15A NCAC 10D .0102 GENERAL REGULATIONS REGARDING USE
(a) For purposes of this Subchapter, the following definitions apply:
(1) "Permanent Hunting Blind" means a structure that is used for hunter concealment, constructed from manmade or natural materials, and that is not disassembled and removed at the end of the day's hunt.
(2) "Target shooting" means the discharge of a firearm for purposes other than hunting, trapping, or self-defense.
(3) "Youth" means individuals under 18 years of age.
(b) Trespass. Entry on game lands for purposes other than hunting, trapping, or fishing shall be as authorized by the landowner. The Wildlife Resources Commission has identified the following areas on game lands that have additional restrictions on entry or usage:
(1) Archery Zone. On portions of game lands posted as "Archery Zones" hunting is limited to archery equipment and falconry. During the open deer seasons for these areas, antlered and antlerless deer may be taken.
(2) Safety Zone. On portions of game lands posted as "Safety Zones" hunting is prohibited. No person shall hunt or discharge a firearm or bow and arrow within, into, or across a posted safety zone on a game land. Falconry is exempt from this provision.
(3) Restricted Firearms Zone. On portions of game lands posted as "Restricted Firearms Zones" the use of centerfire rifles is prohibited.
(4) Restricted Zone. Portions of game lands posted as "Restricted Zones" are closed to use by the public, and entry on these areas is prohibited without written approval from the Wildlife Resources Commission. The Commission may authorize entry when the primary purpose for the Restricted Zone shall not be compromised and the persons requesting entry demonstrate a valid need, or official business of the Commission is being conducted by a contractor or agent of the Commission. Valid needs may include access to private property, scientific investigations, surveys, or other access to conduct activities in the public interest.
(5) Temporary Restricted Zone. Portions of game lands posted as "Temporary Restricted Zones" are closed to use by the public, and entry is prohibited without written approval from the Wildlife Resources Commission. An area of a game land shall be declared a Temporary Restricted Zone when there is a danger to the health or welfare of the public.
(6) Scouting-only Zone. On portions of the game lands posted as "Scouting-only Zones" the discharge of firearms or bow and arrow is prohibited.
(7) Restricted Deer Hunting Zone. On portions of game lands posted as "Restricted Deer Hunting Zones" the use of dogs for taking deer is prohibited, except as allowed by permit as provided in G.S. 113-264(d).
(8) Day Use Only Zone. On portions of game lands posted as "Day Use Only Zones" the use by the public shall be prohibited from sunset to sunrise.
(9) Sensitive Habitat Zone. Portions of game lands posted as "Sensitive Habitat Zones" are closed to use by the public during the dates specified on the sign, and entry is prohibited without written approval from the Wildlife Resources Commission by calling 919-707-0150 and requesting a permit.
The Commission shall conduct a public input meeting in the area where the game land is located before establishing the following zones: archery, restricted firearms, restricted deer hunting, day use only, or sensitive habitat. After the input meeting, the public comments shall be presented at an official Commission meeting for final determination.
(c) Littering. No person shall deposit litter, trash, garbage, or other refuse on any game land except in receptacles provided for disposal of refuse at designated camping and target-shooting areas. No garbage dumps or sanitary landfills shall be established on a game land by a person, firm, corporation, county, or municipality, except as permitted by the landowner.
(d) Use of weapons. No person shall discharge:
(1) a weapon within 150 yards of a game land building or designated game land camping area, except where posted otherwise;
(2) a weapon within 150 yards of a residence located on or adjacent to game lands, except on Butner-Falls of Neuse and Jordan game lands; and
(3) a firearm within 150 yards of a residence located on or adjacent to Butner-Falls of Neuse and Jordan Game Lands.
No person shall hunt with or have in possession a shotgun shell containing lead or toxic shot while hunting on a posted waterfowl impoundment on a game land, except shotgun shells containing lead buckshot may be used while deer hunting. Individuals carrying a concealed handgun shall adhere to the requirements set forth in G.S. 14-415.11, even if the state issuing the concealed handgun permit is not North Carolina. On Butner-Falls of Neuse, Jordan, Kerr Scott, and Vance game lands, no person shall possess loaded firearms, ammunition, bows and arrows, crossbows, or other weapons except as provided in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36, Chapter III, Part 327.13, which is incorporated by reference, including subsequent amendments and editions. This document may be accessed at www.ecfr.gov at no cost. On Buckhorn, Chatham, Harris, Hyco, Lee, Mayo, and Sutton Lake game lands; Pee Dee River Game Land north of U.S. 74; and that portion of R. Wayne Bailey- Caswell Game Land that is located north of U.S. 158 and east of N.C. 119, no person shall possess a firearm during closed hunting seasons or closed hunting days for game birds or game animals, except under the following conditions:
(1) the firearm is a .22 caliber pistol with a barrel not greater than seven and one-half inches in length and shooting only short, long, or long rifle ammunition carried as a side arm;
(2) the firearm is cased or not immediately available for use;
(3) the firearm is used by persons participating in field trials on field trial areas; or
(4) the firearm is possessed in designated camping areas for defense of persons and property.
