Do you and your family like to go hunting, fishing or boating? Do you enjoy watching wild animals and being outdoors? If the answer is "yes," then you have used the state's wildlife resources.

These resources include all the wildlife in North Carolina—the wild animals that live on land and in our streams, creeks and rivers. These resources also include all the different kinds of natural places, or habitats, where wildlife live.

In 1947, the state's lawmakers decided that a special agency should take care of these resources. So they created the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission—a group of people who work to conserve the state's fish and wildlife resources.

This work includes giving advice to lawmakers about laws and policies that affect wildlife and the public. Because of this, a group of 17 citizens is in charge of the agency's work. These commissioners represent all the state's citizens because they come from different parts of the state. They meet several times each year to make decisions about the Wildlife Commission's work and to hear what people have to say about wildlife policies and laws.

The Wildlife Commission also has more than 500 employees. These employees do many different kinds of jobs and work in one of several different divisions.