15A NCAC 10A .1502 REPLACEMENT COSTS of wildlife
(a) For the purpose of this Rule, "replacement cost" means the monetary amount to replace a specimen of wildlife that has been taken, injured, removed, harmfully altered, damaged, or destroyed. As specified in G.S. 113-267, this term shall be broadly construed to include indirect costs of replacement if direct stocking or replacement is not feasible, including the costs of habitat improvement or restoration, the establishment of sanctuaries, and any other recognized conservation technique.
(b) The following factors shall be considered when determining replacement costs:
(1) whether the species has a season for take;
(2) whether the species is classified as endangered, threatened, or special concern;
(3) the relative frequency of species occurrence in the State;
(4) the extent of existing suitable habitat for the species within the State;
(5) the unique habitat requirements of the species;
(6) the cost of acquiring, by purchase or long‑term lease, lands and waters for habitat development;
(7) the cost of improving and maintaining suitable habitat for the species on lands and waters owned or acquired by the Commission;
(8) the cost of live‑trapping the species in areas of adequate populations and transplanting them to areas of suitable habitat with low populations;
(9) the availability of replacement specimens and the cost of acquisition for restocking species in the wild;
(10) the cost of propagating and rearing the species in captivity or a hatchery and the cost of transporting them to an area with suitable habitat;
(11) the ratio between the natural life expectancy of the species and the period of its probable survival in the wild when having been reared in captivity;
(12) the consumer price index; and
(13) any other factor that gives value to the species.
(c) Based on the factors in Paragraph (b) of this Rule, the following scheduled amounts shall represent the estimated replacement cost of an individual wildlife specimen. Replacement costs are per individual for wildlife species and per inch for fish species unless otherwise noted:
Species Replacement Cost
Birds
Crow 4.00
Dove 13.00
Duck
American black duck 125.00
Canvasback 125.00
Gadwall 125.00
Long-tailed duck 125.00
White-winged scoter 125.00
All other ducks 41.00
Goose (includes Brant and Snow) 125.00
Grouse 125.00
Pheasant 37.00
Quail 125.00
Rail
Clapper, king, and Virginia 125.00
Coot, Gallinule, Moorhen, and Sora 37.00
Snipe 26.00
Swan, tundra 1078.00
Woodcock 125.00
Big Game
Bear, black 2232.00
Deer 602.00
Turkey, wild 525.00
Small Game
Beaver 104.00
Bobcat 647.00
Fox 88.00
Mink 75.00
Muskrat 19.00
Opossum 6.00
Otter 647.00
Rabbit 13.00
Raccoon 58.00
Skunk 19.00
Squirrel, fox 54.00
Squirrel, gray and red 17.00
Weasel 11.00
Reptiles
Kingsnake, scarlet 100.00
Milksnake, coastal plain 200.00
Milksnake, eastern 100.00
Snake, eastern hognose 100.00
Turtle, eastern box 150.00
Turtle, spotted 150.00
Elk 2500.00
Any other species with no open season 54.00
Endangered Species 4960.00
Threatened Species 4313.00
Special Concern Species 3000.00
Fish Species
Bass
Alabama Bass 0.80
Hybrid (Bodie) Bass 1.27
Largemouth Bass 0.80
Redeye Bass 0.80
Smallmouth Bass 2.34
Spotted Bass 0.80
Striped Bass 1.27
White 0.25
Bullhead
Black Bullhead 1.72/fish
Brown Bullhead 1.72/fish
Flat Bullhead 1.72/fish
Snail Bullhead 1.72/fish
Yellow Bullhead 1.72/fish
Catfish
Blue Catfish 0.61
Channel Catfish 0.61
Flathead Catfish 0.61
White Catfish 0.61
Crappie 0.48
Kokanee Salmon 0.71
Muskellunge 9.99
Pickerel
Chain Pickerel 0.99
Redfin Pickerel 0.99
Sauger 0.92
Shad
American Shad 1.40/fish
Hickory Shad 1.40/fish
Sunfish
Bluegill Sunfish 2.65/fish
Flier Sunfish 2.65/fish
Green Sunfish 2.65/fish
Pumpkinseed Sunfish 2.65/fish
Redbreast (Robin) 2.65/fish
Redear (Shellracer) 2.65/fish
Roanoke Bass 2.65/fish
Rock Bass Sunfish 2.65/fish
Warmouth Sunfish 2.65/fish
Trout
Brook Trout 0.71
Brown Trout 0.71
Rainbow Trout 0.71
Walleye 0.92
White Perch 0.25
Yellow Perch 0.92
All other game fish 0.76/fish
All other nongame fish 1.87/fish
Endangered, Threatened, Special Concern
Mussels 50.54/mussel
Crayfish 50.00/crayfish
Finfish 157.54/fish
(d) The following factors shall be considered when determining the costs of an investigation conducted pursuant to G.S. 143-215.3(a)(7) or by court order for the purpose of determining the cost of replacement of wildlife:
(1) the time expended by the employee conducting or involved in the investigation, including travel time between the place of usual employment and the site of the investigation, and the time required in formulating and rendering the report;
(2) the total compensation cost of service to the state for each employee involved, including annual salary, total insurance, and the state's contribution to social security taxes and to the applicable retirement system;
(3) subsistence costs for the investigating personnel, including meals, reasonable gratuities, and lodging, when required;
(4) the cost of all necessary transportation;
(5) the use or rental equipment or vehicles, when required;
(6) the cost of cleaning, repairing, or replacing any clothing damaged, soiled, or contaminated by conducting the investigation; and
(7) any other expense directly related to and necessitated by the investigation.
(e) In assessing the cost of time expended in completing the investigation, the time expended by each person required to take part in the investigation shall be recorded in hours, the value of which shall be computed according to the ratio between the annual costs of service of the employee and his or her total annual working hours 2087 hours reduced by holidays, annual leave entitlement, and earned sick leave. Other costs shall be assessed as follows:
(1) the actual cost of meals, reasonable gratuities, and lodging away from home, not to exceed the current maximum per diem for state employees at the time of the investigation;
(2) total mileage by motor vehicle multiplied by:
(A) the then current rate per mile for travel by state‑owned vehicle; or
(B) the then current rate per mile for travel by privately owned vehicle, if applicable;
(3) ten dollars ($10.00) per hour for boat and motor use;
(4) uniform and clothing cleaning and repair cost; and
(5) any other expense directly related to and necessitated by the investigation.
History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-267; 143-215.3;
Eff. December 22, 2022.