House Bill 29, Session Law 2011-22, allows single dog on leash and light source to retrieve big game day or night, with conditions.
Landowner Protection Act, House Bill 762, Session Law 2011-374, hunter trespass compromise bill, which requires written permission to hunt on posted land, but not on unposted land.  All mention of roadside hunting was deleted.
Study Fox Laws, House Bill 755, Session Law 2011-380, includes study of outside fox hunting, sale of foxes, and fox pens, as well as study of coyotes.
Amend Various Gun Laws, House Bill 650, Session Law 2011-268, includes the "Castle Doctrine" for North Carolina and amendments to the concealed carry laws.  Castle Doctrine so named for the idea that a man's home is his castle.
2011 Appointments Bill, Senate Bill 686, Session Law 2011-176, which includes the Senate & House appointments to the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.


LOCAL BILLS
Surry  Fox & Coyote Trapping Season, Senate Bill 46, Session Law 2011-32.
Robeson Hunting & Fishing, Senate Bill 68, Session Law 2011-16. 
Pasquotank Hunting, House Bill 362, Session Law 2011-152.
Rockingham/Taking Foxes, House Bill 463, Session Law 2011-163.

 
In January, 2011, we welcomed newly elected Senators and Representatives who were supported by hunters in many districts across North Carolina.  We especially welcomed Senator Louis Pate, who defeated former Senator Don Davis, sponsor of the "puppy mill" bill in 2009-2010.

2009-2010 Legislative Session:  We won!  On July 10, 2010, the NC General Assembly adjourned without passing the animal rights-inspired agenda of "puppy mills", anti-tethering, and banning wildlife pens.  Thanks to a coalition of hunters with the NRA, AKC, UKC, agricultural interests, and others, we were able to defeat the strongest push ever seen in NC by radical animal rights activists.  The NC Sporting Dog Association encourages all hunters and responsible animal owners to register, vote, and fight against the animal rights legislative agenda in 2011.

Legislative Lobbying Day II on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at the NC General Assembly.  We will join forces with the NRA, the AKC & other responsible animal owners to oppose SB#460.  We are fighting the HSUS-inspired Commercial Dog Breeding Bill (SB#460 or any other name).  Please call & email to urge all NC House members to oppose SB#460.

The NC Senate & House completed the budget on Saturday, June 26, 2010.  This means there will be only a couple more weeks left in this legislative session.  We must continue our work to protect hunting and dog breeding.

The NC General Assembly convened on May 12, 2010.  HSUS, PETA, and other animal rights activists are pushing SB460 the "Puppy Mill Bill".

On August 10, 2009, we stopped the forward motion of SB460.  Senator Don Davis, the bill sponsor, intended to push it through the House Finance Committee & demand a vote by the full House in the last two legislative sessions before adjournment. He failed. Our House members faithfully attended to vote against the bill. Supporters of the bill did not appear in full numbers, and they DID NOT HAVE THE VOTES to pass SB 460 out of committee.  Therefore, Sen. Davis suddenly announced "technical problems" and pulled the bill.  The "Puppy Mill" bill would have failed if called for a vote. 

The bill IS NOT DEAD.  We must kill it in 2010.
SB 460 Commercial Dog Breeders (Sen. Don Davis)


Highway Billboard Urging "No" on SB 460

Three of the most dangerous pending bills address dog breeding, tethering, and fox pens.  Most of the bad animal rights bills are dead, but these three bills survived.

In the 2009 legislative session, we saw unprecedented attacks on animal ownership rights, dog breeding, and hunting with dogs.  The Humane Society of the US hired a full time lobbyist for the first time.  SB#460 is similar to bills proposed by the HSUS in many other states.

To contact your elected legislators, call Senators & Representatives through the NC General Assembly legislative switchboard (919)733-4111 or call them at home.  During times when the legislature is not in session, many Senators & Representatives are not in Raleigh.  Find specific contact information for each legislator, including local telephone numbers, through the NC Legislature Web site.

If you are interested in legislative issues, please do not hesitate to contact Joe McClees.  E-mail: jdm at mccleesconsulting.com

Read Henri McClees's Blog for daily updates during the legislative battles, and history, legal news, and political background during the out-of-session months.

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