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2008- 2009
NORTHCAROLINA
Inland Fishing, Hunting and Trapping
Regulations Digest
Effective July 1, 2008
to June 30, 2009
This publication is furnished free by the N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
It is available online at www. ncwildlife. org.
Lifetime License Application
N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission Revised 01/ 07
Applicant Information: Complete and mail with payment to: NCWRC, License Section, 1707 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1707.
Name of Applicant Telephone # ( )
Mailing Address City State Zip
Resident Address City State Zip
Date of Birth County of Residence Driver’s License #
Is this license a gift? Yes No If yes, mail license to Donor or Applicant. If mailed to donor, please complete the below information.
License Donor’s Name Donor’s Telephone # ( )
Donor’s Mailing Address City State Zip
Refer to the License Information Section of this Digest for a list of privileges associated with each license.
Infant ( under 1 year of age) and Youth ( age 1- 11) Licenses: Infant and youth applications must be received at WRC
Headquarters or processed at a Wildlife Service Agent the day before the child turns 1 or 12 years of age. Applications received on
or after the child’s 1st or 12th birthday CANNOT be processed as an infant or youth license. A copy of the birth certificate must
accompany applications for infant and youth licenses. Birth certificate documentation cannot be returned.
Sportsman Infant......................................................................................................................... ...........................................................................$ 200
Unified Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing Infant ............................................................................................................................... .........$ 275
Coastal Recreational Fishing Infant ............................................................................................................................... ........................................$ 100
Sportsman Youth ............................................................................................................................... ....................................................................$ 350
Unified Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing Youth ............................................................................................................................... .........$ 450
Coastal Recreational Fishing Youth.......................................................................................................................... .............................................$ 150
Note: Pending satisfactory completion of the hunter safety course, persons who possess infant or youth licenses may exercise the
privileges thereof when accompanied by an adult who is properly licensed to hunt in North Carolina. “ Accompanied” is defined as
maintaining a proximity to the hunter, which enables the adult to monitor the activities of, and communicate with, the hunter at all times.
Adult ( age 12 or older) Licenses:
Resident Sportsman...................................................................................................................... .........................................................................$ 500
Nonresident Sportsman ............................................................................................................................... ........................................................$ 1000
Resident Age 65 or Older Sportsman ( this license is not eligible for personalization)..............................................................................................$ 15
Resident Comprehensive Hunting ............................................................................................................................... ..........................................$ 250
Resident Comprehensive Inland Fishing ............................................................................................................................... ................................$ 250
Resident Age 65 or Older Inland Fishing ( this license is not eligible for personalization).........................................................................................$ 15
Resident Unified Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing ............................................................................................................................... ....$ 675
Nonresident Unified Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing .............................................................................................................................$ 1350
Resident Unified Age 65 or Older Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing ( this license is not eligible for license personalization) ......................$ 30
Resident Coastal Recreational Fishing ............................................................................................................................... ...................................$ 250
Nonresident Coastal Recreational Fishing........................................................................................................................ .....................................$ 500
Resident Age 65 or Older Coastal Recreational Fishing ( this license is not eligible for personalization) .................................................................$ 15
Resident Unified Inland/ Coastal Recreational Fishing........................................................................................................................ ...................$ 450
Must complete and sign if purchasing a license with hunting privileges: On or after July 1, 1991, a person, regardless of age, may not procure a
hunting license or hunt in North Carolina without producing a Certificate of Competency for completing the hunter safety course or a hunting license
effective prior to July 1, 1991, or by signing a written statement that he/ she had such a license.
Check appropriate box: Copy of prior year hunting license Copy of hunter safety Certificate of Competence Minor, has not taken hunter
( attach required copy) safety course ( before the minor can utilize the hunting portion of this license without being accompanied by an adult, they must have completed the hunter safety course).
In lieu of copy, I am completing the below written statement:
Statement: I certify that I was a licensed hunter prior to July 1, 1991. Signature Date
License Personalization – Not available for the age 65 or older lifetime licenses.
Personalization ( Additional $ 5.00 Fee): Complete the following information if you wish to add a personalized message to this license. $ 5
1) Indicate your personal message including letters, numbers, dashes, periods, commas and/ or blanks up to 21 spaces:
2) Indicate your selection of letters, numbers, dashes, periods, commas and/ or blanks up to 6 spaces:
PURCHASE TOTAL $
Method of Payment:
Check ( Make check payable to NCWRC – A service charge of up to $ 25 will be charged on returned checks [ G. S. 25- 3- 506]).
VISA MasterCard Print name exactly as it appears on credit card:
Acct. # Expires Signature Date
Office Location: NCSU Centennial Campus, 1751 Varsity Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606 Telephone: 1- 888- 248- 6834
NCWRC HEADQUARTERS
N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission
NCSU– Centennial Campus
1751 Varsity Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
Visit us online at www. ncwildlife. org for a map to our facility.
Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 1
TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Big Game Harvest Reporting..............................( 800) I- GOT- ONE
............................................................................( 800- 446- 8663)
Boating Access Areas ............................................( 919) 707- 0150
Conservation Education Division ..........................( 919) 707- 0170
Enforcement Operations Office ............................( 919) 707- 0030
Engineering Division ............................................( 919) 707- 0150
Hunter Safety Course Information ........................( 919) 707- 0031
Inland Fisheries Division ......................................( 919) 707- 0220
License Information ............................................( 888) 248- 6834
License Purchases by Credit Card ....................( 888) 2HUNTFISH
............................................................................( 888- 248- 6834)
Marine Fisheries ..................................................( 252) 726- 7021
............................................................................( 800- 682- 2632)
Migratory Bird Hunting Dates & Shooting Hours ......( 800) 675- 0263
Personnel Officer ..................................................( 919) 707- 0101
Regulation Information ........................................( 919) 707- 0030
Wildlife Calendar ..................................................( 866) 945- 3746
Wildlife in North Carolina Magazine/ N. C. Wild Store Products
........................................................................ ( 866) WILDSHOP
............................................................................( 866- 945- 3746)
Vessel Registration and Titling ..........................( 800) NC- VESSEL
............................................................................( 800- 628- 3773)
Violations Reporting ............................................( 800) 662- 7137
..............................................( 919) 707- 0040 in the Raleigh area)
..................................................................( 800) 662- 7137vTTY*
*( TTY machine available for people with hearing disabilities)
Wildlife Management Division ..............................( 919) 707- 0050
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
Michael F. Easley, Governor
William G. Ross Jr., Secretary, N. C. Department of
Environment and Natural Resources
N. C. WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION
Wes Seegars, Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Goldsboro
SteveWindham, Vice- Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winnabow
Randy Allen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte
Joe Barker III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Bern
CharlesW. Bennett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matthews
John Litton Clark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clinton
Nat T. Harris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Burlington
DavidW. Hoyle Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dallas
RussellMaughan Hull Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth City
Durwood S. Laughinghouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raleigh
Martin Lewis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Asheville
Wendell H. ( Dell) Murphy Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wallace
W. Douglas Parsons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clinton
Eugene Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dudley
Bobby Purcell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cary
Dalton D. Ruffin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winston- Salem
Mitch St. Clair Sr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Washington
Berkley C. Skinner III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RockyMount
W. RayWhite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nags Head
Fred Harris, Interim Executive Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raleigh
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
The N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All
wildlife programs are administered for the benefit of all North Carolina citizens
without prejudice toward age, sex, race, religion or national origin. Violations of
this pledge may be reported to the Equal Employment Officer, 1703 Mail Service
Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1703, Tel. ( 919) 707- 0101.
CONTENTS
License Information .......................................... 2
General Information .............................................................. 2
License Requirements and Exceptions .................................... 2
License Type Descriptions ...................................................... 3
License Type Charts................................................................ 9
Disabled Sportsman Information ........................ 11
The Wildlife Endowment Fund ............................ 11
Lifetime Hunting and Inland Fishing Licenses ...................... 11
Lifetime Magazine Subscriptions .......................................... 11
Coastal Recreational Fishing License ( CRFL) .......... 12
Inland Fishing Regulations and Information ........ 16
General Information ............................................................ 16
Inland Game Fish ................................................................ 16
Fish Consumption Advisories .............................................. 17
Warmwater Game Fish ........................................................ 18
Mountain Trout .................................................................... 21
Designated Public Mountain TroutWaters ............................ 21
Nongame Fish...................................................................... 27
Miscellaneous Prohibitions .................................................. 31
General Fishing Information ................................................ 32
Nongame Regulations and Information .............. 35
Trapping Regulations and Information ................ 36
Hunting Regulations and Information.................. 38
Manner of Taking ................................................................ 40
Hunting on Federal Lands .................................................... 41
Big Game ............................................................................ 42
Bear .................................................................................. 42
Deer.................................................................................. 43
Wild Boar .......................................................................... 51
Wild Turkey ...................................................................... 51
Season Maps ............................................................................ 44
Big Game Harvest and Reporting .......................................... 51
Small Game and Other Seasons ............................................ 52
Migratory Birds .................................................................... 53
Federal Regulations .............................................................. 54
Game Lands .................................................. 55
Game Lands License ............................................................ 55
Game Lands Restrictions ...................................................... 55
Disabled Access and Disabled Sportsman Programs .............. 57
Either- Sex Seasons and Other Rules ...................................... 57
Local Laws .................................................... 64
Local Fox Laws .................................................................... 64
Hunting and Trapping.......................................................... 64
Big Game Harvest Reports ................................ 72
Sunrise- Sunset Table.................................... 76- 77
Cover photo: Mark Suggs
550,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $ 91,850.00
or $. 1670 per copy. Printed on 100% post- consumer recycled paper.
2 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED.
License Information For more information on licenses,
obtaining license applications or obtaining a list of wildlife ser-vice
agents nearest you, visit us online at www. ncwildlife. org, call
us at ( 888) 248- 6834, or write to this address: NCWRC, 1707
Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1707.
LICENSE REQUIREMENTS AND EXCEPTIONS
License Identification Requirements To show entitlement
to a license issued by theWildlife Resources Commission, any-one
exercising the privileges conveyed by the license shall carry
a picture identification card and show it to any wildlife enforce-ment
officer upon request. The picture identification card
should include the license- holder’s correct name, address and
date of birth. ( A North Carolina Driver License or Dept. of
Motor Vehicles identification card is acceptable.)
Residency Definitions and Requirements
Resident— You are considered a resident if you have resided in
the state for six months or have been domiciled ( established a
permanent residence) for 60 days. When residency is used to
establish eligibility, the applicant must complete a Certificate of
Residency, available from a wildlife service agent or theWildlife
Resources Commission, certifying that he has maintained his
residence in a county of the state for at least 60 days with the
intent to reside there permanently or indefinitely.
Students— Nonresident students may purchase a resident license
while attending a university, college or community college in
North Carolina. When purchasing your license from a wildlife
service agent, you must show your valid student identification.
Military— Nonresident members of the armed forces ( including
their spouses and children under 18) who are stationed in the
state are deemed residents of the state and of the counties in which
they reside for the purpose of purchasing resident licenses.
County— Resident county licenses are limited to the county in
which the person resides.
Nonresident— Nonresident status applies to anyone who does not
live in the state of North Carolina, with the exceptions noted
above ( students and members of the armed forces).
Hunter Safety Course Requirement No person, regardless
of age, may procure a hunting license in this state without first
producing a certificate of competency showing completion of a
hunter safety course or a hunting license issued prior to July 1,
1991, or a signed statement ( shown on the license) that he or
she had such a license. The hunter safety course is a minimum
of 10 contact hours. Each student must score a minimum of 70
on the written exam and must also meet the “ hands- on” minimum
requirements. For more information pertaining to hunter safety
courses, visit us online at www. ncwildlife. org, or write to the
NCWRC Division ofWildlife Enforcement, 1718 Mail Service
Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1718.
Big Game Harvest Report Card Requirement Big game
harvest report cards always expire on June 30 of each year. If
your hunting license and big game hunting privilege license is
still valid after the big game harvest report card expires, you may
obtain a replenishment card at no charge from either theWild-life
Resources Commission or any wildlife service agent. Lifetime
license- holders also may obtain the big game harvest report card
through themail by completing the postcardmailed to each license-
General Information The services that the North Caro-lina
Wildlife Resources Commission provides to the public are
financed primarily through the sale of licenses, which include
hunting, fishing, trapping and other licenses. The various types
of licenses sold by the Commission differ with respect to the
activities they authorize, where and when the activities occur,
and where the license- holder resides. This section provides
some general information about these licenses, followed by
detailed summaries of the various licenses available, the
privileges they authorize and the associated fees. All licenses
are nontransferable.
Replacement Licenses If your license becomes worn, lost or
destroyed, you can submit a written request for a replacement.
A $ 5 fee is charged to defray the cost of processing. Include in
the request your name, address, telephone number, N. C. driver
license number ( if applicable), WRC customer number, and
date of birth. Enclose a check or money order for $ 5 ( made pay-able
to “ NCWRC”). Mail your request to NCWRC, Replacement
Licenses, 1707 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1707.
Reciprocal License Agreements A reciprocal license agree-ment
is in effect between North Carolina and each of the states
listed below. The agreement provides for the following: All state-wide
hook- and- line fishing licenses obtainable from either North
Carolina or the respective state are honored on certain boundary
waters as noted:
Georgia— The agreement with Georgia covers fishing from boats
on Chatuge Reservoir including all tributaries that are accessible
by boat from the main body of the reservoir.
Tennessee— The agreement with Tennessee covers the state- line por-tion
of Slick Rock Creek and boat fishing on Calderwood Reservoir.
