Proposed Regulations

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has the authority, granted by the Legislature, to create regulations called “rules” which although not state law, have the force of law. The complete set of rules under the jurisdiction of the Commission can be found here. From Proposal to Regulation describes the Commission's rule-making procedures. Below is a list of the rules the Commission is currently proposing to change, a description of each, and ways to submit your comments. We welcome your feedback.

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15A NCAC 10D .0252 - Needmore Game Land Permanent Amendment

2025-2026 Proposed Regulation Changes

15A NCAC 10F .0304 - Bladen County (White Lake) Temporary Amendment

Periodic Review

Various No-Wake Zones

 

15A NCAC 10D .0252 - Needmore Game Land in Macon and Swain Counties (Permanent Amendment)

Reason for Proposed Action:

Because of the changes to the 2024 deer season, this amendment is needed to remove the one day of introductory antlerless deer harvest during the gun season on the Needmore Game Land in Macon and Swain County and will align Needmore Game Land to the same antlerless deer season structure as the adjacent Nantahala Game Land in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, and Swain counties.

Proposed Rule Text:

15A NCAC 10D .0252

Fiscal Note:

2024-2025 Land and Water Access Fiscal Note

Public Hearing Information:

Date: August 28, 2024
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual - Zoom Online Webinar

Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:

  • Registration required. Register for Public Hearing.
  • Join by phone. Toll free (833) 568-8864, Webinar ID: 160 525 8341 and registration passcode.

Submit a Comment:

Public Comment Period Ends: September 13, 2024

2025-2026 Proposed Regulation Changes

Reason for Proposed Action:

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) has been responsible for managing North Carolina's wildlife resources since 1947. Rules are one means of managing these resources to serve the interests of the State’s citizens.

Each year, the NCWRC reviews and adjusts seasons, bag limits, and land management regulations, as needed, to achieve conservation management goals, comply with statutory changes, and respond to constituent requests and suggestions.

NCWRC Commissioners will consider the proposed changes at their October 2024 meeting. If adopted, the rules will take effect August 1, 2025, and will be in place for the 2025-2026 Inland Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping seasons.

Proposed Rule Text

Proposed Changes Summary

Fiscal Notes:

2025-2026 Inland Fishing Fiscal Note

2025-2026 Land and Water Access Fiscal Note

2025-2026 Wildlife Management Fiscal Note

Public Hearing Information:

Submit a Comment:

Public Comment Period Ends: September 13, 2024

15A NCAC 10F .0304 – Bladen County (White Lake) Temporary Amendment

Reason for Proposed Action:

The agency was recently notified of a serious safety hazard caused by previous amendments to the Rule for the restricted area at White Lake. The restricted area is 500 feet from the shoreline around the entire perimeter of the lake. Because of the size of the restricted area and the shallow water in that portion of the lake, swimming within the restricted area is common. The proposed amendment will require motorboats to travel perpendicular to the shore and at no wake speed within the restricted area at White Lake.

Proposed Rule Text

Public Hearing Information:

Date: September 18, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual - Zoom Online Webinar

Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:

  • Registration required. Register for Public Hearing.
  • Join by phone. Tool free (833) 568 8864, Webinar ID: 161 358 0163 and registration passcode.

Date: August 20, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual - Zoom Online Webinar

Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:

  • Registration required. Register for Public Hearing.
  • Join by phone. Toll free (833) 568-8864, Webinar ID: 160 802 1797 and registration passcode.

Submit a Comment:

Public Comment Period Ends: September 23, 2024

Periodic Review

Reason for Proposed Action:

These rules were determined to be “necessary with substantive public interest” and are required to readopted as part of the periodic review. Proposed amendments are for clarity and to align with current rule formatting requirements.

Proposed Rule Text

15A NCAC 10G .0501 License Requirements

15A NCAC 10J .0103 Hunting on Wildlife Conservation Areas 

15A NCAC 10J .0104 Fishing on Wildlife Conservation Areas

Public Hearing Information:

Date: October 23, 2024
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual - Zoom Online Webinar

Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:

  • Registration required. Register for Public Hearing.
  • Join by phone. Toll free (833) 568-8864, Webinar ID: 160 187 2762 and registration passcode.

Submit a Comment:

Public Comment Period Ends: November 4, 2024

Various No-Wake Zones

Reason for Proposed Action:

Amendments to the following rules are proposed to correct location information of no-wake zones and mitigate hazards to boater safety.

Proposed Rule Text

15A NCAC 10F .0305 Brunswick County

Proposed amendments will correct a coordinate at the Town of Ocean Isle Beach in the vicinity of the S.R. 1172 Beach Bridge and Sunset Beach Boating Access Area, and remove duplicate text that describes the Oak Island Boating Access Area as the Dutchman Creek Boating Access Area in Southport.

15A NCAC 10F .0330 Carteret County

Proposed amendments will codify descriptions and addresses of boating access areas in Carteret County.

15A NCAC 10F .0332 Alexander County

Proposed amendments will establish a restricted area at the Wittenburg Access Area on Lake Hickory where vessel entry is prohibited, extend the no-wake zone from the Rink Dam to a point 195 yards southeast of the Rink Dam Road bridge and 50 yards southeast of the Sandbar Marina and Grill docks on Lake Hickory, and update the names and addresses of marinas and boating access areas on Lake Hickory.

15A NCAC 10F .0333 Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties 

Proposed amendments will correct the coordinates of the no wake zone at the Buster Boyd Bridge in Mecklenburg Co., establish a no-wake zone within 50 yards of Joyner’s Marina and waters of the surrounding cove, and remove incorrect text pertaining to the marking of some public facilities and marked swim and mooring areas by the Lake Wylie Marine Commission.

Public Hearing Information:

Date: October 23, 2024
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual - Zoom Online Webinar

Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:

  • Registration required. Register for Public Hearing.
  • Join by phone. Toll free (833) 568-8864, Webinar ID: 161 758 9271 and registration passcode.

Submit a Comment:

Public Comment Period Ends: November 4, 2024

Proposed Regulation Updates

To receive updates on proposed regulations, email regulations@ncwildlife.org.

Subjecting a Proposed Rule to Legislative Review

Written objections to proposed rules can be submitted to the Rules Review Commission. If the Rules Review Commission receives written and signed objections from 10 or more individuals clearly requesting review by the legislature and the Rules Review Commission approves the rule, the rule will become effective as provided in G.S.150B-21.3(b1). The Rules Review Commission will receive written objections until 5:00 p.m. on the day following the day the Rules Review Commission approves the rule. The Rules Review Commission will receive those objections by mail, delivery service, hand delivery, or facsimile transmission.

Rule Suggestions

As part of the Annual Cycle Rulemaking Process, the Commission considers suggestions and recommendations from NCWRC staff and the public. If you have a suggestion or recommendation you would like to be considered, please submit them here.