Game Land Acquisitions
Monies from the endowment fund have gone to purchase thousands of acres of game lands, areas where the public can go to hunt, trap or fish. Recent land acquisitions include a 14,256-acre addition to Holly Shelter Game Land in Pender County and a 17,800-acre addition to South Mountains Game Land, which now encompasses nearly 21,000 acres, sprawling Rutherford, Cleveland, McDowell and Burke counties.
Small-game and Songbird Habitat Restorations
The Division of Wildlife Management has used the endowment fund to expand its wild turkey restocking program and to increase habitat and improve small game and songbird populations on private lands through the Cooperative Upland habitat Restoration and Enhancement (CURE) program. CURE focuses on creating enough habitat in selected areas to impact local wildlife populations. Through CURE, the Commission offers guidance, labor and financial assistance to qualified landowners who sign five-year contracts with the Commission.
Fish Hatchery Renovations
To enhance your fishing experiences and expand the variety of fishes stocked in the state, endowment funds have been used to improve state fish hatcheries, either by funding specific projects or serving as a match to obtain federal grants. The six hatcheries, located statewide, annually raise more than 7.8 million fish for stocking into North Carolina public, inland waters—from trout and walleye in the mountains to bluegill and striped bass in the Piedmont and Coastal regions.
Fishing Outreach Center Construction
The Division of Inland Fisheries used endowment monies to help fund the design and construction of a new fishing education center in Fayetteville. The center, which was completed in 2008, focuses on promoting fishing, aquatic education and conservation. Among the amenities the center provides are: fishing ponds that accommodate up to 500 anglers at one time; displays on various Commission aquatic education and fishing programs; accessible fishing platforms for anglers of all abilities; and various fishing-related classes, such as stream sampling and pond biological studies.
Wildlife Enforcement Equipment Purchases
Monies from the endowment fund have gone toward equipment purchases to help wildlife enforcement officers regulate hunting, fishing, trapping and boating laws to provide protection and enforce the laws related to all wild animal and freshwater aquatic resources in the state. This equipment not only plays a vital role in the safety of the officer but allows the enforcement division to maximize their efforts to prevent deer and turkey poaching, fish over-harvesting, bear baiting and countless other violations that jeopardize the safety of the state's citizens and its diverse wildlife resources.
K-9 Training
Endowment funds helped jumpstart the Division of Wildlife Enforcement’s K-9 project, which includes nine K-9 units distributed throughout the state. K-9's are trained in tracking and finding lost hunters, hikers and children; searching for illegal equipment often discarded by violators; and detecting excess and/or illegal game hidden from officers. A valuable asset in collecting evidence that might not be located otherwise, the K-9 units have increased the prosecution rate of poachers and provided deterrence through high-visibility patrol.
CATCH and WILD Educator Workshops
The Division of Conservation Education uses endowment funds for a variety of public education programs, such as CATCH (Caring for Aquatics Through Conservation Habits) and N.C. WILD, an instructional program for teachers to use wildlife and ecological concepts to teach math, science and language arts.
Education Outreach Centers
Endowment monies helped fund the construction of three public education centers, located across the state. Exhibits at the Centennial Center for Wildlife Education in Raleigh opened in April 2007, highlighting the species and habitats of the Piedmont region. Learn about the technology used in research and how wildlife survives in urban settings. The Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education features exhibits that highlight the connection between the natural and cultural history of Currituck Sound and the Outer Banks. Learn about migratory waterfowl and the sporting heritage of the northern coast. Learn about the diverse wildlife of the Mountain region and the importance of wetlands at the Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education, located in Brevard. The center is adjacent to the Bobby Setzer State Fish Hatchery where thousands of rainbow, brown and brook trout are raised for stocking streams and rivers.