RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 22, 2010) – Two cities recently joined the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Program. In Old Fort, located in McDowell County, a .7-mile section of Mill Creek that runs through the downtown area now is classified as a Mountain Heritage Trout Water. Because it is delayed-harvest trout water, anglers must use single-hook artificial lures and cannot harvest or possess any trout from Oct. 1, until one half-hour after sunset on June 3, 2011. The section will then remain closed to fishing until 6 a.m. on June 4 when it reopens to anglers 15 years and younger under hatchery-supported regulations, with no bait restriction, no minimum length limit and a 7-trout-per-day creel limit. The section will open to anglers of all ages at noon on June 4. Hatchery-supported regulations remain in effect until Oct. 1 each year. In Burnsville, the .75-mile section of the South Toe River located in the Yancey County Toe River Cam

RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 16, 2010) – A special deer hunting opportunity near New Bern is available for youth through the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. The hunt will be held Dec. 4 at the Weyerhaeuser-Cool Springs Environmental Education Center between Vanceboro and New Bern on U.S. 17. To be eligible for the hunt, a youth must be between 12 and 16 years old and have successfully completed a hunter education course. “Part of the Permit Hunting Opportunities, this deer hunt will provide participants with the opportunity for an enjoyable and memorable outdoor experience while introducing them to safe and responsible hunting,” said BB Gillen, outdoor skills coordinator for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. The cost is $5 per youth hunter and the deadline to purchase a permit is Nov. 19. Permits can be purchased at any Wildlife Service Agent location or by phone at (888) 248-6834. Please specify Item # 8525. During the hunt, the youth must

RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 3, 2010) – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is alerting hunters that bow-and-arrow season opens Saturday, Sept. 11 at the Sandhills, Rockfish Creek and Nicholson Creek game lands. Pages 68 and 69 of the current North Carolina Inland Fishing, Hunting, & Trapping Regulations digest incorrectly states the season opens on these game lands on Sept. 13. For a complete list of rules and regulations, download The 2010-11 North Carolina Inland Fishing, Hunting, & Trapping Regulations.

RALEIGH, N.C. (Sept. 2, 2010) – Despite North Carolina’s current state of emergency, dove season will open as scheduled at noon on Sept. 4. After Gov. Perdue declared a state of emergency on Wednesday due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Earl, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission received numerous calls from the public asking if dove hunting will be allowed beginning this weekend. The Governor’s Office has informed the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission that nothing in the current emergency declaration, Executive Order 62,  invokes any provision of law that would prohibit lawful hunting activities, including transporting a firearm to and from a hunting location (subject to local emergency ordinances to the contrary).  Hunters in coastal areas should stay tuned to local media for the latest updates on Hurricane Earl and related emergency conditions that could affect the safety of themselves or others.  For more info

RALEIGH, N.C. (September 1, 2010) – The N.C Wildlife Resources Commission has set season dates, bag limits and applicable regulations for the 2010-11 season. Working within mandatory frameworks established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Commission set the following regulations: Conventional bag limits: Six ducks with no more than four scoters Four mallards with no more than two hen mallards, Three wood ducks Two redheads Two scaup Two pintails One black or mottled duck (season closed until Dec. 1) One canvasback One fulvous whistling duck. The season on harlequin ducks is closed. Other limits: Twenty five light geese (Includes snow and blue geese & Ross’ geese), no possession limit Two brant Five mergansers (two hooded mergansers) Seven sea ducks (in special sea duck area only). In other areas, sea ducks are part of the regular duck bag limit. No more than four scoters per day may be taken in either season