Virginia— The agreement with Virginia covers the Dan River east
of the Brantly Steam Plant Dam, the Staunton River east of the
Rt. 360 bridge, and Kerr and Gaston reservoirs and their tribu-taries
that are accessible by boat. The Rt. 360 bridge is the first
bridge crossing the Staunton River upstream of Kerr Reservoir.
The agreement also covers that portion of the New River between
the confluence of the North and South forks of the New River in
North Carolina ( Alleghany County) and the confluence of the
New and Little rivers in Virginia ( Grayson County).
No reciprocal agreements exist between North Carolina and South
Carolina that provide for honoring the other state’s fishing
licenses on any boundary waters.
Purchasing Licenses You can purchase a license in four ways:
Visit a wildlife service agent— Most licenses, including life-time
licenses, can be obtained from your local wildlife service
agent. Be prepared to present your valid driver license or state
identification card.
Visit us online at www. ncwildlife. org— Most licenses are
available for purchase online.
Phone ( 888) 2HUNTFISH ( 888) 248- 6834— Have a pen,
paper, VISA or MasterCard, your driver license number and
WRC customer number handy.
All licenses may be obtained directly from theWildlife
Resources Commission in person at NCSU Centennial
Campus, 1751 Varsity Drive, Raleigh, NC or by mail.
Please note: Sportsmen purchasing licenses online or by telephone
will be eligible to exercise the privileges of the license immediately
after completing the transaction or telephone call.
LICENSE INFORMATION
holder in early summer. Persons exempt by law from the big game
hunting license must obtain a “ License Exempt Big Game Harvest
Report Card” for license- exempt hunters ( at no charge) froma wild-life
service agent. For more information on license exceptions,
refer to the “ Exceptions to License Requirements” section on this
page. Authorization numbers for big game animals, taken prior
to receiving the big game harvest report card via the mail ( when
license is purchased by telephone), must be recorded and avail-able
for inspection. Once the harvest report card is received, the
big game kill authorization number must be recorded on the
harvest report card and the card validated for the appropriate
animal. For more information on big game reporting, refer to
the “ Big Game Harvest and Reporting” section on page 51.
HIP Certification Requirement All licensed hunters hunting
migratory game birds ( doves, rails, woodcocks, gallinule, snipes
or waterfowl) in North Carolina are required to have a certificate
of participation in the federal Harvest Information Program ( HIP).
This certification can be obtained free of charge from any wild-life
service agent when you purchase a hunting license. Lifetime
license- holders may also obtain HIP certification through the mail
by completing the postcard/ HIP survey mailed to license- holders
in early summer. Persons exempt by law from the hunting license
requirement are not required to obtain the HIP certification.
Federal Duck Stamp In addition to the North Carolina
waterfowl privilege, waterfowl hunters are required to carry
in their possession the federal duck stamp, signed in ink across
the face. Federal duck stamps can be obtained at most U. S.
post offices or from selected wildlife service agents. Visit
Resident Nonresident
$ 20.00 N/ A
$ 10.00 N/ A
$ 15.00 N/ A
$ 10.00 N/ A
FREE N/ A
$ 10.00 N/ A
$ 40.00 N/ A
FREE N/ A
LICENSE TYPE DESCRIPTIONS
Purchase your license online at www. ncwildlife. org
HUNTING AND INLAND FISHING COMBINATION LICENSES
Following is a list of annual and lifetime combination hunting and inland fishing licenses and the privilege license( s) and certification
associated with each. Privilege licenses and certifications authorize a particular hunting or inland fishing activity not included with a basic
license type. Privileges may be purchased separately if the purchaser holds a valid basic license. If a privilege license is not listed, the
license type includes the special hunting or inland fishing activity. HIP Certification is required for all those planning to hunt migratory
game birds, including lifetime license- holders. See page 7 for a complete list of privileges and certifications.
LICENSE INFORMATION
Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 3
www. duckstamp. com to order the duck stamp online or to
find the duck stamp retailer nearest you. The federal duck
stamp expires on June 30 of each year.
Exceptions to License Requirements
General
A youth under age 16, accompanied by a properly licensed adult,
may enjoy those privileges conveyed by the licenses held by the
accompanying adult.
A youth under 16, who has obtained a certificate of competency
showing his or her completion of the hunter safety course, may
hunt without a license, but must carry his or her certificate
while hunting.
A landowner or person leasing land primarily for cultivation,
their spouse, and dependents under 18 residing with them,
may hunt, trap and fish on such land without a license.
An individual exempt from the requirements of a hunting license
must obtain a “ Big Game Harvest Report Card” from theWildlife
Resources Commission or a wildlife service agent, at no charge,
when exercising the privileges of big game hunting.
Inland Fishing
Persons under age 16 are exempt from the requirement of a
basic inland fishing and trout privilege license.
The game lands license is not required to fish in any waters
on game lands orWildlife Conservation Areas.
An inland fishing license is not required to fish in a private pond. A
pond or lake located on land owned by a public body such as a state-supported
university or a governmental entity is not a private pond.
July 4th is declared “ FREE FISHING DAY,” and a fishing license and
trout privilege license are not required in any public waters on this date.
ANNUAL LICENSES Annual licenses, privileges and certifications are valid for 12 months from the
date of purchase. Refer to page 13 for a list of annual Unified Sportsman/ Coastal Fishing licenses.
• Combination Hunting and Inland Fishing ( basic): Statewide hunting and inland fishing for resi-dents
during a license term. Includes fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters.
Additional Privilege Licenses and Certification Available:
Big Game Hunting: Needed to hunt deer, bear, wild boar and wild turkey.
Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands.
Waterfowl Hunting: Needed to hunt waterfowl.
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves,
rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
Special Trout Fishing: Needed to fish in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters. Includes trout
fishing on game lands.
• Sportsman: Statewide hunting and inland fishing for residents during a license term. Includes the
privileges of hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal
duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands,
and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters.
Additional Certification Available:
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves,
rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
4 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. LICENSE INFORMATION
Resident Nonresident
$ 500.00 $ 1,000.00
N/ A $ 125.00
FREE FREE
$ 350.00 $ 350.00
$ 200.00 $ 200.00
$ 15.00 N/ A
FREE N/ A
$ 10.00 N/ A
$ 10.00 N/ A
$ 15.00 N/ A
$ 10.00 N/ A
FREE N/ A
$ 10.00 N/ A
$ 10.00 N/ A
$ 15.00 N/ A
$ 10.00 N/ A
FREE N/ A
$ 100.00 N/ A
FREE N/ A
$ 100.00 N/ A
FREE N/ A
LIFETIME LICENSES Lifetime licenses are valid for the lifetime of the license- holder. The privilege license and HIP
Certification are valid for 12 months from date of purchase. Refer to pages 13 – 14 for a list of lifetime Unified
Sportsman/ Coastal Fishing licenses.
• Sportsman ( ages 12 & older): Statewide hunting and inland fishing. Includes hunting for big game,
hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated
Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not
include fishing in coastal waters.
Additional Privilege License and Certification Available:
Bear/ Wild Boar Hunting: Needed by nonresidents, in addition to the lifetime sportsman license, to hunt
bear or wild boar.
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails,
gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
• Sportsman ( ages 1– 11): Statewide hunting and inland fishing. Includes hunting for big game, hunting
on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public
Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not
include fishing in coastal waters.
• Sportsman ( under age 1): Statewide hunting and inland fishing. Includes hunting for big game, hunting
on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public
Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not
include fishing in coastal waters.
• Age 65 ( or older) Sportsman: Statewide hunting and inland fishing for residents. Includes hunting
for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing
in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters.
It does not include fishing in coastal waters.
Additional Certification Available:
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails,
gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
• Disabled Veteran Hunting and Inland Fishing ( basic): Statewide hunting and inland fishing for residents
who are 50 percent or more disabled veterans as determined by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Includes fishing in
designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It
does not include fishing in coastal waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions.
Additional Privilege Licenses and Certification Available:
Big Game Hunting: Needed to hunt deer, bear, wild boar and wild turkey.
Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands.
Waterfowl Hunting: Needed to hunt waterfowl.
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails,
gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
• Totally Disabled Hunting and Inland Fishing ( basic): Statewide hunting and inland fishing for
residents who are totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration or the
Railroad Retirement Board. Includes fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters
on game lands, and fishing in joint waters.
It does not include fishing in coastal waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions.
Additional Privilege Licenses and Certification Available:
Big Game Hunting: Needed to hunt deer, bear, wild boar and wild turkey.
Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands.
Waterfowl Hunting: Needed to hunt waterfowl.
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails,
gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
• Disabled Veteran Sportsman: Statewide hunting and inland fishing for residents who are 50 percent or
more disabled as determined by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game
lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain Trout
Waters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal
waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions.
Additional Certification Available:
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails,
gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
• Totally Disabled Sportsman: Statewide hunting and inland fishing for residents who are totally and
permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board.
Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck
stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing
in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions.
Additional Certification Available:
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails,
gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 5
LICENSE INFORMATION
HUNTING LICENSES
Following is a list of short- term, annual and lifetime hunting licenses and the privilege license( s) and certification associated with each.
Privilege licenses and certifications authorize a particular hunting activity not included with a basic license type. Privileges may be
purchased separately if the purchaser holds a valid basic license. If a privilege license is not listed, the license type includes the special
hunting activity. HIP Certification is required for all those planning to hunt migratory game birds, including lifetime license- holders. See
page 7 for a complete list of privileges and certifications.
Resident Nonresident
N/ A $ 40.00*
N/ A $ 40.00*
N/ A $ 125.00
N/ A $ 15.00
N/ A $ 10.00
N/ A FREE
$ 15.00 $ 60.00*
$ 10.00 $ 60.00*
N/ A $ 125.00
$ 15.00 $ 15.00
$ 10.00 $ 10.00
FREE FREE
$ 10.00 N/ A
$ 10.00 N/ A
$ 15.00 N/ A
$ 10.00 N/ A
FREE N/ A
$ 30.00 N/ A
FREE N/ A
$ 250.00 N/ A
FREE N/ A
License type Ga. S. C. Tenn. Va.
Season Hunt $ 60 $ 125 $ 60 $ 80
Season Big Game $ 118 $ 100 $ 100 $ 60
6- Day Hunt $ 40 $ 70 $ 55 $ 50
6- Day Big Game $ 103 $ 70 $ 50 $ 50
SHORT- TERM LICENSE Short- term licenses are valid for the period specified on the license. Privileges and certifi-cations
are valid 12 months from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted. If planning to hunt on Sunday on
a military installation that allows Sunday hunting, license must be purchased online at www. ncwildlife. org, by mail, by
telephone ( 888) 248- 6834, or in person atWRC Headquarters in Raleigh.
• State Hunting— Six- Day ( basic): Statewide hunting for nonresidents during the six- day period
specified on the license.
Additional Privilege Licenses and Certification Available:
Big Game Hunting— Six- Day: Hunting of deer, bear, wild boar and wild turkey during the six- day
period specified on the license. This license privilege is needed in addition to the basic state hunting
license. Does not include the nonresident bear/ wild boar hunting privilege.
Bear/ Wild Boar Hunting: Needed by nonresidents, in addition to the short- term state hunting license
and the big game hunting privilege, to hunt bear or wild boar.
Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands.
Waterfowl Hunting: Needed to hunt waterfowl.
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves,
rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
ANNUAL LICENSE Annual licenses, privileges, and certifications are valid for 12 months from the
date of purchase.
• State Hunting ( basic): Statewide hunting during a license term.
Additional Privilege Licenses and Certification Available:
Big Game Hunting: Needed to hunt deer, bear, wild boar and wild turkey. Nonresidents hunting bear or
wild boar must also purchase the Bear/ Wild Boar privilege license.
Bear/ Wild Boar Hunting: Needed by nonresidents, in addition to the annual state hunting license and
the big game hunting privilege, to hunt bear or wild boar.
Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands.
Waterfowl Hunting: Needed to hunt waterfowl.
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves,
rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
• County Hunting ( basic): Hunting within the county of residence during a license term.
Additional Privilege Licenses and Certification Available:
Big Game Hunting: Needed to hunt deer, bear, wild boar and wild turkey.
Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands.
Waterfowl Hunting: Needed to hunt waterfowl.
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves,
rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
• Comprehensive Hunting: Statewide hunting for residents during a license term. Also includes the
privileges of hunting for big game, hunting on game lands and hunting for waterfowl ( does not include
federal duck stamp).
Additional Certification Available:
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves,
rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
LIFETIME LICENSE Lifetime licenses are valid for the lifetime of the license- holder. The HIP Certification is valid
for 12 months from date of purchase.
• State Comprehensive Hunting: Statewide hunting, hunting for big game, hunting on game lands and
hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp).
Additional Certification Available:
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves,
rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
* The following reciprocal license fees apply to Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia residents:
LICENSE INFORMATION 6 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED.
Resident Nonresident
$ 5.00 $ 10.00
$ 10.00 $ 10.00
$ 15.00 $ 30.00
$ 10.00 $ 10.00
$ 10.00 N/ A
$ 10.00 N/ A
$ 20.00 N/ A
$ 10.00 $ 50.00
$ 100.00 $ 200.00
$ 250.00 N/ A
$ 15.00 N/ A
$ 10.00 N/ A
$ 10.00 N/ A
SHORT- TERM LICENSE Short- term licenses are valid for the period specified on the license. Privileges are valid
12 months from the date of purchase.
• State Inland Fishing– 10- Day ( basic): Statewide inland fishing during the 10- day period specified on
the license. Includes fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters.
Additional Privilege License Available:
Special Trout Fishing: Needed to fish in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters. Includes trout
fishing on game lands.
