RALEIGH, N.C. (Nov. 8, 2010) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has adopted a statewide goal for management of deer and deer hunting that incorporates biological and non-biological considerations  for evaluating deer season regulation change proposals. The Commission’s goal will “use science-based decision making and biologically sound management principles to assure long-term viability of deer populations at desirable levels of health, herd composition, and density with regard to land cover type and use, hunter satisfaction, and overall social acceptance.” The evaluation process, while not a rule change in itself, will guide agency staff in evaluating new deer season regulations. Agency staff will measure each new proposal against a set of biological and non-biological principles before they go before the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and potentially to public hearings. The process is intended to create a consistent mea

RALEIGH, N.C. (Nov. 4, 2010) – The Commissioners of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission unanimously passed a resolution Thursday, pledging the agency’s support for the management and stewardship of the East Fork Headwaters, an 8,000 acre tract of biologically diverse land in Transylvania County. During meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, the Commission agreed to manage the land if the Conservation Fund raises the money to purchase it. The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit land protection organization, is under contract to purchase the East Fork Headwaters Tract for $33 million. “This land is highly desirable for protection and public use, and is truly multipurpose,” said Gordon Myers, executive director of the Commission. “The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission supports The Conservation Fund’s effort to effectuate long-term conservation of this valuable resource.” The East Fork Headwaters tract is the largest

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

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. (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