North Carolina Administrative Code

15A NCAC 10A .0303 PROCEDURE FOR ADOPTION History Note: Authority G.S. 143-243; 143B-18; 150B-12; Eff. February 1, 1976; Repealed Eff. February 1, 1982.

section .0400 – Petitions for rule 15A NCAC 10A .0401 FORM AND CONTENTS OF PETITION (a) A written petition requesting rulemaking shall be sent to the Executive Director of the Wildlife Resources Commission at 1701 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1700 for U.S. Postal Servic…

15A NCAC 10A .0402 ACTION ON PETITION (a) Upon receipt, the Executive Director, or his or her designee, shall stamp the petition with the date of receipt which shall constitute the date of submission. The petition shall then be referred to the Commission for its consideration. (b…

SECTION .0500 - DECLARATORY RULINGS 15A NCAC 10A .0501 WHEN ISSUED In accordance with G.S. 150B-4 and the procedures set forth in Rule .0503 of this Section, the Wildlife Resources Commission shall issue a declaratory ruling when a written request signed and verified under oath b…

15A NCAC 10A .0502 WHEN NOT ISSUED The Wildlife Resources Commission shall not issue a declaratory ruling upon a request which does not comply with the requirements of Rules .0501 and .0503 of this Section, or that is the request of a person or group not aggrieved, or when it is …

15A NCAC 10A .0503 PROCEDURE (a) A request for a declaratory ruling shall be in writing and sent to the Executive Director of the Wildlife Resources Commission at 1701 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1700 for U.S. Postal Service delivery, or 1751 Varsity Drive, Raleigh, NC…

SECTION .1000 - WARNING TICKETS 15A NCAC 10A .1001 WARNING TICKETS Warning Tickets Prohibited. Wildlife Enforcement Officers shall not issue warning tickets for the following offenses and classes of offenses: (1) second offense of the same charge; (2) exceeding bag or creel limit…

SECTION .1100 - WAIVER 15A NCAC 10A .1101 WAIVER History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-274; 150B-19(6); Temporary Adoption Eff. May 21, 2003; Temporary Adoption Expired March 12, 2004; Eff. November 1, 2004; Amended Eff. August 1, 2006; Repealed Eff. November 1, 2023.

15 NCAC 10A .1102 EMERGENCY closures AND WAIVERS (a) The Commission may prohibit or restrict public access to and use of Wildlife Resources Commission property if the Commission finds that the closure is necessary to protect public health, public safety, or wildlife resources. Cl…

SECTION .1200 - EMERGENCY POWERS 15A NCAC 10A .1201 emergency powers (a) Upon determination by the Commission that a wildlife disease threatens irreparable injury to wildlife or to the public, the Executive Director shall develop an emergency response plan in consultation with th…

SECTION .1300 – WILDLIFE POACHER REWARD FUND 15A NCAC 10A .1301 fUNDING sOURCES History Note: Authority G.S. 15A-1343; 113-134; 113-294; Eff. May 1, 2014; Repealed Eff. May 1, 2024.

15A NCAC 10A .1302 OFFENSES AND REWARD AMOUNTS (a) Rewards shall be paid for conviction of persons who have committed Class 1 or Class 2 misdemeanors specified in G.S. 113-262, G.S. 113-294 and G.S. 113-337, Class 1 misdemeanors involving wildlife resources specified in G.S. 113-…

15A NCAC 10A .1303 eLIGIBILITY (a) Rewards shall be paid to individuals who provide information resulting in the arrest and conviction of persons who commit the offenses specified in Rule .1302(a) of this Section. If more than one individual provides information resulting in the …

section .1400 – INTERSTATE WILDLIFE VIOLATOR COMPACT (WVC) 15A NCAC 10A .1401 GENERAL PROVISIONS (a) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish the rules necessary to implement G.S. 113 Article 22B, the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact (hereinafter referred to as WV…

15A NCAC 10A .1402 WILDLIFE VIOLATOR COMPACT MANUAL The Wildlife Violator Compact Operations Manual, which is incorporated by reference, including subsequent amendments and editions, may be found free of charge, at http://www.ncwildlife.org, and G.S. 113-300.6 hereby establish th…

15A NCAC 10A .1403 WILDLIFE VIOLATOR COMPACT CONDITIONS FOR NON-RESIDENTS (a) Non-residents of North Carolina who are residents of a WVC member state at the time of a misdemeanor hunting, fishing, or trapping violation occurring in North Carolina, may be released on personal reco…