ANNUAL LICENSE Annual licenses and privileges are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. Refer to
page 13 for a list of annual Inland/ Coastal Fishing licenses.
• State Inland Fishing ( basic): Statewide inland fishing during a license term. Includes fishing in joint
waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters.
Additional Privilege License Available:
Special Trout Fishing: Needed to fish in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters. Includes trout
fishing on game lands.
• County Inland Fishing ( basic): Inland fishing within the county of residence during a license term.
Includes fishing in joint waters within the county of residence. It does not include fishing in coastal waters.
Additional Privilege License Available:
Special Trout Fishing: Needed to fish in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters. Includes trout
fishing on game lands.
• Comprehensive Inland Fishing: Statewide inland fishing for residents during a license term. Includes
fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in
joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters.
• Special Inland Fishing Devices ( basic/ noncommercial): Authorizes the taking of nongame fish
from inland waters ( does not include joint and coastal waters) during designated seasons with nets, traps,
gigs, reels, spear guns, baskets, bow and arrow, and any other authorized special fishing device. Includes
the sale of these nongame fish. Taking of nongame fishes with bow and arrow is authorized under any of the
licenses providing basic hunting or inland fishing privileges. This license is valid when no more than three
special fishing devices are used.
• Special Inland Fishing Devices ( basic/ commercial): Authorizes the taking of nongame fish from
inland waters ( does not include joint and coastal waters) during designated seasons with nets, traps, gigs,
reels, spear guns, baskets, bow and arrow, and any other authorized special fishing device. Includes the sale
of these nongame fish. Taking of nongame fishes with bow and arrow is authorized under any of the
licenses providing basic hunting or inland fishing privileges. This license is valid when four ormore special
fishing devices are used.
LIFETIME LICENSE Lifetime licenses are valid for the lifetime of the license holder. Refer to pages 13– 14 for a list
of lifetime Unified Inland/ Coastal Fishing licenses.
• State Comprehensive Inland Fishing: Statewide inland fishing. Includes fishing in designated
Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not
include fishing in coastal waters.
• Age 65 ( or older) Comprehensive Inland Fishing: Statewide inland fishing for residents.
Includes fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and
fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters.
• Disabled Veteran Inland Fishing: Statewide inland fishing for residents who are 50 percent or more
disabled veterans as determined by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Includes fishing in designated Public
Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not
include fishing in coastal waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions.
• Totally Disabled Inland Fishing: Statewide inland fishing for residents who are totally and permanently
disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board. Includes
fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in
joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions.
INLAND FISHING LICENSES
Following is a list of short- term, annual, and lifetime inland fishing licenses and the privilege license associated with each. The privilege license authorizes a
particular inland fishing activity not included with the basic license type. Privileges may be purchased separately if purchaser holds a valid basic license. If a
privilege license is not listed, the license type includes the special inland fishing activity. These licenses include fishing in joint waters. They do not include fishing in
coastal waters. See page 7 for a complete list of privileges and certifications. NOTE: Effective Jan. 1, 2007, individuals 16 years of age or older using any type
of bait or gear to catch finfish while fishing in North Carolina’s public waters must possess a valid North Carolina fishing license. This license requirement does
not apply to private ponds. Individual residents who receive Food Stamps, Medicaid or Work First Family Assistance may obtain a written waiver ( Annual
Subsistence License Waiver) from this fishing license requirement through their county Department of Social Services.
Resident Nonresident
$ 25.00 $ 100.00
$ 15.00 $ 15.00
$ 10.00 N/ A
$ 15.00 N/ A
Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 7
LICENSE INFORMATION
ANNUAL LICENSE Annual and privilege licenses are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase.
• State Trapping ( basic): Statewide trapping during a license term.
Additional Privilege License Available:
Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands.
• County Trapping ( basic): Trapping within the county of residence during a license term.
Additional Privilege License Available:
Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands.
TRAPPING LICENSES
PRIVILEGE LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
For your convenience, we have separately listed the privilege licenses and certifications below. Annual privilege licenses and certifications
authorize particular hunting or inland fishing activities and must be obtained in addition to the appropriate basic license. Privileges may be
purchased separately if the purchaser holds a valid license. Privilege licenses and certifications are valid for 12 months from the date of
purchase. HIP Certification is required for all those planning to hunt migratory game birds, including lifetime license- holders.
Resident Nonresident
$ 10.00 $ 60.00*
N/ A $ 40.00*
N/ A $ 125.00
TBD TBD
$ 15.00 $ 15.00
$ 10.00 $ 10.00
FREE FREE
$ 10.00 $ 10.00
Big Game Hunting: Needed to hunt deer, bear, wild boar and wild turkey. Nonresidents hunting bear or wild
boar must also purchase the Bear/ Wild Boar privilege license.
Big Game Hunting– Six- Day: Hunting of deer, bear, wild boar and wild turkey during the six- day period
specified on the license. This license privilege is needed in addition to the basic state hunting license. Does
not include the nonresident bear/ wild boar hunting privilege.
Bear/ Wild Boar Hunting: Needed by nonresident license holders, in addition to the big game privilege, to
hunt bear or wild boar.
NOTE: For those nonresidents with a lifetime sportsman license:
• purchased prior to May 24, 1994, you do not have to purchase this additional privilege license to hunt bear or
wild boar.
• purchased between May 24, 1994 and May 18, 2001, you will have to purchase the nonresident Bear/ Wild
Boar Hunting privilege license if you are hunting bear. If hunting wild boar only, you do not need to
purchase this privilege license.
• purchased after May 18, 2001, you will have to purchase the nonresident Bear/ Wild Boar Hunting privilege
license if you are hunting bear or wild boar.
Bonus Antlerless Deer: Allows the harvest of two additional antlerless deer per report card in counties or
parts of counties with a maximum either- sex season or any municipality enrolled in the Urban Archery
Season. Not valid for use on game lands. Refer to page 43 for more information.
Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands.
Waterfowl Hunting: Needed to hunt waterfowl.
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails,
gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
Special Trout Fishing: Needed to fish in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters. Includes trout fishing on
game lands.
* Reciprocal license fees apply to Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia residents. Refer to page 5 for
a list of fees.
8 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. LICENSE INFORMATION
Bobcat/ Otter Tags: Needed to sell or otherwise transfer ownership of bobcat or otter carcasses or pelts. Must
have valid trapping license to purchase. All bobcat and otter carcasses or pelts shall be properly tagged
within 10 days following the close of the applicable hunting or trapping season.
Controlled Hunting Preserve: Needed to hunt fox or pen- raised game birds on a licensed commercial
hunting preserve. This license may be used without a basic hunting license. This license is not required if
you possess a basic hunting, comprehensive hunting or sportsman’s license.
Crossbow Permit: Authorizes persons with permanent or long- term disabilities that render them incapable of
sufficient arm movement to draw other legal bows. Permit is valid as long as the qualifying disability
persists. For more information, refer to the “ Disabled Sportsman” section on page 11.
Disabled Access Permit: Authorizes persons with limited physical mobility to operate vehicles on open- gated
or ungated roads, otherwise closed to vehicular traffic on certain game lands and to have access to special
disabled hunting blinds. One able- bodied companion may accompany the disabled person, provided that
person possesses the “ companion card” issued to the disabled hunter. The disabled hunter will also be
issued a “ vehicle access card.” Permit is valid as long as the qualifying disability persists. For more infor-mation,
refer to the “ Disabled Sportsman” section on page 11.
Disabled Sportsman Hunt Certification: This is a medical certification used to establish eligibility for
participation in disabled hunt opportunities. This certification is only necessary when the applicant does
not possess a lifetime disabled veteran or totally disabled license. This certification is not a license;
therefore, a valid hunting license, in addition to the hunt permit, is required when participating in a
disabled hunt opportunity. For more information, refer to the “ Disabled Sportsman” section on page 11.
Falconry: Needed to hunt by the use of any raptor. License expires June 30 of each year. Call ( 919) 707- 0050
for an application.
Fox Tags: Needed to sell or otherwise transfer ownership of a fox carcass or pelt. Must have valid trapping
license to purchase. All fox carcasses or pelts shall be properly tagged within 10 days following the close of the
applicable hunting or trapping season.
Fur Dealer: Authorizes buying and selling furs anywhere in North Carolina. License expires June 30 each
year.
Fur Dealer Station: Authorizes the license- holder and his or her employee( s) to buy or sell furs at an
established location in North Carolina and under the supervision of the license- holder. License expires
June 30 each year.
Hunting/ Inland Fishing Guide: Needed to guide others for a fee.
Special Landholder and Guest Fishing License: May be purchased by the landholder of private property
bordering inland or joint fishing waters, including Public Mountain TroutWaters. This license shall entitle
the landholder, and guests of the landholder, to fish from the shore or any pier or dock originating from the
property without any additional inland fishing license. May not be used for commercial purposes. A guest
is defined as any individual invited by the landholder to fish from the property at no charge. A charge
includes any fee, assessment, dues, rent, or other consideration which must be paid, whether directly or
indirectly, in order to be allowed to fish from the property, regardless of the stated reason for such charge.
License valid 12 months from date of issue.
Taxidermy: Authorizes persons to practice taxidermy involving wildlife for any compensation. License
expires Dec. 31 each year.
OTHER LICENSES AND PERMITS
The Wildlife Resources Commission offers a wide range of special licenses and permits to serve the public. For information on the licenses or
permits listed below or to obtain an application, you may visit us online at www. ncwildlife. org, call us at ( 888) 248- 6834 or write to
NCWRC, 1707 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1707.
$ 2.20 ea. $ 2.20 ea.
$ 15.00 $ 15.00
FREE FREE
FREE FREE
FREE FREE
$ 10.00 $ 10.00
$ 2.25 ea. $ 2.25 ea.
$ 60.00 $ 300.00
$ 120.00 N/ A
$ 10.00 $ 100.00
$ 50.00 $ 50.00
$ 10.00 N/ A
Resident Nonresident
Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 9
LICENSE INFORMATION
( 1) Valid for use only in the license holders’ county of residence.
( 2) Must also possess the appropriate basic hunting license.
( 3) Must also possess a Federal Duck Stamp.
( 4) Must also possess a valid inland fishing license.
( 5) This license may be used without a hunting license.
( 6) Required to hunt Federal Migratory & Waterfowl birds.
( 7) Must also possess either a basic hunting, comprehensive
hunting or sportsman’s license.
( 8) Trapping on game lands requires a Game Lands License
and a Trapping License.
( 9) Must have the HIP Certification.
= Lifetime Licenses
Additional Information
RESIDENT HUNTING, INLAND FISHING AND TRAPPING LICENSE TYPES
and Associated Privilege Licenses
Refer to License Type Section for a complete description of license types and privileges. Refer to page 15
for a list of Resident Coastal Fishing and Unified Sportsman/ Coastal Fishing license types.
Deer
Bear
Boar
Turkey
Squirrel
Rabbit
Migratory Game Birds ( 9)
Quail
Grouse
Pheasant
Raccoon
Opossum
Bobcat
Crow
Beaver
Groundhog
Coyote
Controlled Shooting
Preserves
Waterfowl ( 3) ( 9)
Game Lands ( hunting)
Trapping
Game Lands ( trapping) ( 8)
Basic Inland Fishing
Trout Fishing
Public TroutWaters
Special Device Fishing
Nongame Fish
Bow & Arrow
Hunt \ Inland Fish Guide
L I C E N S E S P R I V I L E G E S
HUNTING
Big Game Basic Hunting OTHER
Price Hunting& Inland Fishing
$ 20 Annual Combo Hunt & Inland Fish ( basic) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 40 Annual Sportsman X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 200 Lifetime Sportsman ( under age 1) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 350 Lifetime Sportsman ( ages 1- 11) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 500 Lifetime Sportsman ( ages 12 & older) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 15 Age 65 ( or older) Sportsman X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 10 Disabled Veteran ( basic) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 10 Totally Disabled ( basic) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 100 Disabled Sportsman X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Hunting
$ 15 Annual State Hunting ( basic) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 10 Annual County Hunting ( basic) ( 1) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 30 Annual Comprehensive Hunting X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 250 Lifetime Comprehensive Hunting X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Additional Hunting Privileges
$ 10 Big Game ( 2) X X X X
$ 15 Game Lands ( 2) ( 8) X X
$ 10 NCWaterfowl ( 2) ( 3) X
Free HIP Certification ( 6) ( 7) X X
Inland Fishing
$ 5 10- Day Inland Fishing ( basic) X X
$ 15 Annual State Inland Fishing ( basic) X X
$ 10 Annual County Inland Fishing ( basic) ( 1) X X
$ 20 Annual Comprehensive Inland Fishing X X X X
$ 250 Lifetime Comprehensive Inland Fishing X X X X
Additional Inland Fishing Privilege
$ 10 Trout Fishing ( 4) X X
Trapping
$ 25 Annual State Trapping ( basic) ( 8) X
$ 10 AnnualCounty Trapping ( basic) ( 1)( 8) X
Other Licenses
$ 10 Annual Hunt/ Inland Fish Guide X
$ 15 Controlled Hunting Preserve ( 5) X
$ 10 Noncommercial Special Inland Fishing Device X
$ 100 Commercial Special Inland Fishing Device X
“ X” indicates the privileges authorized for
each license type.
10 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. LICENSE INFORMATION
NONRESIDENT HUNTING, INLAND FISHING AND TRAPPING LICENSE TYPES
and Associated Privilege Licenses
Refer to License Type Section for a complete description of license types and privileges. Refer to page 15
for a list of Nonresident Coastal Fishing and Unified Sportsman/ Coastal Fishing license types.
