The agency’s Law Enforcement Division enforces the game, fish and boating laws of North Carolina as established by the N.C. General Assembly and the agency. Wildlife officers are state law enforcement officers, with arrest authority for state and federal violations. Each holds a Basic Law Enforcement Training certification.
Find an Enforcement Officer near you.
The N.C. Turn-in-Poachers (TIP) program is a silent witness, anti-poaching program that encourages the public to report any suspicious activity or knowledge about poaching violations.
“On the Road, On the Water, Don’t Drink and Drive” is an annual campaign that works to reduce alcohol-related accidents on the state’s roadways and waterways, both of which see increased traffic during summer months. The campaign is coordinated by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the State Highway Patrol, and supported by local police and sheriff’s offices, along with participating non-governmental organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission introduced the “Preserve Your Life” campaign in 2017 to raise awareness and educate the public about the importance of life jackets. Wearing a life jacket is a simple safety precaution that can prevent tragedy from happening in the event of an accident. There's no reason to not wear a life jacket. In the end, your life may literally depend on it.
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission received funding and authority from the N.C. General Assembly to inspect, investigate and remove abandoned and derelict vessels that are associated with Hurricane Florence and other past storms. Vessels that have been identified as abandoned or derelict will be added to a state database and prioritized for removal.
The Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact is a multi-state agreement that recognizes suspension of hunting, fishing and trapping licenses in all Compact member states.
Since 1930, 11 officers have given their lives in service to the agency and to the conservation of North Carolina’s valuable wildlife resources.
Dove Hunting in North Carolina (PDF)
Ginseng Regulations in North Carolina
In this video series, Wildlife Law Enforcement Officers explain the following topics: hunting on Sundays; North Carolina's Landowner Protection Act; validating your NC Big Game Harvest Report Card and reporting your harvest; determining legal shooting times in North Carolina; and, North Carolina's Requirements to Display Hunter Orange.
Experience a day in the life of a NC Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer on patrol during the busy 4th of July weekend on Lake Norman in North Carolina.