January 21, 2011 NCWRC Update

Reminder of New Rulemaking Cycle and Public Hearings Schedule

To ensure timely adoption of rules and better serve constituents, adjustments were made last year to the process for review of inland fishing and hunting regulation proposals. The timeframe for public hearings and receiving comments was changed from January to September.

The September public hearings schedule and locations will be available in July and distributed through statewide media outlets, this e-newsletter, and posted at www.ncwildlife.org.

Wildlife Commission Reaffirms Support for Hunting with Dogs

The Commissioners of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission unanimously adopted a resolution on Jan. 13 reaffirming their longstanding support for hunting with the use of dogs. The partnership of hunters and hunting dogs, commissioners affirmed, has long been a central thread of North Carolina hunting culture, and enjoyed by thousands of hunters. See the resolution and news release on our website.

Wildlife Commission Approves Emergency Powers Proposal

At their business meeting last Thursday, Commissioners approved a proposed regulation granting the agency’s executive director the authority to implement an emergency response in the event of a wildlife disease outbreak that threatens irreparable injury to wildlife or the public.

The regulation, which goes into effect March 1, implements the emergency powers authorized by the General Assembly and written into state statute. The plan would be effective for 90 days following the Commission’s determination that a disease outbreak has occurred, unless a temporary rule is adopted within that time to continue the provisions in the emergency plan.

Help Conserve Wildlife; Check Line 30 on State Income Tax Form

Check line No. 30 on your North Carolina state income tax form this year and help conserve freshwater mussels and fish, songbirds, amphibians, and other nongame species whose conservation is not supported by hunting and fishing license sales and excise taxes.

The Commission uses tax-check off donations to the Nongame and Endangered Wildlife Fund to support nongame wildlife research, conservation and management, such as monitoring the population of  Bachman’s sparrows and bald eagles, managing habitat to benefit ephemeral pool-breeding amphibians like gopher frogs and mole salamanders,conducting research and surveys for rare fishes and freshwater mussels, and developing the North Carolina Birding Trail.

New Leadership for Wildlife Officers

Retirements and promotions have brought some changes to the Division of Law Enforcement, whose wildlife officers enforce the state’s inland fishing, hunting and boating regulations.

Maj. Keith Templeton, supervisor for field operations, retired Jan. 1 and Jack Staley, previously captain for District 5, has taken over that post. Staley will supervise a statewide hierarchy of some 200 uniformed wildlife officers.

Maj. David Stokes, supervisor for administration, is retiring Feb.1 and will be replaced by Capt. Chris Huebner, state coordinator for hunting safety and boating safety, who will fill that position. Huebner will direct and coordinate administrative functions for law enforcement and oversee statutory duties.

Nominations for Thomas L. Quay Wildlife Diversity Award Close Jan. 31

If you know someone who is considered a leader in wildlife resources conservation and who has made outstanding contributions to wildlife diversity in North Carolina, you can nominate that person for one of the Commission’s most prestigious honors, the Thomas L. Quay Wildlife Diversity Award. Submit a nomination form and a detailed explanation of the nominee’s contributions to wildlife conservation by Jan. 31. The winner will be announced at the Commissioners’ July meeting.

For more information, go to http://www.ncwildlife.org.