Deer
Bear
Boar
Turkey
Squirrel
Rabbit
Migratory Game Birds ( 9)
Quail
Grouse
Pheasant
Raccoon
Opossum
Bobcat
Crow
Beaver
Groundhog
Coyote
Controlled Shooting
Preserves
Waterfowl ( 3) ( 9)
Game Lands ( hunting)
Trapping
Game Lands ( trapping) ( 8)
Basic Inland Fishing
Trout Fishing
Public TroutWaters
Special Device Fishing
Nongame Fish
Bow & Arrow
Hunt \ Inland Fish Guide
L I C E N S E S P R I V I L E G E S
HUNTING
Big Game Basic Hunting OTHER
Price Hunting& Inland Fishing
$ 200 Lifetime Sportsman ( under age 1) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 350 Lifetime Sportsman ( ages 1- 11) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 1,000 Lifetime Sportsman ( ages 12 & older) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Hunting
$ 40 Six- Day State Hunting ( basic) ( 10) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 60 Annual State Hunting ( basic) ( 10) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Additional Hunting Privileges
$ 40 Six- Day Big Game ( 2) ( 10) X X
$ 60 Big Game ( season) ( 2) ( 10) X X
$ 125 Bear/ Wild Boar ( 1) X X
$ 15 Game Lands ( 2) ( 8) X X
$ 10 N. C. Waterfowl ( 2) ( 3) X
Free HIP Certification ( 6) ( 7) X X
Inland Fishing
$ 10 10- Day Inland Fishing ( basic) X X
$ 30 Annual State Inland Fishing ( basic) X X
Additional Inland Fishing Privilege
$ 10 Trout Fishing ( 4) X X
Trapping
$ 100 Annual State Trapping ( basic) ( 8) X
Other Licenses
$ 100 Annual Hunt/ Inland Fish Guide X
$ 15 Controlled Hunting Preserve ( 5) X
$ 50 Noncommercial Special Inland Fishing Device X
$ 200 Commercial Special Inland Fishing Device X
“ X” indicates the privileges authorized for
each license type.
( 1) Must also possess either a basic hunting or sportsman’s
license and a big game license.
( 2) Must also possess the appropriate basic hunting license.
( 3) Must also possess a Federal Duck Stamp.
( 4) Must also possess a valid inland fishing license.
( 5) This license may be used without a hunting license.
( 6) Required to hunt Federal Migratory & Waterfowl birds.
( 7) Must also possess either a basic hunting or sportsman’s license.
( 8) Trapping on game lands requires a Game Lands License and a
Trapping License.
( 9) Must have the HIP Certification.
( 10) Reciprocal license fees apply to Georgia, South Carolina, Ten-nessee
and Virginia residents. Refer to page 5 for a list of fees.
= Lifetime Licenses
Additional Information
Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 11
General Information The N. C. Wildlife Resources Commi-ssion
does not honor disabled licenses or permits from other
states. Disabled licenses and permits must be obtained directly
from the Wildlife Resources Commission. To obtain a disabled
license or permit application, visit us online at
www. ncwildlife. org, call us at ( 888) 248- 6834, or write to
NCWRC, 1707 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-
1707.
Disabled Sportsman Program Information TheWildlife
Resources Commission has established increased access and
opportunities for persons with disabilities to hunt on agency
game lands and other lands. A brief description and the quali-fications
for each is provided below. To obtain an application,
you may visit us online at www. ncwildlife. org, call us at ( 888)
248- 6834, or write to NCWRC, Disabled Sportsman Program,
1707 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1707. For
specific information on disabled hunt opportunities, refer to
the Permit Hunting Opportunities publication.
The Disabled Access Permit is designed to generally improve
access for persons with disabilities on game lands where land-owners
agree. It allows persons with limited physical mobility
to operate vehicles on open- gated or ungated roads, otherwise
closed to vehicular traffic on certain game lands. The permit also
allows access to special hunting blinds designed for hunters
with disabilities. There is no fee associated with this permit. ( See
page 57 for a list of areas with special access.) Qualifications:
Competent medical evidence must be submitted indicating that
a disability exists that limits physical mobility, to the extent that
normal utilization of the game lands is not possible without
vehicular assistance.
The Disabled Sportsman Hunt Certification is a medical certifi-cation
used to establish eligibility for participation in disabled
hunt opportunities. This certification is only necessary when the
applicant does not possess a lifetime disabled veteran or totally
Several types of lifetime licenses are available as noted under the
“ License Information” section of this digest, which begins on
page 2. Lifetime sportsman and lifetime comprehensive hunting
licenses include the state waterfowl privilege. Lifetime compre-hensive
hunting licenses and lifetime comprehensive inland
fishing licenses are sold only to residents of North Carolina.
Nonresidents may purchase the nonresident lifetime sportsman
license. Lifetime licenses may also be personalized for an addi-tional
$ 5 fee ( some exclusions apply). There are no residency
restrictions for the infant and youth lifetime licenses. You may
also give a lifetime license as a gift. All of these licenses are good
for the life of the license- holder. Even if you move out of North
Carolina, you can use the license anytime you return to the state.
Lifetime licenses can be purchased at your local wildlife service
agent, online at www. ncwildlife. org, by telephone ( 888) 248-
6834) or by mail from theWildlife Resources Commission.
Refer to inside cover for an application. Please note that infant
and youth lifetime licenses require a copy of the birth certificate;
these two licenses cannot be purchased online or by telephone.
Disabled licenses must be purchased by mail or in person at
WRC Headquarters.
Tax Deductible Contributions to the Wildlife Endow-ment
Fund Donations to theWildlife Endowment Fund are
deductible from your taxable income. Donations can be made
directly to the fund or as a bequest from a will or as a memorial
gift to honor a deceased friend or family member. The fund can
also be named as a beneficiary to a life insurance policy. When
making a memorial donation, include the name and address of
the donor or donors as well as the name of the person or persons
who is/ are being remembered by the donation. A card will be
sent to the donor acknowledging the contribution.
Lifetime Magazine Subscriptions Lifetime subscriptions to
Wildlife in North Carolina magazine can be purchased for $ 150.
The magazine is the official educational publication of the
Wildlife Resources Commission; it is dedicated to the sound
conservation of the state’s wildlife and the interrelated natural
resources we share with them. Monthly issues contain articles
on wildlife, natural history, hunting and fishing, boating and
the environment. The magazine has won many awards for
writing, design, photography and illustration. It is also widely
used in schools.
For additional information, visit us online at www. ncwildlife. org,
call ( 866) 945- 3746, or write to NCWRC, Wildlife Endowment
Fund, 1710 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1710.
Lifetime Hunting and Inland Fishing Licenses Lifetime hunting and inland fishing licenses are a great deal for sportsmen.
Purchasing a lifetime license saves you money over the years, may be charged to a VISA or MasterCard, and supports North
Carolina’s rich wildlife heritage. Funds from lifetime license sales are deposited directly into the Wildlife Endowment Fund, which
supports wildlife conservation programs.
THEWILDLIFE DISABLED SPORTSMAN INFORMATION ENDOWMENT FUND
disabled license. This certification is not a license; therefore, a
valid hunting license, in addition to the hunt permit, is required
when participating in a disabled hunt opportunity. There is no
fee for this certification. For a list of disabled hunt opportunities,
refer to the Permit Hunting Opportunities publication. Qualifica-tions:
Medical certification in one of the following disabilities:
missing fifty percent ( 50 percent) or more of one or more limbs,
whether by amputation or natural causes;
paralysis of one or more limbs;
dysfunction of one or more limbs rendering the individual
unable to perform the task of grasping and lifting with the
hands and arms or unable to walk without mechanical
assistance, other than a cane;
disease, injury or impairment confining the individual to a
wheelchair, walker or crutches;
legal deafness.
This certification shall remain valid as long as the qualifying
disability persists.
The Crossbow Permit allows persons to use a crossbow if they
have permanent or long- term disabilities that render them
incapable of sufficient arm movement to draw other legal bows.
There is no fee associated with this permit. Qualifications:
Competent medical evidence must be submitted indicating that
the disability restricting the use of bows is from an injury or
impairment that cannot be overcome with exercise and physical
therapy. The disability must be long- term ( greater than one
year), and it must prevent the person from drawing a bow
with 35 pounds of pull 15 inches and holding at a reduced
pull of 12 pounds for five seconds.
Within the national forests in North Carolina, off highway vehicles
( OHVs) are permitted only on designated routes. Further infor-mation
about areas managed by the U. S. Forest Service, includ-ing
the Nantahala, Pisgah, Croatan and Uwharrie National
Forests, may be obtained online http:// www. cs. unca. edu/ nfsnc/.
General Information The Coastal Recreational Fishing
License ( CRFL) is required to recreationally take finfish in the
state’s coastal fishing waters, which includes sounds, coastal
rivers and tributaries and out to three miles in the ocean.
Recreational anglers, who catch fish in the ocean greater
than three miles offshore, are required to have a coastal
recreational fishing license in order to bring fish back to
shore in North Carolina. Finfish harvested is for personal
consumption only and cannot be sold.
Coastal Recreational Fishing License ( CRFL)
1. Who must purchase a CRFL? Individuals 16 years or older
who want to recreationally finfish in any water designated as
coastal or joint waters of North Carolina must purchase a
CRFL. The exceptions are:
a. An individual who holds a resident/ nonresident lifetime
infant, youth, adult, over 70, disabled sportsman, lifetime
comprehensive fishing license, hunting/ fishing basic
disabled veteran or hunting/ fishing basic totally disabled
license issued by theWildlife Resources Commission
( WRC) before Jan. 1, 2006.
b. An individual who holds a lifetime legally blind or adult
care home license, regardless of when it was issued.
2. Where will I be able to fish with a CRFL? To fish recreation-ally
in coastal waters managed by the Division of Marine Fish-eries
( DMF), you will need a CRFL.
To fish in public, inland fishing waters, you need an inland
fishing license, available from theWRC.
To fish in the joint waters managed by both DMF andWRC,
you will need a CRFL or an inland fishing license.
The boundaries between coastal, inland and joint fishing waters
are marked with signs posted adjacent to the affected waters.
3. What types of individual CRFLs are available and what do
they cost? Several individual CRFLs are available to accommo-date
a variety of needs and situations. These include:
short- term licenses
annual licenses
lifetime licenses, valid for the lifetime of the holder
unified licenses, include hunting/ statewide fishing privileges.
A list of these licenses can be found on page 13.
4. Where will I be able to purchase my CRFL?
a. Go to theWRCWeb site, www. ncwildlife. org.
b. Visit aWRC wildlife service agent. Most are located in bait-and-
tackle shops, hunting and sporting good stores and
larger chain stores across the state.
c. Call toll- free, ( 888) 248- 6834. Hours of operation:
8 a. m.– 5 p. m., Monday– Friday.
d. Visit one of six DMF offices located on the coast. For loca-tions,
go to the DMFWeb site, www. ncfisheries. net.
5. I live in a coastal county, but I have a private pond on my
property that I have stocked. Will I need a CRFL to fish in
my pond? No, private ponds are exempt from any licensing
requirements.
6. Will I need a CRFL to fish in my county of residence?
Yes, the new legislation repeals the natural- bait exemption
for fishing in public and inland waters.
Any person 16 and older fishing in North Carolina public
waters ( excluding private ponds) must have a fishing license.
People who receive Food Stamps, Medicaid orWork First
Family Assistance may receive a subsistence waiver through
their county Department of Social Services.
This annual waiver allows the holder to fish recreationally
with hook- and- line in inland waters ( with the exception
of designated Public Mountain TroutWaters), joint and
coastal waters.
7. What types of blanket CRFLs are available? Who is eligible
to purchase one? Two types of blanket CRFLs are available
only through DMF offices:
a. For- Hire Blanket— a person who operates a “ for- hire boat”
( i. e., charter boat) may purchase a CRFL for each vessel that
will allow all individuals on the for- hire boat who do not
hold a CRFL to fish in coastal fishing waters that are not joint
fishing waters. This license does not authorize individuals to
fish recreationally in inland or joint fishing waters.
b. Ocean Fishing Pier Blanket— a person who operates or
owns an ocean fishing pier and who charges a fee to allow a
person to fish recreationally from the pier may purchase an
Ocean Fishing Pier Blanket CRFL. This license allows all
individuals who do not hold an individual CRFL to engage
in recreational fishing in coastal waters while on the pier.
8. Is there a CRFL boat license I can buy so my guests do not
have to worry about purchasing an individual CRFL? No,
the purpose of the legislation creating the CRFL was to license
the individual so the state could assess more accurately the
impact of recreational fishing. All guests who are fishing
need a CRFL.
9. Will I need a CRFL to harvest crabs, mussels, clams,
lobsters, shrimp and other shellfish? No, the license is only
required for the recreational harvest of finfish.
10. Will anglers who use gigs and castnets to harvest finfish
recreationally be required to have this license? Yes.
11. Will I need a CRFL license to fish from a privately owned
pier? Yes.
12. Will I be able to sell my catch if I have a CRFL? No. Seafood
harvested under the license is for personal consumption and
cannot be sold.
13. Are there any rules or regulations for recreational finfish-ing?
Yes, individuals possessing this license must comply with
the state’s recreational size and possession limits, which can
change frequently. To view the most up- to- date version of these
limits, visit www. ncdmf. net/ recreational/ recguide. htm or call
the DMF at ( 800) 682- 2632 or ( 252) 726- 7021 to receive a
copy. A CRFL is required for ANY type of recreational finfish
harvest not included under the Recreational Commercial Gear
License. This includes fishing with hook- and- line, spears, gigs,
bait- and- line, seines less than 30 feet, dip nets, landing nets
and cast nets. For more information on the Recreational Com-mercial
Gear License, visitwww. ncdmf. net/ license/ RCGL. htm.
