15A NCAC 10B .0227      WILD QUAIL MANAGEMENT AREAS

(a)  A "Wild Quail Management Area" shall be land maintained to enhance enjoyment of sportsmen and support wild bobwhite quail conservation under signed agreement between the landowners and the Wildlife Resources Commission.

(b)  The following qualifications shall apply to all Wild Quail Management Areas:

(1)           At least 500 acres of contiguous land; and

(2)           A minimum of 225 acres or 15 percent of the land, whichever is greater, shall be maintained in year-round bobwhite quail habitat.

(c)  Wild bobwhite quail habitat shall be early successional habitat dominated by herbaceous vegetation or shrub cover consisting of a mixture of young saplings, shrubs, forbs, and woody plants typically less than ten feet tall with scattered open patches of grasses, wildflowers, and vines. Forest stands shall have a basal area no greater than 60 square feet per acre. Land managed and maintained primarily for human uses including but not limited to large lawns, golf courses, sod-forming pastures, production agriculture fields, monoculture hayfields, solar energy, or production timber stands shall not qualify as early successional habitat.

(d)  Landowners interested in establishing a Wild Quail Management Area shall contact the Commission as described on the Commission's website at www.ncwildlife.org.

(e)  The Commission and landowners shall sign an agreement that contains:

(1)           a list of the owners of land included in the Wild Quail Management Area;

(2)           county parcel identification information for each parcel to be included in the Wild Quail Management Area;

(3)           a scaled map of the Wild Quail Management Area with the areas to be maintained in year-round bobwhite quail habitat identified;

(4)           management practices to be used to maintain bobwhite quail habitat and populations; and

(5)           reporting requirements specific to the individual Wild Quail Management Areas, if applicable.

(f)  Property inspection:

(1)           a representative of the Commission shall inspect the potential properties prior to acceptance into the program to determine that the proposed land and habitat will qualify to become a Wild Quail Management Area; and

(2)           a representative of the Commission shall inspect Wild Quail Management Areas at least once every five years to determine that the requirements of the signed agreement and this rule are being met.

(g)  The following shall apply to Wild Quail Management Areas:

(1)           No domestically raised upland game birds shall be released on Wild Quail Management Areas.

(2)           The hunting of wild bobwhite quail shall only be permitted during the established seasons in 15A NCAC 10B .0208.

(3)           Supplemental feeding, if conducted, shall be for the primary purpose of ensuring that wild bobwhite quail populations remain stable during droughts or other periods of stressful environmental conditions. Supplemental feed shall:

(A)          be broadcast into quail habitat along a minimum linear distance of one mile per 100 acres of habitat at a rate of three bushels per mile;

(B)          be broadcast on a bi-weekly schedule during a minimum of five months per year;

(C)          be broadcast using a non-stationary spreader;

(D)          be only natural grains or seed; and

(E)           not be placed to attract birds to hunt.

(4)           Except for wild bobwhite quail on Wild Quail Management Areas, no wild birds shall be taken near or with the aid of supplemental feed.

(5)           Outside of the trapping season established in 15A NCAC 10B .0303, trapping for raccoon, striped skunk, armadillo, and opossum on Wild Quail Management Areas for nest predator control shall only be allowed using enclosed foot-hold traps with a one-way trigger or cage traps. Trapped raccoons, striped skunks, armadillos, and opossums may be euthanized or released at the trap site.

(6)           An annual report for the period of June 1 through May 31 shall be submitted to the Commission within 30 days of the end of the reporting period, and shall include the following:

(A)          number of days and hours wild bobwhite quail were hunted;

(B)          total annual harvest of wild bobwhite quail;

(C)          total number of coveys flushed;

(D)          supplemental feeding activities;

(E)           number of trap nights, number of animals trapped and their disposition or release, by species, for trapping activity conducted during trapping seasons established by 15A NCAC 10B .0303; and

(F)           number of trap nights, number of animals trapped and their disposition or release, by species, for trapping activity conducted outside of trapping seasons established by 15A NCAC 10B .0303.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113-134; 113- 291.1;

Eff. August 1, 2021;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2023.