Page 6 - 2013-14-PHO

The Permit Hunting Opportunities Program was established by the N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission (referred to throughout this guide as the Commission) to provide permit hunting opportunities across the state to licensed hunters. These permits allow for managed participa-tion and provide unique hunting opportunities for special areas or species such as dove, deer, bear, waterfowl, tundra swan, turkey, small game, and furbearer trapping. This program also includes special opportunities for youth and persons with disabilities. The program offers both quota and non-quota (point-of-sale) hunts.

This program is comprised of state-owned game lands, private lands, and federal lands. The Commission administers the hunts on game lands and some private lands. It also administers the permit application and draw process. Non-Commission program participants, such as the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service–National Wildlife Refuges (NWR), facilitate and administer the hunts they have listed in this program. Hunts taking place on private or federal lands may have separate rules and regulations pertaining to their hunts. For more information, refer to the Refuge Area Reference Information section of this guide. These program participants include: Currituck NWR, Mattamuskeet NWR, Pocosin Lakes NWR, Roanoke River NWR, and Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation.

Quota hunt permit recipients are selected by drawing. There is a limit on the number of hunters participating in quota hunts. The quotas are generally determined by estimating the number of hunters the area can support and still provide quality hunting experiences. For hunts without a quota, permits will be issued at the point-of-sale (POS). Unless otherwise speciﬁed, there is a $5 nonrefundable administrative fee for each permit hunt application with the exception of the disabled hunts. Disabled sportsmen will be charged a $10 nonrefundable administrative fee that covers all disabled hunts applied for in one transaction.

Unless otherwise speciﬁed, a permit is required for all individuals wanting to hunt or trap on permit-only lands, including youth, regardless of age.

Permits are nontransferable and allow hunting on speciﬁc dates or for species requiring strict harvest and hunter participation information. All bag limits, possession limits and appropriate reporting requirements as outlined in the North Carolina Inland Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest apply.

The Commission will release leftover permits for sale within 10 days after the application deadline. Leftover permits are those that are not awarded after the drawing has taken place. A list of leftover permit hunt items will be displayed at www.ncwildlife.org and will include instructions for obtaining a permit.

Late-season waterfowl hunt dates are not included in this publication because these dates are not available prior to publication. This information will be available on Sept. 1 at www.ncwildlife.org or by calling 888-248-6834. Some of the waterfowl hunts are scheduled to occur on impounded wetlands. The Commission will make every effort to have water on these areas in time to attract waterfowl. In some years, however, drought, unforeseen dike repairs, and other unexpected events may result in the impoundments not being ready by the hunt date. No refunds can be issued in these situations. Apply only if you are willing to accept this possibility.

IMPORTANT: This publication does not serve as a regulatory guide. Hunters and trappers should always refer to the North Carolina Inland Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest for regula-tions and local laws.