14. Are there any additional requirements of those who hold
a CRFL? Individuals possessing this license are required to
comply with all DMF sampling and survey programs.
15. Does a landowner need a CRFL if fishing from his/ her pier
or property? Yes.
For more information, contact: N. C. Wildlife Resources Commis-sion,
www. ncwildlife. org, ( 919) 707- 0391 or Division of
Marine Fisheries, www. ncfisheries. net, local ( 252) 726- 7021,
toll- free ( 800) 682- 2632.
COASTAL RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENSE 12 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED.
Resident Nonresident
$ 5.00 $ 10.00
$ 15.00 $ 30.00
$ 250.00 $ 500.00
$ 150.00 $ 150.00
$ 100.00 $ 100.00
$ 15.00 N/ A
$ 10.00 N/ A
$ 10.00 N/ A
COASTAL RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENSE TYPE DESCRIPTIONS
Following is a list of short- term, annual and lifetime coastal recreational fishing licenses valid in coastal and joint waters.
ANNUAL UNIFIED LICENSE Annual licenses and privileges are valid for 12 months from date of purchase.
• Unified Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide hunting, inland and coastal recreational fishing
for residents during a license term. Includes the privileges of hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for
waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout
waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters.
Additional Privilege License Available:
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails,
gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
• Unified Inland/ Coastal Recreational Fishing License: Statewide inland and coastal recreational fishing for
residents during a license term. Includes the privileges of fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing
in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters.
• Unified Subsistence Inland/ Coastal Recreational Fishing License Waiver: Statewide basic inland and
coastal recreational fishing for residents who receive Medicaid, Food Stamps, orWork First Family Assistance through
the County Department of Social Services. Includes fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in designated
Public Mountain TroutWaters and fishing in trout waters on game lands. LicenseWaiver can be obtained through the
County Department of Social Services upon request.
Additional Privilege License Available:
Special Trout Fishing: Needed to fish in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters. Includes trout fishing on
game lands.
UNIFIED LIFETIME LICENSE Lifetime licenses are valid for the lifetime of the license holder. The privilege license and HIP
Certification are valid for 12 months from date of purchase.
Hunting and Fishing:
• Unified Adult Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing ( ages 12 & older): Statewide hunting, inland
and coastal recreational fishing. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does
not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game
lands, and fishing in joint waters.
Additional Privilege License and Certification Available:
Bear/ Wild Boar Hunting: Needed by nonresidents, in addition to the lifetime sportsman license, to hunt bear
or wild boar.
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails,
gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
• Unified Youth Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing ( ages 1 – 11): Statewide hunting, inland and
coastal recreational fishing. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not
include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game
lands, and fishing in joint waters.
• Unified Infant Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing ( under age 1): Statewide hunting, inland
and coastal recreational fishing. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does
not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game
lands, and fishing in joint waters.
SHORT- TERM LICENSE Short- term licenses are valid for the period specified on the license.
• Coastal Recreational Fishing 10- Day: Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters during the 10- day period
specified on the license. It does not authorize fishing in inland waters.
ANNUAL LICENSE Annual licenses are valid for 12 months from the date of issuance.
• Coastal Recreational Fishing: Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters during a license term. It does not
authorize fishing in inland waters.
LIFETIME LICENSE Lifetime licenses are valid for the lifetime of the license holder.
• Adult Coastal Recreational Fishing ( ages 12 & older): Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters. It does
not authorize fishing in inland waters.
• Youth Coastal Recreational Fishing ( ages 1– 11): Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters. It does not
authorize fishing in inland waters.
• Infant Coastal Recreational Fishing ( under age 1): Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters. It does not
authorize fishing in inland waters.
• Age 65 ( or older) Coastal Recreational Fishing: Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters. It does not
authorize fishing in inland waters.
• Disabled Veteran Coastal Recreational Fishing: Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters for residents
who are 50 percent or more disabled veterans as determined by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. It does not authorize
fishing in inland waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions.
• Totally Disabled Coastal Recreational Fishing: Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters for residents
who are totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration or the Railroad
Retirement Board. It does not authorize fishing in inland waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions.
UNIFIED HUNTING, INLAND AND COASTAL RECREATION FISHING LICENSE TYPE DESCRIPTIONS
Following is a list of annual and lifetime unified hunting, inland and coastal recreational fishing licenses valid in coastal and joint waters.
Resident Nonresident
$ 55.00 N/ A
FREE N/ A
$ 35.00 N/ A
FREE N/ A
$ 10.00 N/ A
$ 675.00 $ 1350.00
N/ A $ 125.00
FREE FREE
$ 450.00 $ 450.00
$ 275.00 $ 275.00
COASTAL RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENSE
Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 13
• Unified Age 65 ( or older) Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide hunting, inland and
coastal recreational fishing. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not
include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands,
and fishing in joint waters.
Additional Certification Available:
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails,
gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
• Unified Disabled Veteran Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide hunting, inland and
coastal recreational fishing for residents who are 50 percent or more disabled veterans as determined by the Dept. of
Veterans Affairs. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include
federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and
fishing in joint waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions.
Additional Certification Available:
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails,
gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
• Unified Totally Disabled Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide hunting, inland and
coastal recreational fishing for residents who are totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social
Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands,
hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters,
fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions.
Additional Certification Available:
HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails,
gallinule, snipe and woodcock).
FISHING:
• Unified Inland/ Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide inland and coastal recreational fishing. Includes
fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters.
• Unified Legally Blind Inland/ Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide fishing in all public waters for
residents who have been certified by the Dept. of Health and Human Services as being legally blind. Includes fishing
in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters and fishing in trout waters on game lands. Refer to page 11 for application
instructions.
• Unified Adult Care Home Inland/ Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide fishing in all public waters for
residents of an adult care home. Includes fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters and fishing in trout waters
on game lands. License valid during time of residency at adult care facility. Call ( 888) 248- 6834 to obtain an application.
Resident Nonresident
$ 30.00 N/ A
FREE N/ A
$ 110.00 N/ A
FREE N/ A
$ 110.00 N/ A
FREE N/ A
$ 450.00 N/ A
FREE N/ A
FREE N/ A
COASTAL RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENSE 14 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED.
Check out our Web site: www. ncwildlife. org
Purchase hunting, fishing and trapping licenses
Locate a nearby wildlife service agent
Report a Big Game Harvest
Check status of permit hunts
Renew vessel registration
Register for a Hunter Education course
Register for a Boating Education course
Purchase Wild Store products
Purchase a subscription toWildlife in North Carolina magazine
Request a Regulations Digest
View updated game landsmaps
Browse for fishing publications
Browse for habitatmanagement publications
Find a local shooting range
Register for wildlife programs for children and adults at any of our Wildlife Education Centers.
We make it easy!
( 1) Required to hunt Federal Migratory & Waterfowl birds.
( 2) Must also possess either a basic hunting, comprehensive hunting or
sportsman’s license.
( 3) Must also possess a valid inland fishing license.
( 4) Must also possess either a basic hunting or sportsman’s license and a big
game license.
( 5) Must also have the HIP Certification.
( 6) Must also possess a Federal Duck Stamp.
( 7) Trapping on game lands requires a Game Lands License and a Trapping License.
= Lifetime Licenses
Additional Information
Deer
Bear
Boar
Turkey
Squirrel
Rabbit
Migratory Game Birds ( 5)
Quail
Grouse
Pheasant
Raccoon
Opossum
Bobcat
Crow
Beaver
Groundhog
Coyote
Controlled Shooting
Preserves
Waterfowl ( 5) ( 6)
Game Lands ( hunting)
Trapping
Game Lands ( trapping) ( 7)
Basic Fishing
Trout Fishing
Public TroutWaters
Special Device Fishing
Nongame Fish
Bow & Arrow
Coastal Recreational Fishing
L I C E N S E S P R I V I L E G E S
HUNTING
Big Game Basic Hunting OTHER
“ X” indicates the privileges authorized for
each license type.
UNIFIED HUNTING, INLAND AND COASTAL RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENSE ( CRFL) TYPES
and Associated Privilege Licenses
RESIDENT LICENSE TYPES
Price Hunting, Inland& CRFL
$ 55 Annual Unified Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 675 Lifetime Adult Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 450 Lifetime Youth Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 275 Lifetime Infant Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 30 Unified Age 65 & Older Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 110 Unified Disabled Vet Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 110 Unified Totally Disabled Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Additional Hunting Privileges
Free HIP Certification ( 1) ( 2) X X
Fishing
$ 5 10- Day - CRFL X
$ 15 Annual CRFL X
$ 35 Annual Unified Inland/ CRFL X X X X X
Free Annual Subsistence Inland/ CRFLWaiver X X X
$ 250 Lifetime Adult CRFL X
$ 150 Lifetime Youth CRFL X
$ 100 Lifetime Infant CRFL X
$ 15 Age 65 & Older CRFL X
$ 10 Disabled Vet CRFL X
$ 10 Totally Disabled CRFL X
$ 450 Lifetime Unified Inland/ CRFL X X X X X
Additional Inland Fishing Privilege
$ 10 Trout Fishing ( 3) X X
NONRESIDENT LICENSE TYPES
Price Hunting, Inland& CRFL
$ 1,350 Lifetime Adult Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 450 Lifetime Youth Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
$ 275 Lifetime Infant Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Additional Hunting Privileges
Free HIP Certification ( 1) ( 2) X X
$ 125 Bear/ Wild Boar ( 4) X X
Fishing
$ 10 10- Day - CRFL X
$ 30 Annual CRFL X
$ 500 Lifetime Adult CRFL X
$ 150 Lifetime Youth CRFL X
$ 100 Lifetime Infant CRFL X
COASTAL RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENSE
Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 15
16 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED.
General Information Inland, Joint and Coastal Fishing
Waters. Both the Wildlife Resources Commission and the Div-ision
of Marine Fisheries have licensing, management and
regulatory authority in certain waters along the coast of
North Carolina. These waters are designated as inland, joint
and coastal waters. The Wildlife Resources Commission has
jurisdiction in inland waters, and the Division of Marine
Fisheries has jurisdiction ( except that pertaining to inland
game fishes) in coastal waters. Both agencies have licensing
and regulatory authority in joint waters.
The boundaries between inland, joint and coastal fishing waters are
prominently marked with metal signs posted adjacent to the
affected waters. Lists of these waters, with their boundaries
indicated, are available from theWildlife Resources Commis-sion,
1721 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1721
( www. ncwildlife. org; see Fishing– Publications– Coastal, Joint
and Inland FishingWaters Designations in N. C.), or from the
Division of Marine Fisheries, P. O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC
28557 ( www. ncdmf. net; see Quick Links– Maps to Download).
SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR JOINT FISHING WATERS
It is unlawful to possess striped bass or striped bass hybrids less
than 18 inches in length.
It is unlawful to possess striped bass or striped bass hybrids
between 22 and 27 inches in length in the joint waters of the
Central- Southern Striped Bass Management Area.
It is unlawful to possess striped bass or striped bass hybrids May
through September in the joint waters of the Central- Southern
and Albemarle Sound Striped Bass Management Areas.
It is unlawful to possess striped bass or striped bass hybrids
from the joint waters of the Cape Fear River.
It is unlawful to possess more than one daily creel limit of
striped bass or striped bass hybrids, in aggregate, per person per
day, regardless of the number of management areas fished.
It is unlawful to possess striped bass or striped bass hybrids that
are not in agreement with size and creel limits of the waters
being fished, regardless of other management areas that may
have been fished that day.
It is unlawful to net fish for striped bass or their hybrids in joint
waters except as authorized by rules of the Marine Fisheries
Commission.
It is unlawful to use seines, gill nets or trawl nets in the Lake
Mattamuskeet canals.
It is unlawful to use any net, net stakes, or electrical fishing
device within 800 feet downstream of the dam at Lock No. 1
on the Cape Fear River.
It is unlawful to possess more than 10 American or hickory shad
in aggregate per person per day taken by hook- and- line
Otherwise, in joint fishing waters, commercial fishing and licensing—
including commercial trotlines— are subject to the coastal
fishing laws and regulations; inland game fish and hook- and-line
licensing— exclusive of commercial trotlines— are subject
to the inland fishing laws and regulations.
How to Measure Inland Game Fish The harvest of
several game fishes is regulated by length limits. Fish length is
determined by measuring along a straight line ( in other words,
not along the curvature of the body) the distance from the tip of
the closed mouth to the tip of the compressed caudal ( tail) fin.
INLAND GAME FISH
The following fishes are designated as inland game fish:
Black bass ( largemouth, smallmouth and spotted)
Crappie ( white and black)
Sunfish
Bluegill
Redbreast sunfish ( robin)
Redear sunfish ( shellcracker)
Pumpkinseed
Warmouth
Green sunfish
Roanoke bass
Rock bass
Flier
All other species of the family Centrarchidae
Mountain trout ( including but not limited to brook, brown
and rainbow trout)
Kokanee salmon
Walleye
Sauger
Pickerel, chain ( jack) and redfin
Muskellunge
White bass
Bodie bass ( striped bass x white bass)
Striped bass, in inland waters
Shad, American and hickory, in inland waters
White perch, in inland waters
Yellow perch, in inland waters
All other species of perch and pickerel
Spotted sea trout, in inland waters
Flounder, in inland waters
Red drum( channel bass, red fish and puppy drum), in inland waters
GENERAL REGULATIONS FOR INLAND GAME FISH
Purchase and Sale
The purchase and sale of inland game fish are unlawful, except
from and by licensed commercial trout ponds and fish propagators.
