SALEMBURG, N.C. (Aug. 30, 2010) – On August 26, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission welcomed 15 new wildlife officers into the ranks of the Division of Law Enforcement, with the mission to enforce game, fish and boating laws and to protect the resources of the state and the safety of its citizens.

The officers and their hometowns and counties are:
Brandon Barbee, Richfield, Stanly County
Tyler Campbell, Catawba, Catawba County
Brandon Coffey, Granite Falls, Caldwell County
Justin Covil, Lynn, Polk County
Dustin Ethridge, Morganton, Burke County
Dee Hubbard, Granite Falls, Caldwell County
Branden Jones, Saluda, Polk County
Michael King, Asheboro, Randolph County
William Parrish, Clinton, Sampson County
Michael Paxinos, Pikeville, Wayne County
Carson Rogers, Hendersonville, Henderson County
Andrew Smith, Lansing, Ashe County
Kyle Van Althuis, Sherburne, N.Y.
Jamie D. Wood, Wallace, Duplin County
Johnny Young Jr., Linwood, Davidson County

Recru

RALEIGH, N.C. (Aug. 31, 2010) – One of the most popular hunting traditions in North Carolina is dove season, bringing family and friends together afield. The “Home from the Hunt” safety campaign reminds everyone that a rewarding experience happens only when all hunters are safe and responsible.

The 2010–11 season for mourning and white-winged dove is Sept. 4 – Oct. 9; Nov. 22 – Nov. 27; and Dec. 18 – Jan. 14. Daily bag limit is 15 and possession limit is 30. For doves, shooting hours are from noon until sunset on opening day only and from a half hour before sunrise until sunset thereafter.

Hunter Education Specialists with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission advise:

Be Safe
When hunting in a group, know where others are and communicate.
Never shoot at low-flying birds.
Alert companions when a bird is too low to safely allow a shot.

Be Responsible
Know your field of fire. Don’t pepper pe

RALEIGH, N.C. (Aug. 31, 2010) – Beginning Sept. 1, sportsmen can apply for permit waterfowl hunts by visiting a Wildlife Service Agent or by calling (888) 248-6834, Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.  The deadline for the majority of permit hunts is Oct. 1.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission set the late-season waterfowl dates at its August business meeting and information on all late-season waterfowl permit hunting opportunities, including locations, dates and quotas, can be found here.

RALEIGH, N.C. (Oct. 1, 2010) –  The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is alerting citizens that many access roads to game lands in the coastal region of the state have been closed due to flooding from heavy rains.

Closed roads will be barricaded and marked with signs. The Commission will make every effort to open the roads as soon as they are able to withstand vehicular use.

Learn more about North Carolina’s game lands, and view an interactive, searchable map.

RALEIGH, N.C. (Oct. 7, 2010) — “Take It Outside” at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s N.C. State Fair exhibit this year to learn more about the many outdoor opportunities offered by the agency.

The exhibit, located downhill from the Village of Yesteryear, is open to the public from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Oct. 14, and from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Oct. 15-24.

The ‘Take It Outside’ exhibit provides an indication of the many hunting, fishing, boating, watching and learning opportunities provided to the public by the Commission. Visitors can check out a 12-foot, interactive map to find places to hunt, fish, boat and wildlife watch within 50 miles of where they live.

“We want everyone who visits our tent to know that there are likely several places near their homes where they can wet a line, go hunting or boating, or simply watch wildlife,” said Penny Miller, communications director for the Commission.

RALEIGH, N.C. (Oct. 14, 2010) – Human dimensions in wildlife conservation – the “people aspect” of nature – will be the topic for the Oct. 27th Fisheries and Wildlife Seminar at the Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education.

The seminar, titled “Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management: What is it and Why Should You Care?” will be presented by Dr. Nils Peterson and Kerry Linehan at 4 p.m. following a networking session with refreshments, which begins at 3:30 p.m.

An assistant professor at N.C. State University, Dr. Peterson researches the relationships of human actions and natural systems. He examines how factors from land use policies to household dynamics affect the environment and endangered wildlife populations. He will relate how this research and its applications can benefit conservation measures.

As a human dimensions biologist for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, Linehan conducts and coor

RALEIGH, N.C. (Oct. 15, 2010) – Fred Rorrer, a longtime hunter education specialist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission who taught thousands of North Carolinians about respect and enjoyment of the outdoors, died unexpectedly Monday, Oct. 11. He was 52 years old.