15A NCAC 10A .1404 WILDLIFE VIOLATOR COMPACT CONDITIONS FOR RESIDENTS (a) North Carolina residents committing hunting, fishing, or trapping violations in another WVC member state, who upon release on personal recognizance from the issuing state, failed to resolve the violation, s…

15A NCAC 10A .1405 RECIPROCAL RECOGNITION OF SUSPENSIONS (a) When the Wildlife Resources Commission receives notice of suspension of a North Carolina resident's hunting, fishing, or trapping privileges or licenses by a WVC member state that are the result of a conviction or an ac…

15A NCAC 10A .1406 APPEALS A final agency decision made by the Wildlife Resources Commission to suspend any North Carolina hunting, fishing or trapping license pursuant to the WVC shall be appealable to the Office of Administrative Hearings pursuant to G.S. 150B-23. Notice of the…

SECTION .1500 - EVIDENCE 15A NCAC 10A .1501 Summary Disposition The Executive Director or his or her designee may determine the summary disposition of fish or wildlife seized by the Commission. Summary disposition shall be determined in accordance with G.S. 113-137(d), on a case-…

15A NCAC 10A .1502 REPLACEMENT COSTS of wildlife (a) For the purpose of this Rule, "replacement cost" means the monetary amount to replace a specimen of wildlife that has been taken, injured, removed, harmfully altered, damaged, or destroyed. As specified in G.S. 113-267, this te…

SECTION .1600 - WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION FEES 15A NCAC 10A .1601 License FEES (a) License fees established by the Commission in this Rule shall be subject to the requirements of G.S. 113-270.1B(e). (b) The following fees shall apply to combination hunting and inland fishing …

SUBCHAPTER 10B - HUNTING AND TRAPPING SECTION .0100 - GENERAL REGULATIONS 15A NCAC 10B .0101 IMPORTATION OF WILD ANIMALS, BIRDS, AND NATIVE REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS (a) Before any live wild bird, wild animal, or any native reptile or amphibian, is imported into North Carolina for …

15A NCAC 10B .0102 IMPORTATION OF GRAY FOXES The importation of gray foxes into Anson, Avery, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Davidson, Gaston, Lincoln, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Montgomery, Moore, Richmond, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Union and Yancey Counti…

15A NCAC 10B .0103 RESPONSIBILITY OF GUIDES History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-270.4; Eff. February 1, 1976; Repealed Eff. February 1, 1982.

15A NCAC 10B .0104 HUNTING AND TRAPPING IN VICINITY OF FLOOD OR FIRE History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-291.2; Eff. February 1, 1976; Repealed Eff. March 1, 1992.

15A NCAC 10B .0105 MIGRATORY GAME BIRDS (a) Cooperative State Rules: (1) The waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and those coastal waters south of US 64 that are separated by a distance of at least 800 yards of open water from any shore, island or marsh are designated as a special hunt…

15A NCAC 10B .0106 WILDLIFE TAKEN FOR DEPREDATIONS (a) Depredation permits shall authorize the taking, destruction, transfer, removal, transplanting, or driving away of undesirable, destructive, or excess wildlife or wildlife resources as specified in this Rule. (b) Depredation p…

15A NCAC 10B .0107 BLACK BEAR It is unlawful to take or possess a female bear with a cub or cubs at its side, or to take or possess a cub bear, unless authorized by a valid captivity license, depredation permit, or scientific collection license issued by the Commission. For the p…

15A NCAC 10B .0108 CHASING DEER BY DOGS IN CLOSED SEASON History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-291.5; Eff. February 1, 1976; Repealed Eff. February 1, 1982.

15A NCAC 10B .0109 CHASING DEER BY DOGS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES (a) Allowing dogs to run or chase deer or to attempt to take deer with dogs at any time in and west of the following counties or parts of counties is prohibited: (1) Alamance County south of I-85; (2) Anson County west o…

15A NCAC 10B .0110 ATTENDANCE OF TRAPS History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-291.6; Eff. February 1, 1976; Amended Eff. August 1, 2002; July 1, 1988; Readopted Eff. August 1, 2021; Repealed Eff. August 1, 2023.

15A NCAC 10B .0111 RESTRICTIONS ON RACCOON AND OPOSSUM HUNTING History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-291.1; Eff. February 1, 1976; Amended Eff. August 1, 1981; August 1, 1979; August 1, 1978; August 1, 1977; Repealed Eff. August 1, 2022.