Spawning Areas
Fishing is prohibited from Feb. 15 through April 15 in the Linville
River from the mouth, as marked at Lake James, upstream to the
N. C. 126 bridge.
Manner of Taking
Inland game fish may be taken only with a hook and line.
Landing nets may be used to land fishes caught on a hook and line.
INLAND FISHING REGULATIONS & INFORMATION
Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 17
It is unlawful to snag fish by pulling or jerking a device
equipped with one or more hooks through the water for the
purpose of impaling fish.
American and hickory shad may be taken with bow nets from
March 1 through April 30.
In the inland waters of the Roanoke River upstream of the U. S.
258 bridge, only a single barbless hook or a lure with a single
barbless hook may be used from April 1 to June 30. “ Barbless”
means that the hook either does not have a barb or that the barb
is bent down.
Using Trotlines, Set- hooks, and Jug- hooks
Trotlines, set- hooks and jug hooks may be fished under any
license that authorizes basic fishing privileges.
It is unlawful to use live bait with trotlines, set- hooks or jug- hooks.
Trotlines ( a line with multiple hooks) must be set parallel to the
nearest shore in all public waters, where their use is authorized.
Each trotline, set- hook, and jug- hook shall have attached the
name and address of the user legibly inscribed.
Each trotline shall be conspicuously marked at each end, and
each set- hook shall be conspicuously marked at one end with
a prominent flag or floating object.
Metal cans and glass containers cannot be used as markers.
The number of jug- hooks thatmay be fished is limited to 70 per boat.
Trotlines, throwlines, set- hooks and jug- hooks must be fished
daily, and all fish must be removed daily.
Untended trotlines, set- hooks and jug- hooks, as evidenced by
the absence of bait, may be removed from the water by wildlife
enforcement officers.
Exceptions
No trotlines or set- hooks may be used in the impounded
waters of Sandhills Game Land, in designated Public Mountain
TroutWaters, or in Cheoah Lake.
In LakeWaccamaw it is unlawful to use trotlines or set- hooks
from May 1– Sept. 30.
State Fish Hatcheries
It is unlawful to fish at any time in the waters or on the property
of any state fish hatchery, including Bones Creek from the Lake
Rim Dam to the U. S. 401 Bypass ( Raeford Road) with the
following exception:
- McKinney Lake Reservoir at McKinney Lake State Fish
Hatchery.
Seasons There are no closed seasons on inland game fishes
with the following exceptions:
1. In designated Hatchery- Supported TroutWaters, where the
season for all fishes is closed and fishing is prohibited from
March 1– April 3, 2009.
2. In undesignated waters where it is unlawful to possess trout
caught during the closed season ( March 1 through April 3).
3. On the Lake Mattamuskeet NationalWildlife Refuge, where
federal regulations apply.
4. On the MacKay Island NationalWildlife Refuge, where federal
regulations apply and specified waters are closed to access
between Oct. 15 and March 15.
5. On the Roanoke River, where the striped bass season, except if
changed by proclamation of the Executive Director, Wildlife
STATEWIDE
Albemarle Sound from Bull Bay to Harvey Point west to
themouths of the Roanoke and Chowan rivers ( Perquimans,
Chowan, Bertie, Washington and Tyrrell counties)
Roanoke River from U. S. Hwy. 17 bridge near
Williamston to the mouth of Albemarle Sound
( Martin, Bertie andWashington counties)
Welch Creek ( Martin, Beaufort andWashington counties)
Brier Creek Reservoir ( Wake County), Brier Creek
_ downstream of Brier Creek Reservoir, and Little Brier
Creek and tributaries downstreamof Brier Creek Parkway
Lake Crabtree ( Wake County)
Crabtree Creek ( Wake County) above and below Lake
Crabtree to Neuse River
Neuse River ( Wake County) downstream of Crabtree
Creek to Auburn- Knightdale Road
Walnut Creek ( Wake County) and Rocky Branch
tributary just upstream of confluence with Neuse River
Women of childbearing age, pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under age
15: no more than 2 meals per week of fish LOWin mercury and no consumption of fish
HIGH in mercury.
All other people: no more than 4 meals per week of fish LOWin mercury and only
1 meal per week of fish HIGH in mercury.
( The names of fishes containing high and low levels ofmercury are available fromN. C. Dept.
Health and Human Services at ( 919) 707- 5912 or www. epi. state. nc. us/ epi/ fish/ safefish. html)
Carp and catfish. No consumption by women of childbearing age or children.
No more than one meal per month for others.
Carp and catfish. No consumption by women of childbearing age or children.
No more than one meal per month for others.
Carp and catfish. No consumption by women of childbearing age or children.
No more than one meal per month for others.
All fish. No consumption.
Carp and catfish. No consumption. No more than one meal per month for all other fish.
Carp, catfish and largemouth bass. No more than one meal per month.
Carp and catfish. No more than one meal per month.
Carp and catfish. No more than one meal per month and no more than one meal per
week for all other fish.
FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES
Elevated levels of some pollutants may be found in certain fish caught by the public or sold commercially in the United States.
For more information, see www. epi. state. nc. us and click on “ Fish Consumption Advisories.”
The following table lists the current fish consumption advisories for North Carolina inland fishing waters:
Mercury
Dioxins
Dioxins
Dioxins
PCBs
PCBs
PCBs
PCBs
PCBs
Body ofWater Advisory Pollutant
INLAND FISHING REGULATIONS & INFORMATION
( continued on page 21)
18 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED.
REGULATIONS FORWARMWATER GAME FISH
LOCATION
Black bass ( including largemouth, smallmouth and spotted)
- Roanoke River downstreamof Roanoke Rapids Dam
- Tar River downstream of Tar River Reservoir Dam
- Neuse River downstream of Falls Lake Dam
- Lake Raleigh ( Wake Co.)
- Haw River downstream of Jordan Lake Dam
- Deep River downstream of Lockville Dam
- Cape Fear River
- Waccamaw River downstream of LakeWaccamaw Dam
- Lumber River, including Drowning Creek
- All other public waters east of Interstate 95, except Tar River Reservoir
( Nash Co.)
- South Yadkin River downstream of Cooleemee Dam
- Yadkin- Pee Dee River from Idols Dam to the South Carolina state line,
including High Rock Lake, Tuckertown Reservoir, Badin Lake, Falls Lake
( Stanley and Montgomery counties), Lake Tillery and Blewett Falls Lake.
- Randleman Reservoir ( Randolph and Guilford counties)
- Lake Luke Marion ( Moore Co.)
- Reedy Creek Park lakes ( Mecklenburg Co.)
- Lake Rim ( Cumberland Co.)
- Sutton Lake ( New Hanover Co.)
- B. Everett Jordan Reservoir
- Falls of the Neuse Reservoir ( Wake, Durham and Granville counties) to Lake
Michie Dam on Flat River and to the mouth of Cub Creek on Eno River
- Buckhorn Reservoir ( Wilson and Nash counties)
- Cane Creek Lake ( Union Co.)
- Lake Thom- A- Lex ( Davidson Co.)
- Shearon Harris Reservoir
- Lake Phelps
- Lake Lure
- New River ( Alleghany Co. portion)
- Designated Public Mountain TroutWaters and waters in and west of
Madison, Buncombe, Henderson and Polk counties
- City or county- owned lakes underWildlife Resources Commission
management
- All other public fishing waters
Striped bass and Bodie bass
( Inland impoundments and tributaries)
- John H. Kerr Reservoir
- Dan River in Caswell Co., N. C., downstream of Danville, Va.
- Cape Fear River upstream of Buckhorn Dam and the Deep and Haw
rivers to the first impoundment
- Lake Gaston
- Roanoke Rapids Reservoir
- B. Everett Jordan Reservoir
- Lake Norman
- Other impounded inland waters and their tributaries
State waters are classified as: inland, joint and coastal ( see “ Gen-eral
Information" on page 16). These state waters are collectively
referred to as public fishing waters. Certain fishes, including large-mouth
bass, crappie and mountain trout are designated inland
game fish and under the jurisdiction of the Wildlife Resources Com-mission
in all public waters, whereas, some species, including striped
bass, white and yellow perch, flounder and red drum, are desig-nated
as inland game fish only in inland waters ( see list on page 16).
SIZE LIMIT
14- inch minimum
14- inch minimum
Dec. 1– March 31:
No bass may be possessed.
16- inch minimum
18- inch minimum
14- inch minimum, except that 2 may be
less than 14 inches and no fish between
16 - 20 inches may be possessed
14- inch minimum and no fish between
16 - 20 inches may be possessed
16- inch minimum ( largemouth).
14- inch minimum ( smallmouth).
No minimum size for smallmouth
bass, and no smallmouth between
14- 20 inches may be possessed.
12- inch minimum, except that
2 may be less than 12 inches
As posted
Largemouth: 14- inch minimum, except
that 2 may be less than 14 inches
Smallmouth& spottedbass: 12- inchmin-imum,
except that2maybeless than12inches
Oct. 1– May 31:
26- inch minimum.
June 1– Sept. 30:
no minimum size limit
20- inch minimum
Oct. 1– May 31:
16- inch minimum.
June 1– Sept. 30:
no minimum size limit
16- inch minimum, except that
2 may be less than 16 inches
DAILY CREEL LIMIT*
5 in aggregate*
5 in aggregate
Dec. 1– March 31:
No bass may be possessed.
5 in aggregate
5 in aggregate
5 in aggregate, including only
2 less than 14 inches
5 in aggregate
5 in aggregate
5 in aggregate, including only
1 smallmouth bass greater
than 20 inches
5 in aggregate, including only
2 less than 12 inches
As posted
5 in aggregate, including only
2 largemouth less than 14 inches
and 2 smallmouth or spotted bass
less than 12 inches
Oct. 1– May 31:
2 in aggregate.
June 1– Sept. 30:
4 in aggregate
4 in aggregate
4 in aggregate
8 in aggregate, including only 2
fish less than 16 inches
* Please note: “ In aggregate” means the total number for all species combined. continued
INLAND FISHING REGULATIONS & INFORMATION
Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 19
LOCATION
Striped bass and Bodie bass continued
( Coastal rivers and impoundments)
Roanoke River Striped BassManagement Area ( including Roanoke, Cashie,
Middle and Eastmost rivers and their tributaries)
- Roanoke Rapids Dam downstream to mouth of the river at Albemarle Sound
Albemarle Sound Striped BassManagement Area ( including Roanoke
Sound, Croatan Sound, Albemarle Sound, Currituck Sound, Chowan,
Yeopim, Perquimans, Little, Pasquotank, North, Alligator and
Scuppernong rivers and their tributaries)
Central- Southern Striped BassManagement Area, inland and joint waters
including:
- Tar - Pamlico River and tributaries from Rocky Mount Mill Dam
downstream to N & S Railroad Bridge atWashington
- Neuse River and tributaries from Milburnie Dam downstream to Southern
Railroad Bridge at New Bern
- Pungo River
- All other unlisted inland and joint waters of coastal rivers and their
tributaries, except Cape Fear River
Central- Southern Striped BassManagement Area, coastal waters including:
- Tar- Pamlico River downstream of the N & S Railroad Bridge atWashington
including Pamlico Sound and tributaries designated as coastal waters
- Neuse River downstream of Southern Railroad Bridge at New Bern,
including Pamlico Sound and tributaries designated as coastal waters
- All other unlisted coastal waters
Central- Southern Striped BassManagement Area, inland, joint, and coastal
waters of:
- Cape Fear River downstream of Buckhorn Dam
- Pee Dee River downstream of Blewett Falls Dam
- Lake Mattamuskeet
Sunfish ( except black bass and crappie)
In the following waters and their tributaries:
- Roanoke River downstreamof Roanoke Rapids Dam
- Tar River downstream of Tar River Reservoir Dam
- Neuse River downstream of Falls Lake Dam
- Haw River downstream of Jordan Lake Dam
- Deep River downstream of Lockville Dam
- Cape Fear River
- Waccamaw River downstream of LakeWaccamaw Dam
- Lumber River, including Drowning Creek
- All other public waters east of Interstate 95, except Tar River Reservoir
( Nash Co.)
- All other public fishing waters
Crappie ( black and white)
In the following waters and their tributaries:
- Roanoke River downstream of Roanoke Rapids Dam
- Tar River downstream of Tar River Reservoir Dam
- Neuse River downstream of Falls Lake Dam
- Haw River downstream of Jordan Lake Dam
- Deep River downstream of Lockville Dam
- Cape Fear River
- Waccamaw River downstream of LakeWaccamaw Dam
- Lumber River, including Drowning Creek
- All other public waters east of Interstate 95, except Tar River Reservoir
( Nash Co.) and Sutton Lake ( New Hanover Co.)
- South Yadkin River downstream of Cooleemee Dam
- Yadkin- Pee Dee River from Idols Dam to the South Carolina state line,
including High Rock Lake, Tuckertown Reservoir, Badin Lake, Falls Lake
( Stanley and Montgomery counties) Lake Tillery, and Blewett Falls Lake
- Lake Norman, Lake Hyco, Lake Ramseur, and Cane Creek Lake
- All public waters west of Interstate 77
- B. Everett Jordan Reservoir
- Buckhorn Reservoir ( Wilson and Nash counties)
- All other public fishing waters
White bass
- All public fishing waters
American and Hickory shad
- Roanoke River upstream of U. S. 258 bridge near Scotland Neck
- All other public fishing waters
SIZE LIMIT
Season - March 1– April 30 ( unless
closed by proclamation):
18- inch minimum, no fish
between 22- 27 inches
Established by Division of
Marine Fisheries
18- inch minimum and no fish
between 22- 27 inches
Season- October 1 – April 30
Established by Division of
Marine Fisheries
No striped bass may be taken or
possessed
18- inch minimum
No minimum size limit
None
8- inch minimum
10- inch minimum
None
None
None
None
None
DAILY CREEL LIMIT
Season - March 1– April 30 ( unless
closed by proclamation):
2 in aggregate including only
1 greater than 27 inches
Established by Division of
Marine Fisheries
2 in aggregate
Season- October 1 – April 30
Established by Division of
Marine Fisheries
No striped bass may be taken or
possessed
3 in aggregate
30 in aggregate, including no more
than 12 redbreast sunfish
None
20 in aggregate
20 in aggregate
20 in aggregate
None
25
10 in aggregate, including no more
than 1 American shad
10 in aggregate
INLAND FISHING REGULATIONS & INFORMATION
20 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED.