(e) Game Lands License: Hunting and Trapping
(1) Except as provided in Subparagraph (4) of this Paragraph, a person entering a game land to hunt, trap, run dogs, or train dogs using wildlife shall have in his or her possession a valid North Carolina hunting or trapping license.
(2) For Commission-sanctioned field trials, active participants, as defined in 15A NCAC 10B .0114, in a field trial using wildlife shall possess a North Carolina hunting license, except non-residents may substitute hunting licenses from their state(s) of residence.
(3) For other field trials using wildlife occurring on game lands, judges and active participants shall possess a North Carolina hunting license.
(4) Exceptions:
(A) a person under 16 years of age may hunt on game lands on the license of his parent or legal guardian;
(B) on the game lands described in Rule .0103 (j)(1) of this Section, the game lands license is required for hunting doves; other activities are subject to the control of the landowners.
(f) Field Trials and Training Dogs. An individual or organization sponsoring a field trial on the Sandhills Field Trial area shall file an application with the Commission to use the area with the facility use fee computed at the rate of three hundred dollars ($300.00) for each scheduled day of the trial. The total facility use fee shall cover the period from 12:00 noon of the day preceding the first scheduled day of the trial to 10:00 a.m. of the day following the last scheduled day of the trial. The facility use fee shall be paid for all intermediate days on which trials are not run but the building or facilities are used or occupied. A fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per day shall be charged to sporting, educational, or scouting groups for scheduled events utilizing the club house only. No person or group of persons or other entity shall enter or use the physical facilities located on the Sandhills Field Trial area or the Laurinburg Fox Trial facility without written approval from an authorized agent of the Wildlife Resources Commission, and no entry or use of a facility shall exceed the scope of or continue beyond the approved use. The Sandhills Field Trial facilities shall be used only for field trials scheduled with the approval of the Wildlife Resources Commission. No more than 20 days of field trials may be scheduled for occurrence on the Sandhills facilities during a calendar month, and no more than five days may be scheduled during a calendar week. A field trial requiring more than five days may be scheduled during one week with reduction of the maximum number of days allowable during some other week so that the monthly maximum of 20 days is not exceeded. Before October 1 of each year, the North Carolina Field Trial Association or other organization desiring use of the Sandhills facilities between the Wednesday on or nearest October 18 and the second Friday before Thanksgiving and between the first Monday following Thanksgiving and March 31 shall submit its proposed schedule of use to the Wildlife Resources Commission for consideration and approval. The use of the Sandhills Field Trial facilities by individuals for training dogs is prohibited; elsewhere on the Sandhills Game Lands dogs may be trained only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from October 1 through April 1. Dogs may not be trained or permitted to run unleashed from April 1 through August 15 on game lands located west of I-95, except when participating in field trials sanctioned by the Wildlife Resources Commission. Dogs may not be trained or permitted to run unleashed from March 15 through June 15 on game lands located east of I-95, except when participating in field trials sanctioned by the Wildlife Resources Commission. Additionally, on game lands located west of I-95 where special hunts are scheduled for sportsmen participating in the Disabled Sportsman Program, dogs may not be trained or allowed to run unleashed during legal big game hunting hours on the dates of the special hunts. A field trial shall be authorized when the field trial does not conflict with other planned activities on the game land or field trial facilities, and the applying organization demonstrates their experience and expertise in conducting genuine field trial activities. Entry to physical facilities, other than by field trial organizations under permit, shall be granted when they do not conflict with other planned activities previously approved by the Commission and they do not conflict with the mission of the agency.