15A NCAC 10B .0112 BEAVER History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-291.1; Eff. February 1, 1976; Repealed Eff. July 1, 1988.

15a ncac 10B .0113 BIG GAME Harvest REPORTING (a) Definitions. The following definitions shall apply in this Rule: (1) "Authorization number" means the number or code issued by the Commission after big game harvest registration is completed, which shall serve as proof of registra…

15A NCAC 10B .0114 DOG TRAINING AND FIELD TRIALS History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-273; 113-276; 113-291.1; 113-291.5; 50 CFR 21.45; Eff. February 1, 1976; Amended Eff. May 1, 2015; January 1, 2013; January 1, 2012; May 1, 2006; July 1, 1995; July 1, 1994; July 1, 1991; M…

15A NCAC 10B .0115 SHINING LIGHTS IN DEER AREAS (a) Intentionally shining a light upon a deer or sweeping a light in search of deer between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and one-half hour before sunrise is prohibited in the following counties: (1) Beaufort; (2) Bladen; (3) Brunswick; (…

15A NCAC 10B .0116 PERMITTED ARCHERY EQUIPMENT (a) "Archery equipment" means any device that has a solid, stationary handle, two limbs, and a string, that uses non-pneumatic means to propel a single arrow or bolt and may be used to take game and nongame species. (b) When used for…

15a ncac 10b .0117 REPLACEMENT COSTS OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-267; Eff. October 1, 1980; Amended Eff. August 1, 2002; December 1, 1993; October 1, 1989. Repealed Eff. October 1, 2022.

15A NCAC 10B .0118 SALE OF WILDLIFE (a) The carcasses, parts, or pelts of bobcats, opossums, and raccoon that have been lawfully taken and tagged in accordance with 15A NCAC 10B .0402 may be sold. The sale of carcasses or pelts of bobcats, opossums, and raccoon killed accidentall…

15A NCAC 10B .0119 WILDLIFE COLLECTORS (a) Wildlife Collection Licenses may be issued to qualified individuals to take any species of wildlife resources for the following purposes: (1) scientific collection; (2) educational collection; or (3) snapping turtle collection. (b) The f…

15A NCAC 10B .0120 TAKING OF wildlife WITH HANDGUNS Unless otherwise prohibited by law, handguns of any type may be used to take game, fur-bearing, and nongame birds and animals as defined in G.S. 113-129 during the established open season for take with firearms or trapping for e…

15a ncac 10b .0121 wild BIRD exceptions The following wild birds are excluded from the definition of "wild birds" contained in G.S. 113-129(15a): (1) English sparrow (Passer domesticus); (2) Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto); (3) pigeon (Columba livia); (4) mute swan…

15A NCAC 10B .0122 PROHIBITED HUNTING ON STATE FISH HATCHERIES Possessing a loaded firearm within a posted restricted zone or discharging a firearm into or across a restricted zone on any State-owned fish hatchery is prohibited. History Note: Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-264; Eff.…

15A NCAC 10B .0123 limitations on CERTAIN Exotic SPECIES (a) Except as provided in this Rule, it shall be unlawful to import, transport, export, purchase, possess, sell, transfer, or release into public or private waters or lands of the State, any live specimen of: (1) Tongueless…

15A NCAC 10B .0124 IMPORTATION OF ANIMAL PARTS (a) It is unlawful to import, transport, or possess a cervid carcass or carcass part originating from outside of North Carolina except: (1) meat that has been boned out such that no pieces or fragments of bone remain; (2) caped hides…

15A NCAC 10B .0125 RELEASE OF Mute Swans (a) Individuals shall not release mute swans (Cygnus olor) into the public waters of North Carolina. (b) Any individual who releases mute swan into privately controlled waters, possesses, or confines mute swans or any progeny of mute swans…

15A NCAC 10B .0126 STATE HUNTING LICENSE EXEMPTIONS (a) Any governmental or non-profit entity conducting an organized hunting event may obtain from the Executive Director or his designee, subject to the requirements in Paragraph (b) of this Rule, an exemption which allows all par…

15A NCAC 10B .0127 Possession of wildlife killed accidentally or found dead (a) Deer killed accidentally on a road by reason of collision with a motor vehicle may be possessed and transported if authorization is obtained from the law enforcement officer who investigates the accid…

SECTION .0200 - HUNTING 15A NCAC 10B .0201 PROHIBITED TAKING AND MANNER OF TAKE (a) No person shall take, or have in their possession, any wild animal or wild bird listed in this Section except during the open seasons and in accordance with the limits herein prescribed, or as pre…