LOCATION
Spotted sea trout
- Inland waters
Flounder
- Inland waters
Red drum
- Inland waters
Walleye
- Lake James and tributaries
- Linville River upstream from N. C. 126 bridge
- All other public fishing waters
Muskellunge
- French Broad River betweenWilson Road bridge ( SR 1540) at Pisgah
Forest and the U. S. 64 bridge near Etowah
- All other public fishing waters
Sauger
- All public fishing waters
Kokanee salmon
- All public fishing waters
All other warmwater game fishes
- All public fishing waters
SIZE LIMIT
12- inch minimum
14- inch minimum
18- inch minimum and
27- inch maximum
15- inch minimum
None
None
46- inch minimum
30- inch minimum
15- inch minimum
None
None
DAILY CREEL LIMIT
10
8
1
8
4
8
1
2
8
7
None
INLAND FISHING REGULATIONS & INFORMATION
Longest spine over twice as
long as shortest spine Deep notch between fins
No scales at
base of fin
No scales at
base of fin
Upper jaw extends
beyond eye
Horizontal band
One patch of
teeth on tongue
Longest spine less than twice
the length of shortest spine
Shallow notch between fins
Scales at
base of fin
Upper jaw
extends to
back of eye
Horizontal band
Horizontal streaks
Scales at
base of fin
Largemouth Bass
Found statewide
BASS IDENTIFICATION CHART M0RONE IDENTIFICATION CHART
Stripes distinct and
usually broken
Two patches of
teeth on tongue
Spotted Bass
Found in theMountains, Foothills and Little River in Harnett County
Longest spine less
than twice the length
of shortest spine Shallow notch between fins
Scales at
base of fin
Scales at
base of fin
Upper jaw doesn’t
extend beyond
back of eye
Vertical bars
Smallmouth Bass
Found in theMountains and Foothills
One patch of
teeth on tongue
Stripes often faint
White Bass
Bodie Bass
( striped bass hybrid)
Two patches of
teeth on tongue
Striped Bass
Stripes distinct and
usually continuous
Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 21
Resources Commission, extends from March 1– April 30 from
the Roanoke Rapids dam downstream to the mouth of the river
at the Albemarle Sound.
6. In Sutton Lake, where possession of largemouth bass is
prohibited from Dec. 1– March 31.
Possession of Game Fish
It is unlawful to take, in any one day, more than the daily creel
limit of any inland game fish having a specified creel limit.
It is unlawful, while fishing, to change the appearance of fish
subject to size limits or daily creel limits or remove the head
and/ or tail from fish that are regulated by a size limit so that they
may not be measured and/ or identified.
It is unlawful to possess fish whose size, creel or season
restrictions are not in compliance with the regulations on
the waters being fished.
It is unlawful to possess more than the daily creel limit while
fishing, boating or afield; or to possess at any place more than
three days’ creel limit.
It is unlawful to destroy unnecessarily any inland game fish
taken from public fishing waters.
REGULATIONS FORMOUNTAIN TROUT
Brook, brown and rainbow trout are the dominant species of fresh-water
trout in North Carolina. These trout require cold, clean
water and are therefore generally restricted to mountain streams
and lakes. Those mountain waters that support trout and are
open to public fishing are designated as “ Public Mountain Trout
Waters” by theWildlife Resources Commission and are managed
for public trout fishing. Maps of trout water and their classifica-tions
may be viewed at www. ncwildlife. org under the link for
regulations – fishing – mountain trout.
Designated Public Mountain Trout Waters Designated
Public Mountain TroutWaters are classified for management
purposes as either “ Hatchery- Supported TroutWaters” or “ Wild
TroutWaters.” Hatchery- Supported TroutWaters must be
stocked periodically with trout to sustain angling. Wild Trout
Waters are high- quality waters that sustain trout populations by
natural reproduction. Some Designated Public Mountain Trout
Waters are specially regulated to meet specific management
objectives. These are further classified as follows:
“ Catch and Release/ Artificial Lures Only,”
“ Catch and Release/ Artificial Flies Only,”
“ Wild Trout/ Natural Bait,”
“ Delayed- Harvest TroutWaters,”
or “ Special Regulation TroutWaters.”
For Designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, an artificial lure is
defined as a fishing lure that neither contains nor has been
treated with any substance that attracts fish by the sense of taste
or smell. Natural bait is defined as any living or dead organism
( plant or animal), or parts thereof, or prepared substances
designed to attract fish by the sense of taste or smell.
All waters on the game lands listed below, except Cherokee Lake,
Grogan Creek, Big Laurel Creek downstream from the U. S. 25- 70
bridge to the French Broad River, Pigeon River downstream of
Waterville Reservoir to the Tennessee state line, Nolichucky
River, Mill Ridge Pond, Cheoah River downstream of Santeetlah
Reservoir, Little River from Hooker Falls downstream to the
Dupont State Forest boundary, Lake Imaging, Lake Dense, Lake
Alfred, Lake Julia, Fawn Lake and the portion ofWest Fork
Pigeon River below Lake Logan and North Fork Catawba River
downstream of the mouth of Armstrong Creek, are designated
Public Mountain TroutWaters and are classified asWild Trout
Waters unless classified and posted otherwise.
Three Top Mountain Game Land in Ashe Co.
Nantahala National Forest Game Land in Cherokee, Clay,
Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Transylvania counties.
Pisgah National Forest Game Land in Avery, Buncombe,
Burke, Caldwell, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell,
Mitchell, Transylvania and Yancey counties.
Dupont State Forest Game Lands in Henderson and
Transylvania counties.
Thurmond Chatham Game Land inWilkes Co.
Toxaway Game Land in Transylvania Co.
SouthMountainsGame Land inCleveland and Rutherford counties.
Cold Mountain Game Land in Haywood Co.
Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Some Designated Public
Mountain TroutWaters running through or adjacent to certain
cities or towns may be further classified as Mountain Heritage
TroutWaters. In lieu of special trout fishing license requirements,
resident or non- resident anglers may fish in these waters with a
valid Mountain Heritage TroutWaters 3- day license. This license
is $ 5 for both residents and non- residents and can be purchased
online at www. ncwildlife. org or by calling 1- 888- 248- 6834,
8 a. m. – 5 p. m., Monday – Friday. The following waters are classi-fied
as Mountain Heritage TroutWaters and listed by county,
Mountain Heritage City name and regulation type. The boundaries
for Mountain Heritage TroutWaters are marked with signs
posted conspicuously along the watercourses.
Avery County
Newland
North Toe River ( Watauga St. bridge to Roby ShomakerWet-lands
and Family Recreation Park) [ Hatchery- Supported
regulations apply]
Haywood County
Maggie Valley
Jonathan Creek – upper ( S. R. 1302 bridge ( west) to upstream
SR 1307 bridge) [ Hatchery- Supported regulations apply]
Jonathan Creek – lower ( S. R. 1394 bridge to SR 1389 bridge)
[ Hatchery- Supported regulations apply]
Waynesville
Richland Creek ( Russ Avenue bridge to U. S. 19A- 23 bridge)
[ Hatchery- Supported regulations apply]
Mitchell County
Bakersville
Cane Creek ( N. C. 226 bridge to Baker Lane bridge) [ Delayed-
Harvest regulations apply]
Spruce Pine
North Toe River ( U. S. 19E bridge to N. C. 226 bridge)
[ Delayed- Harvest regulations apply]
Trout Fishing in Undesignated Waters Some waters that
are not Designated Public Mountain TroutWaters ( as identified
above) contain mountain trout. When fishing in these waters,
the trout fishing regulations are the same as for Hatchery- Sup-ported
TroutWaters except that the trout fishing license is not
required to fish undesignated waters, and there is no closed
season for fishing. Also, trout may not be possessed or retained
in the creel when fishing undesignated waters during the closed
season for Hatchery- Supported TroutWaters.
INLAND FISHING REGULATIONS & INFORMATION
22 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED.
TROUT FISHING REGULATIONS FOR HATCHERY-SUPPORTED
AND WILD TROUT WATERS
Hatchery- Supported and Wild Trout
UndesignatedWaters Waters
Season July 1, 2008- Feb. 28, 2009 Year- round
7 a. m. April 4, 2009 –
June 30, 2009
Daily Creel 7 4
Limit
Minimum None 7 inches
Size Limit
Lure None Artificial lures
Restriction having a single hook
Exceptions
There is no closed season for trout in Nantahala River and all tributaries
( excluding impoundments) upstream from Nantahala Lake, Linville
River within Linville GorgeWilderness Area ( including tributaries),
Catawba River from Muddy Creek to the City of Morganton water
intake dam, power supply lakes and municipal water supply lakes.
Undesignated waters not listed may be fished during the closed season
for hatchery- supported waters, however, trout may not be possessed
or retained in the creel.
In Lake Lure, the daily creel limit for trout is five fish in the aggregate,
and the minimum size limit for trout is 15 inches.
Hatchery- Supported Trout Waters There are approxi-mately
1,100 miles of Hatchery- Supported TroutWaters in
North Carolina. In hatchery- supported waters there is no size
limit or bait restriction, and the creel limit is seven trout per day.
Hatchery- Supported TroutWaters are marked with green- and-white
signs that are posted conspicuously along the watercourses.
The following waters are classified as Hatchery- Supported Trout
Waters ( streams that are underlined are stocked with
catchable- size trout at frequent intervals during the
months of March through August):
Alleghany County
Little River ( Whitehead to McCann dam)
Crab Creek
Brush Creek ( except where posted against trespassing)
Big Pine Creek
Laurel Branch
Glade Creek
Bledsoe Creek
Piney Fork
Meadow Fork
Ashe County
North Fork New River ( Watauga Co. line to Sharp dam)
Big Horse Creek ( Mud Creek at S. R. 1363 to confluence with
North Fork New River)
Buffalo Creek ( headwaters to junction of N. C. 194- 88 and
S. R. 1131)
Big Laurel Creek
Three Top Creek ( except game land portion)
Hoskins Fork ( Watauga Co. line to North Fork New River)
Cranberry Creek ( Alleghany Co. line to South Fork New River)
Nathans Creek
Peak Creek ( headwaters to Trout Lake, except Blue Ridge
Parkway waters)
Roan Creek
Beaver Creek
Pine Swamp Creek ( all forks)
Old Fields Creek
Mill Creek ( except where posted against trespassing)
Avery County
North Toe River ( headwaters to Mitchell Co. line ( except where
posted against trespassing)
Squirrel Creek
Elk River ( S. R. 1305 crossing immediately upstream of Big Falls
to the Tennessee state line)
Boyde Coffey Lake
Linville River ( Land Harbor line [ below dam] to the Blue Ridge
Parkway boundary line, except where posted against trespassing)
Milltimber Creek
Buncombe County
Ivy Creek ( Ivy River) ( Dillingham Creek to U. S. 19- 23 bridge)
Dillingham Creek ( Corner Rock Creek to Ivy Creek)
Stony Creek
Mineral Creek
Corner Rock Creek
Reems Creek ( Sugar Camp Fork to U. S. 19- 23 bridge, except
where posted against trespassing)
Swannanoa River ( S. R. 2702 bridge near Ridgecrest toWood
Avenue bridge [ intersection of N. C. 81 and U. S. 74A in Asheville],
except where posted against trespassing)
Bent Creek ( headwaters to N. C. Arboretum boundary line)
Cane Creek ( headwaters to S. R. 3138 bridge)
Lake Powhatan
Burke County
Catawba River ( Muddy Creek to the City of Morganton water
intake dam)
Henry Fork ( lower South Mountains State Park line downstream
to S. R. 1919 at Ivy Creek)
Carroll Creek ( game lands above S. R. 1405)
Linville River ( portion within Linville GorgeWilderness Area,
including tributaries, and portion below Lake James power-house
from upstream bridge on S. R. 1223 to Muddy Creek)
Caldwell County
Wilson Creek ( Phillips Branch to Brown Mountain Beach dam,
except where posted against trespassing)
Thorps Creek ( falls to N. C. 90 bridge)
Boone Fork Pond
Buffalo Creek ( mouth of Joe’s Creek to McCloud Branch)
Joes Creek ( first falls upstream of S. R. 1574 to confluence with
Buffalo Creek)
Cherokee County
North Shoal Creek ( Cane Creek) ( headwaters to S. R. 1325)
Shuler Creek ( Joe Brown Hwy ( S. R. 1325) bridge to Tennessee line)
Davis Creek ( confluence of Bald and Dockery creeks to Hanging
Dog Creek)
Valley River ( headwaters to U. S. 19 business bridge in Murphy)
Hyatt Creek
Webb Creek
Junaluska Creek ( Ashturn Creek to Valley River)
Clay County
Fires Creek ( first bridge above the lower game land line on U. S.
