Bear Management Electronic Stamp (E-Stamp)

 

  • The Bear Management E-Stamp is an electronic stamp required in addition to a hunting license, big game privilege license, and nonresident bear license (if applicable) to hunt bear in North Carolina. It is not a physical stamp.
  • The e-stamp may be purchased from July 1 until the close bear season and expire on June 30 of each year. 
  • The e-stamp is $11 for those with annual, short-term, or lifetime licenses purchased on or after July 1, 2014.
  • The e-stamp is free of charge for those with lifetime licenses purchased prior to July 1, 2014.  The $5 transaction fee does not apply for free items obtained directly from NCWRC.  It will apply at license agent locations.
  • Youth exempt from the hunting license requirement may obtain the e-stamp at no charge.  The $5 transaction fee does not apply for free items obtained directly from NCWRC.  It will apply at license agent locations.
  • Landowners, their spouses, and their dependents under 18 exempt from the hunting license requirement may also obtain the e-stamp at no charge, but it must be obtained directly from the NCWRC by phone at 833-950-0575 or in-person at NCWRC Headquarters.  The $5 transaction fee will not apply.  License agents are not able to issue this item to landowners because the system will not allow them to issue a no charge item without being able to verify they are exempt like it can with youth or lifetime license holders who purchased their license prior to July 1, 2014.
  • The e-stamp, if requested, will print as an item on the license and big game harvest report card.
  • Bear harvest information will not print on the report card if the license holder does not possess a valid e-stamp.  For those without an e-stamp, a disclaimer will print on the report card notifying the hunter they must obtain the e-stamp before hunting bear.
  • The e-stamp is necessary to identify bear hunters in order to allow for improved data collection to manage the black bear population more adaptively and efficiently.  For this reason, it is important that hunters only obtain the e-stamp if they plan to hunt bear this season.
  • Each hunter who receives an e-stamp will also receive a packet of information that explains the Black Bear Cooperator program, provides information on submitting a bear tooth, etc….
  • Revenue generated from e-stamp sales will go directly toward black bear management.