(g) Trapping. Subject to the restrictions contained in 15A NCAC 10B .0300, trapping of furbearing animals, armadillos, coyotes, and groundhogs is permitted on game lands during the open trapping seasons for those areas, established by rule. Foxes may be trapped on game lands from October 1 through the end of February in a county with an open fox trapping season that falls between October 1 and the end of February. Foxes may not be taken by trapping on game lands in counties with a closed fox trapping season or during a fox trapping season that occurs outside the dates of October 1 through the end of February. Additionally, fox trapping is allowed on game lands in Clay, Graham, Henderson, Macon, and Tyrrell counties with a daily bag limit of two and a season bag limit of 10 from the first to the fourth Saturday in January. Trapping is prohibited:
(1) on the J Robert Gordon Field Trial Area of Sandhills Game Land;
(2) in posted "safety zones" located on a game land;
(3) by the use of bait on the National Forest Lands bounded by the Blue Ridge Parkway on the south, US 276 on the north and east, and NC 215 on the west;
(4) on the DuPont State Forest Game Lands; and
(5) from April 1 through September 31.
At a trap, trappers may use a single bait site of grain, fruit, or other foods when trapping if the food is not a processed food product as defined in G.S. 113-294(r), is less than 3 cubic inches and is covered to prevent it from being seen from above. Feathers, including those with attached skin or entire bird wings, hair with or without skin or hide, and bones that include no attached meat, organs, or viscera do not need to be covered.
(h) Vehicular Traffic. No person shall drive a motorized vehicle on a game land except on roads constructed, maintained, and opened for vehicular travel and on trails posted for vehicular travel, unless the person:
(1) is driving in the vehicle gallery of a scheduled bird dog field trial held on the Sandhills Game Land; or
(2) is a disabled sportsman as defined in Paragraph (l) of this Rule or holds a Disabled Access Program Permit as described in Paragraph (l) of this Rule and is abiding by the rules described in Paragraph (k).
(i) Camping.
(1) No person shall camp on a game land except on an area posted by the landowner for camping.
(2) On game lands owned by the State of North Carolina, where the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is the primary custodian, the maximum period of consecutive overnight camping at a designated camping area is 14 days within any 30-day period, unless otherwise specified in rules of this Subchapter. After 14 consecutive days of camping, personal belongings shall be removed from the game land.
(3) A hunting, fishing, trapping or Game Lands License is required for individuals age 16 or older to camp on game lands in areas posted for camping except when camping within 100 yards of the Roanoke River on the state-owned portion of the Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land, within 100 yards of the Neuse River on that portion of the game land west of NC-43, and in posted areas along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail on Butner-Falls of Neuse Game Land.
(j) Release of Animals and Fish. It is unlawful to release pen-raised animals or birds, wild animals or birds, domesticated animals, except hunting dogs and raptors where otherwise permitted for hunting or training purposes, or feral animals, or hatchery-raised fish on game lands without written authorization. It is unlawful to move wild fish from one stream to another on game lands without written authorization. Written authorization shall be given when release of animals is determined by a Wildlife Resources Commission biologist not to be harmful to native wildlife in the area and is in the public interest or advance the programs and goals of the Wildlife Resources Commission.
(k) Non-Highway Licensed Vehicles. It is unlawful to operate motorized land vehicles not licensed for highway use on game lands except for designated areas on National Forests. Disabled persons as defined in Paragraph (l) of this Rule and people who have obtained a Disabled Access Program permit are exempt from this restriction but shall comply with the terms of their permit. Furthermore, disabled persons, as defined under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 126) may use wheelchairs or other all-terrain wheelchairs on areas where foot travel is allowed. Off road vehicles including ATVs, UTVs, and ebikes are not permitted.
(l) Disabled Access Program. Disabled individuals who meet the requirements of G.S. 113-296 may obtain a Disabled Access Permit and Disabled Sportsman Hunt Certification online at ncwildlife.org. The Disabled Access Permit allows individuals to operate electric wheel chairs, all-terrain vehicles, and other passenger vehicles on any Commission-maintained road open for vehicular travel and those trails posted for vehicular travel and ungated or open-gated roads otherwise closed to vehicular traffic on game lands owned by the Wildlife Resources Commission and on game lands whose owners have agreed to that use. Those game lands, or parts thereof, where this Paragraph applies are designated online, at www.ncwildlife.org. This Paragraph does not permit vehicular access on fields, openings, roads, paths, or trails planted for wildlife food or cover. One companion, who is identified by a companion card issued to each qualified disabled person, may accompany a disabled person to provide assistance, provided the companion is constantly in visual or verbal contact with the disabled person. The companion may participate in lawful activities while assisting a disabled person, provided license requirements are met. A vehicle used by a qualified disabled person for access to game lands under this provision shall have the Disabled Access Permit available for inspection by wildlife enforcement officers upon request. Hunters who qualify under the Disabled Sportsman Program and their companions may access special hunting blinds for people with disabilities during regularly scheduled, non-permit hunting days on a first come basis, except for those blinds located on the Restricted Area of Caswell Game Land. It is unlawful for anyone other than disabled persons holding a Disabled Access Permit, during waterfowl season, to hunt within 100 yards of a waterfowl blind designated by the Wildlife Resources Commission as a Disabled Sportsman's hunting blind. The Disabled Sportsman Hunt Certification allows individuals to apply for available Disabled sportsman permit hunting opportunities as prescribed in G.S. 113-296.