Services will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 16th, at the Fair Funeral Home, 432 Boone Road, Eden. The family will receive friends beginning one hour prior to the service at Fair Funeral Home.

“Fred Rorrer was the caliber of man who, whether personally or professionally, represented conservation and this agency in the best possible way,” said Col. Dale Caveny, chief of the Commission’s Division of Law Enforcement, which administers the state’s Hunter Education Program. “He was an avid outdoorsman and a great ambassador for hunting and fishing. His passing leaves a void and, for those who knew him, a real hurt.”

As a hunter education

RALEIGH, N.C. (October 15, 2010) – Youth visiting the Wildlife Commission’s exhibit at the State Fair on Monday, Oct.18, can participate in several activities designed to educate and entertain, including interacting with conservation educators and biologists to learn answers to wildlife questions and earn a wildlife sticker.

The day has been designated Youth Day by the N.C. Department of Agriculture, and participants can test their shooting skills at a free air rifle range, learn to identify animals by their scat, handle animal pelts and see live amphibians and reptiles.

Through the duration of the fair, visitors can see the Commission’s “Take it Outside” exhibit, which provides an indication of the many hunting, fishing, boating, watching and learning opportunities provided to the public by the Commission. Visitors can check out a 12-foot, interactive map to find places to hunt, fish, boat and wildlife watch within 50 miles of wh

RALEIGH, N.C. (October 18, 2010) – There is still time to pledge to mentor someone new to hunting during the 2010 hunting season.

Sign-ups for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Hunting Matters! “Hats On” Mentoring Campaign end Nov. 1. Those who sign up by the Nov. 1 deadline will receive a free hat and bumper sticker.

“We’re asking hunters to join the more than 3,000 people who have already promised to introduce someone new to hunting, a unique opportunity to connect with the natural world we live in that can not be found elsewhere,” said Walter “Deet” James, the Commission’s Hunting Heritage biologist. “If you enjoy hunting, consider sharing the experience with someone who is interested in the outdoors and otherwise may not have the opportunity to learn about the activity.”

The Commission’s Hunting Heritage Program is based on the premise th

RALEIGH, N.C. (October 21, 2010) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is reminding residents that if they harvest a deer in Virginia, they must follow North Carolina processing and packaging regulations if they want to bring it home.

Since a deer tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease in Virginia last year, hunters must take care not to spread CWD to North Carolina. Only the following deer, elk, or moose carcass parts harvested in states or provinces with CWD are allowed into North Carolina:
Meat that is cut and wrapped
Quarters or other portions of meat with no part of the spinal column or head attached
Meat that has been boned out
Caped hides
Cleaned skull plates
Antlers
Cleaned teeth
Finished taxidermy products

States where CWD has been detected include Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Montana, Wisconsin, New Mexico, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Illinois, Utah, West Virginia, New York, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Virgini

RALEIGH, N.C. (Oct. 25, 2010) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission recently honored 12 hunter education instructors from across the state who had achieved 1,000 volunteer hours or more of service.

Trophies and congratulations were presented during the Wildlife Commissioners’ meeting on Oct. 13 at the Wildlife Resources Commission headquarters, located on the Centennial Campus of N.C. State University in Raleigh. The instructors received a standing ovation from the commissioners.

The honorees and their hometowns are:

Terry Boyce, Elizabeth City
Cody Reed, Greensboro

John Hall, Trenton
Charles Kearns, Lexington

Ernest Darden, Fayetteville
Gary Steeley, Kannapolis

James Edwards, Stedman
Link Grass, Denver

Karl Koval, Hope Mills
Bruce Sweezy, Hickory

Walter Wilson, Lillington
George Pullman, Arden

“Instructors give up their personal time to teach and to be taught, since being updated in t

RALEIGH, N.C. (Oct. 26, 2010) – To help boost the striped bass fishery in the Cape Fear River, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will conduct the first of two stockings of this popular game fish at the Castle Street boat landing in Wilmington on Monday.

The first stocking will consist of approximately 10,000 striped bass, ranging in length from 4 to 6 inches. A second stocking of more than 100,000 fish will occur in early December. The fish were produced at the Commission’s Watha State Fish Hatchery in Pender County. 

The Commission has stocked striped bass of various sizes in the Cape Fear River on an annual basis since 1998; however, this is the first stocking of fish that were produced using brood fish collected exclusively from the Cape Fear River. All previous stockings were from brood fish collected from the Roanoke River. 

“The hope is that by stocking fish raised from parents collected from the Cape Fear, the fish w