Changes proposed for 2024:
Bear H4.
Amend the bear rule to incorporate the following changes: • Update rule text to be consistent with the use of “designated bear management areas” terminology that is used in 15A NCAC 10D .0106. •
Shift the start date of the bear hunting season in the Mountain Bear Management Unit to add nine days and create Saturday openers for each of the two segments.
• Remove the prohibition on hunting bears with the aid of unprocessed bait during the second segment of the Mountain bear season on private lands.
• Correct rule text to clarify that dogs can be used to hunt bears in Franklin County.
Justification:
Additional hunting opportunity in early October is necessary to meet population management objectives for the Mountain Bear Management Unit. The Mountain bear population is increasing annually, and current levels of harvest are not meeting the objective established in the Black Bear Management Plan, which is to stabilize the population. Opening the Mountain bear season nine days earlier will serve to change the composition of the Mountain bear harvest, slow down bear population growth, and help meet the population objective, while providing additional bear hunting opportunities. Removing the prohibition on the use of unprocessed bait during the second segment will reduce regulation complexity without any biological impacts. Per G.S. 113-291.5 and since the Piedmont bear seasons were created in 2014, the intention has been to allow hunters to use dogs to hunt bears in Franklin County. However, this county was unintentionally included in the rule prohibiting the use of dogs to take bear. The amendments will correct this error in the rule.
H6.
Clarify when dogs may be used to take feral swine on game lands and establish additional opportunities for dogs to be used outside of an open deer or bear hunting season by individual game land rule.
Justification:
Feral swine hunting with dogs is a tradition in the far western counties of the State and feral swine populations have been established in the National Forest for more than 100 years. Feral swine are a non-desirable species that are legal to hunt during this time period. The proposed change expands opportunities to hunt feral swine with dogs.
Bear H4.
Amend the bear rule to incorporate the following changes: • Update rule text to be consistent with the use of “designated bear management areas” terminology that is used in 15A NCAC 10D .0106. •
Shift the start date of the bear hunting season in the Mountain Bear Management Unit to add nine days and create Saturday openers for each of the two segments.
• Remove the prohibition on hunting bears with the aid of unprocessed bait during the second segment of the Mountain bear season on private lands.
• Correct rule text to clarify that dogs can be used to hunt bears in Franklin County.
Justification:
Additional hunting opportunity in early October is necessary to meet population management objectives for the Mountain Bear Management Unit. The Mountain bear population is increasing annually, and current levels of harvest are not meeting the objective established in the Black Bear Management Plan, which is to stabilize the population. Opening the Mountain bear season nine days earlier will serve to change the composition of the Mountain bear harvest, slow down bear population growth, and help meet the population objective, while providing additional bear hunting opportunities. Removing the prohibition on the use of unprocessed bait during the second segment will reduce regulation complexity without any biological impacts. Per G.S. 113-291.5 and since the Piedmont bear seasons were created in 2014, the intention has been to allow hunters to use dogs to hunt bears in Franklin County. However, this county was unintentionally included in the rule prohibiting the use of dogs to take bear. The amendments will correct this error in the rule.
H6.
Clarify when dogs may be used to take feral swine on game lands and establish additional opportunities for dogs to be used outside of an open deer or bear hunting season by individual game land rule.
Justification:
Feral swine hunting with dogs is a tradition in the far western counties of the State and feral swine populations have been established in the National Forest for more than 100 years. Feral swine are a non-desirable species that are legal to hunt during this time period. The proposed change expands opportunities to hunt feral swine with dogs.