(m) Public nudity. Public nudity, including nude sunbathing, is prohibited on game lands, including land or water. For the purposes of this Section, "public nudity" means a person's intentional failure to cover with a fully opaque covering the person's genitals, pubic area, anal area, or female breasts below a point from the top of the areola while in a public place.
(n) Shooting Ranges. On public shooting ranges managed by the Commission, no person shall use designated shooting ranges for purposes other than for firearm or bow and arrow marksmanship, development of shooting skills, or for other safe uses of firearms and archery equipment. Other uses, including camping, building fires, operating concessions or other activities not directly involved with recreational or competitive shooting are prohibited, unless written authorization is obtained from the Commission. No person, when using any shooting range, shall deposit debris or refuse on the grounds of the range. This includes items used as targets, except that clay targets broken on the range, by the shooter, may be left on the grounds where they fall. No person shall shoot items made of glass on the grounds of the range. No person may leave a vehicle or other obstruction in a location or position that it will prevent, impede, or inconvenience the use by other persons of any shooting range. No person shall leave a vehicle or other object parked in a place on the shooting range other than the place or zone that is designated and posted or marked as an authorized parking zone. No person shall handle firearms or bow and arrow on a shooting range in a careless or reckless manner. No person shall intentionally shoot into any target holder, post, or other permanent fixture or structure while using a shooting range. No person shall shoot a firearm in a manner that would cause rifled or smoothbore projectiles to travel off of the range, except that shotgun shot, size No. 4 or smaller may be allowed to travel from the range if it presents no risk of harm or injury to a person. Persons using a shooting range shall obey posted range safety rules and those persons who violate range safety rules or create a public safety hazard shall leave the shooting range if directed to by law enforcement officers or to leave by Commission employees. No person shall handle firearms on a shooting range while under the influence of an impairing substance. The consumption of alcohol or alcoholic beverages on a shooting range is prohibited. Open days and hours of operation shall be designated on signs and at least one sign shall be posted at the entrance to each shooting range. No person, when using a shooting range, shall do an act that is prohibited or neglect to do an act that is required by signs or markings placed on the area under authority of this Rule for regulating the use of the area.
(o) Limited-access Roads. During the months of June, July, and August, roads posted as "Limited-access Roads" are open to motorized vehicles from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. These roads shall be posted with the opening and closing times.
(p) No person shall attempt to obscure the sex or age of a bird or animal taken by severing the head or any other part thereof, or possess a bird or animal that has been so mutilated.
(q) Baiting. Except as provided in Paragraph (g) of this Rule, no person shall place, or cause to be placed on a game land, salt, grain, fruit, or other foods without written authorization from an agent of the Commission. Written authorization may be provided for Commission authorized projects or Commission contractors to meet specific objectives. Except as authorized by rule, no person shall take or attempt to take wild birds or wild animals attracted to these foods.
History Note: Authority G.S. 113-129; 113-134; 113-264; 113-270.3; 113-291.2; 113-291.5; 113-305; 113-306; 143-318.10;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
Amended Eff. July 1, 1993; April 1, 1992;
Temporary Amendment Eff. October 11, 1993;
Amended Eff. July 1, 1998; July 1, 1996; July 1, 1995; July 1, 1994;
Temporary Amendment Eff. July 1, 1999;
Amended Eff. July 1, 2000;
Temporary Amendment Eff. August 31, 2001;
Amended Eff. August 1, 2002;
Amended Eff. June 1, 2004; (this amendment replaces the amendment approved by RRC on July 17, 2003);
Amended Eff. January 1, 2013; January 1, 2012; June 1, 2011; August 1, 2010; May 1, 2009; May 1, 2008; May 1, 2007; May 1, 2006; November 1, 2005;
Temporary Amendment Eff. July 1, 2014;
Amended Eff. February 1, 2023; August 1, 2022; August 1, 2021; August 1, 2020; August 1, 2017; August 1, 2016; May 1, 2015; August 1, 2014;
Readopted Eff. August 1, 2023;
Amended Eff. November 1, 2023.