15A NCAC 10J .0103       HUNTING ON WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AREAS

(a)  Safety Requirements. No person while hunting on any area designated and posted as a wildlife conservation area shall be under the influence of alcohol or any narcotic drug.

(b)  Tree Stands. It is unlawful to erect or to occupy, for the purpose of hunting, any tree stand or platform attached by nails, screws, bolts, or wire to a tree on any area designated and posted as a wildlife conservation area. This prohibition shall not apply to lag‑screw steps or portable stands that are removed after use with no metal left remaining in or attached to the tree.

(c)  Time and Manner of Taking. Except where closed to hunting or limited to specific dates by the rules of this Chapter hunting on areas designated and posted as wildlife conservation areas is permitted during the open season for the game or furbearing species being hunted. Waterfowl hunters shall not enter the areas earlier than 4:00 a.m. on the permitted hunting dates, and hunting is prohibited after 1:00 p.m. on such hunting dates; decoys may not be set out prior to 4:00 a.m. and must be removed by 3:00 p.m. each date. No person shall operate any vessel or vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine on the waters of any area designated and posted as a wildlife conservation area. No person shall attempt to obscure the sex or age of any bird or animal taken by severing the head or any other part thereof, or possess any bird or animal which has been so mutilated. No person shall place, or cause to be placed on any area designated and posted as a wildlife conservation area, salt, grain, fruit, or other foods without prior written authorization of the Commission or its agent and no person shall take or attempt to take any game birds or game animals attracted to such foods. No person shall use an electronic calling device for the purpose of attracting wild birds or wild animals. No live wild animals or wild birds shall be removed from any designated wildlife conservation area except with the written permission of the landowner.

(d)  Hunting Dates:

(1)           Any game may be taken during the open seasons and hunting is limited to Mondays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Days. In addition, deer may be taken with bow and arrow on the opening day of the bow and arrow season for deer. Raccoon and opossum hunting may continue until 7:00 a.m. on Tuesdays, until 7:00 a.m. on Thursdays, and until midnight on Saturdays.

(2)           Except as otherwise indicated, the following designated wildlife conservation areas or indicated portions thereof are closed to all hunting:

(A)          Nona Pitt Hinson Cohen Wildlife Conservation Area - Richmond County.

(B)          John D. Lewis Wildlife Conservation Area - Wayne County.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113‑134; 113‑136; 113‑264; 113‑291.2; 113‑291.5; 113‑305;

Eff. February 1, 1990;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2021; October 1, 1994.