Forest Service Road 442 to S. R. 1300)
Big Tuni Creek
Tusquitee Creek ( headwaters to lower S. R. 1300 bridge)
Shooting Creek ( S. R. 1349 bridge to U. S. 64 bridge at S. R. 1338)
Hothouse Branch ( including portions of tributaries on game lands)
Vineyard Creek
Graham County
Calderwood Reservoir ( Cheoah Dam to Tennessee state line)
Yellow Creek
Santeetlah Creek ( Johns Branch to mouth, including portions of
INLAND FISHING REGULATIONS & INFORMATION
Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 23
tributaries on game lands, excluding Johns Branch and Little
Santeetlah Creek)
West Buffalo Creek
Mountain Creek ( game lands boundary to S. R. 1138 bridge)
Sawyer Creek
Big Snowbird Creek ( old railroad junction to S. R. 1127 bridge
including portions of tributaries on game lands)
Long Creek ( portion not on game lands)
Tulula Creek ( headwaters to lower bridge on S. R. 1275)
Franks Creek
Cheoah Reservoir
Stecoah Creek
Panther Creek
Haywood County
Pigeon River ( Stamey Cove Branch to upstream U. S. 19- 23 bridge)
Cold Springs Creek
Jonathans Creek— lower ( S. R. 1394 bridge to Pigeon River)
Jonathans Creek— upper ( S. R. 1302 bridge [ west] to S. R. 1307
bridge)
Hemphill Creek
West Fork Pigeon River ( the triple- arch bridge on N. C. 215 to
Queen Creek, except Middle Prong)
Richland Creek ( Russ Avenue bridge to U. S. 19A- 23 bridge)
Henderson County
( Rocky) Broad River ( 1/ 2 mile north of Bat Cave to Rutherford
Co. line)
Green River— upper ( mouth of Joe Creek to mouth of Bobs Creek)
Green River— lower ( Lake Summit Dam to I- 26 bridge)
Camp Creek ( S. R. 1919 to the Polk Co. line)
( Big) Hungry River
Little Hungry River
Cane Creek ( S. R. 1551 bridge to U. S. 25 bridge)
Clear Creek ( S. R. 1591 bridge at Jack Mountain Lane to S. R. 1572)
Jackson County
Tuckasegee River— upper ( confluence withWest Fork
Tuckasegee River to N. C. 107 bridge at Love Field)
Tuckasegee River— lower ( Dillsboro Dam to S. R. 1534 bridge
atWilmot)
Scott Creek ( except where posted against trespassing)
Dark Ridge Creek ( Jones Creek to Scott Creek)
Savannah Creek ( headwaters to Bradley’s packing house onN. C. 116)
Green’s Creek ( Green’s Creek Baptist Church on S. R. 1730 to
Savannah Creek)
Cullowhee Creek ( Tilley Creek to Tuckasegee River)
Balsam Lake
Bear Creek Lake
Wolf Creek Lake
Tanasee Creek Lake
Macon County
Nantahala River ( Nantahala Dam toWhiteoak Creek and
Nantahala hydropower discharge canal to Swain County line)
Queens Creek Lake
Burningtown Creek
Cullasaja River ( Sequoyah Dam to U. S. 64 bridge near junction
of S. R. 1672, excluding the game land portions of Buck Creek
and Turtle Pond Creek)
Ellijay Creek ( except where posted against trespassing)
Cliffside Lake
Cartoogechaye Creek ( U. S. 64 bridge to Little Tennessee River)
Tessentee Creek ( Nichols Branch to Little Tennessee River,
except where posted against trespassing)
Madison County
Shut- in Creek
Spring Creek ( junction of N. C. 209 and N. C. 63 to lower
U. S. Forest Service boundary line)
Little Creek
Meadow Fork Creek ( except Little Creek)
Roaring Fork
Max Patch Pond
Big Laurel Creek ( Mars Hill watershed boundary to the S. R. 1318
[ Big Laurel Road] bridge downstream of Bearpen Branch)
Spillcorn Creek ( entire stream, excluding tributaries)
Shelton Laurel Creek ( confluence of Big Creek and Mill Creek
to N. C. 208 bridge at Belva)
Mill Creek ( headwaters to confluence with Big Creek)
Big Pine Creek ( S. R. 1151 bridge to French Broad River)
Puncheon Fork ( Hampton Creek to Big Laurel Creek)
Little Ivy Creek ( confluence of Middle Fork and Paint Fork at
Beech Glen to confluence with Ivy Creek at Forks of Ivy)
McDowell County
Catawba River ( Catawba Falls Campground to Old Fort
Recreation Park)
Little Buck Creek ( game land portion)
North Fork Catawba River ( headwaters to North Cove School
at S. R. 1569 bridge)
Armstrong Creek ( Cato Holler lower line downstream to
Greenlee upper line)
Mill Creek ( upper railroad bridge to U. S. 70 bridge, except
where posted against trespassing)
Mitchell County
Big Rock Creek ( headwaters to N. C. 226 bridge at S. R. 1307
intersection)
Little Rock Creek ( Green Creek bridge to Big Rock Creek,
except where posted against trespassing)
Cane Creek ( S. R. 1219 to N. C. 226 bridge)
Grassy Creek ( East Fork Grassy Creek to mouth)
East Fork Grassy Creek
North Toe River ( Avery Co. line to S. R. 1121 bridge)
Polk County
North Pacolet River ( Pacolet Falls to N. C. 108 bridge)
Fork Creek ( Fork Creek Church on S. R. 1100 to North
Pacolet River)
Big Fall Creek— upper ( portion above water supply reservoir)
Big Fall Creek— lower ( portion below water supply reservoir)
Green River ( Mouth of Cove Creek to mouth of Brights Creek)
Little Cove Creek
Cove Creek
Camp Creek ( Henderson Co. line to Green River)
Rutherford County
( Rocky) Broad River ( Henderson Co. line to U. S. 64/ 74 bridge,
except where posted against trespassing)
Stokes County
Dan River ( Virginia state line downstream to a point 200 yards
below the end of S. R. 1421)
Surry County
Pauls Creek ( Virginia state line to 0.3miles below S. R. 1625 bridge)
Fisher River ( Cooper Creek) ( Virginia state line to Interstate 77
bridge)
Little Fisher River ( Virginia state line to N. C. 89 bridge)
Ararat River ( S. R. 1727 bridge downstream to the N. C. 103 bridge)
Swain County
Calderwood Reservoir ( Cheoah Dam to Tennessee state line)
Cheoah Reservoir
INLAND FISHING REGULATIONS & INFORMATION
24 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED.
Deep Creek ( Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundary
line to Tuckasegee River)
Connelly Creek
Alarka Creek ( game lands boundary to mouth)
Nantahala River ( Macon Co. line to existing Fontana Lake
water level)
Transylvania County
French Broad River ( junction of west and north forks to
U. S. 276 bridge)
Davidson River ( Avery Creek to lower U. S. Forest Service
boundary line)
Middle Fork French Broad River
West Fork French Broad River ( S. R. 1312 and S. R. 1309
intersection to junction of west and north forks)
Watauga County
North Fork New River ( from confluence with Maine and Mine
branches to Ashe Co. line)
Maine Branch ( headwaters to North Fork New River)
Meat Camp Creek
Norris Fork Creek
Howard Creek ( downstream from lower falls)
Middle Fork New River ( Lake Chetola dam to South
Fork New River)
Stony Fork ( headwaters toWilkes Co. line)
Elk Creek ( headwaters to gravel pit on S. R. 1508, except where
posted against trespassing)
Beech Creek
Buckeye Creek Reservoir
Coffee Lake
Laurel Creek
Cove Creek ( S. R. 1233 bridge at Zionville to S. R. 1233 bridge
at Amantha)
Dutch Creek ( second bridge on S. R. 1134 to mouth)
Beaverdam Creek ( confluence of Beaverdam Creek and Little
Beaverdam Creek to an unnamed tributary adjacent to the
intersection of S. R. 1201 and S. R. 1203)
Wilkes County
East Prong Roaring River ( lower state park boundary to Brewer’s
Mill on S. R. 1943)
Middle Prong Roaring River ( headwaters to second bridge on
S. R. 1736)
Pike Creek Pond
Bell Branch Pond
Boundary Line Pond
Pike Creek
Cub Creek ( 0.5 miles upstream of S. R. 2460 bridge to S. R.
Object Description
Description
| Title | North Carolina inland fishing, hunting & trapping regulations digest. |
| Other Title | Inland fishing, hunting & trapping regulations digest. |
| Date | 2008 |
| Description | 2008/2009 (Effective July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009) |
| Digital Characteristics-A | 4 MB; 80 p. |
| Digital Format | application/pdf |
| Pres Local File Path-M | \Preservation_content\StatePubs\pubs_borndigital\images_master\ |
| Full Text | 2008- 2009 NORTHCAROLINA Inland Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest Effective July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009 This publication is furnished free by the N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission. It is available online at www. ncwildlife. org. Lifetime License Application N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission Revised 01/ 07 Applicant Information: Complete and mail with payment to: NCWRC, License Section, 1707 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1707. Name of Applicant Telephone # ( ) Mailing Address City State Zip Resident Address City State Zip Date of Birth County of Residence Driver’s License # Is this license a gift? Yes No If yes, mail license to Donor or Applicant. If mailed to donor, please complete the below information. License Donor’s Name Donor’s Telephone # ( ) Donor’s Mailing Address City State Zip Refer to the License Information Section of this Digest for a list of privileges associated with each license. Infant ( under 1 year of age) and Youth ( age 1- 11) Licenses: Infant and youth applications must be received at WRC Headquarters or processed at a Wildlife Service Agent the day before the child turns 1 or 12 years of age. Applications received on or after the child’s 1st or 12th birthday CANNOT be processed as an infant or youth license. A copy of the birth certificate must accompany applications for infant and youth licenses. Birth certificate documentation cannot be returned. Sportsman Infant......................................................................................................................... ...........................................................................$ 200 Unified Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing Infant ............................................................................................................................... .........$ 275 Coastal Recreational Fishing Infant ............................................................................................................................... ........................................$ 100 Sportsman Youth ............................................................................................................................... ....................................................................$ 350 Unified Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing Youth ............................................................................................................................... .........$ 450 Coastal Recreational Fishing Youth.......................................................................................................................... .............................................$ 150 Note: Pending satisfactory completion of the hunter safety course, persons who possess infant or youth licenses may exercise the privileges thereof when accompanied by an adult who is properly licensed to hunt in North Carolina. “ Accompanied” is defined as maintaining a proximity to the hunter, which enables the adult to monitor the activities of, and communicate with, the hunter at all times. Adult ( age 12 or older) Licenses: Resident Sportsman...................................................................................................................... .........................................................................$ 500 Nonresident Sportsman ............................................................................................................................... ........................................................$ 1000 Resident Age 65 or Older Sportsman ( this license is not eligible for personalization)..............................................................................................$ 15 Resident Comprehensive Hunting ............................................................................................................................... ..........................................$ 250 Resident Comprehensive Inland Fishing ............................................................................................................................... ................................$ 250 Resident Age 65 or Older Inland Fishing ( this license is not eligible for personalization).........................................................................................$ 15 Resident Unified Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing ............................................................................................................................... ....$ 675 Nonresident Unified Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing .............................................................................................................................$ 1350 Resident Unified Age 65 or Older Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing ( this license is not eligible for license personalization) ......................$ 30 Resident Coastal Recreational Fishing ............................................................................................................................... ...................................$ 250 Nonresident Coastal Recreational Fishing........................................................................................................................ .....................................$ 500 Resident Age 65 or Older Coastal Recreational Fishing ( this license is not eligible for personalization) .................................................................$ 15 Resident Unified Inland/ Coastal Recreational Fishing........................................................................................................................ ...................$ 450 Must complete and sign if purchasing a license with hunting privileges: On or after July 1, 1991, a person, regardless of age, may not procure a hunting license or hunt in North Carolina without producing a Certificate of Competency for completing the hunter safety course or a hunting license effective prior to July 1, 1991, or by signing a written statement that he/ she had such a license. Check appropriate box: Copy of prior year hunting license Copy of hunter safety Certificate of Competence Minor, has not taken hunter ( attach required copy) safety course ( before the minor can utilize the hunting portion of this license without being accompanied by an adult, they must have completed the hunter safety course). In lieu of copy, I am completing the below written statement: Statement: I certify that I was a licensed hunter prior to July 1, 1991. Signature Date License Personalization – Not available for the age 65 or older lifetime licenses. Personalization ( Additional $ 5.00 Fee): Complete the following information if you wish to add a personalized message to this license. $ 5 1) Indicate your personal message including letters, numbers, dashes, periods, commas and/ or blanks up to 21 spaces: 2) Indicate your selection of letters, numbers, dashes, periods, commas and/ or blanks up to 6 spaces: PURCHASE TOTAL $ Method of Payment: Check ( Make check payable to NCWRC – A service charge of up to $ 25 will be charged on returned checks [ G. S. 25- 3- 506]). VISA MasterCard Print name exactly as it appears on credit card: Acct. # Expires Signature Date Office Location: NCSU Centennial Campus, 1751 Varsity Drive, Raleigh, NC 27606 Telephone: 1- 888- 248- 6834 NCWRC HEADQUARTERS N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission NCSU– Centennial Campus 1751 Varsity Drive Raleigh, NC 27606 Visit us online at www. ncwildlife. org for a map to our facility. Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 1 TELEPHONE NUMBERS Big Game Harvest Reporting..............................( 800) I- GOT- ONE ............................................................................( 800- 446- 8663) Boating Access Areas ............................................( 919) 707- 0150 Conservation Education Division ..........................( 919) 707- 0170 Enforcement Operations Office ............................( 919) 707- 0030 Engineering Division ............................................( 919) 707- 0150 Hunter Safety Course Information ........................( 919) 707- 0031 Inland Fisheries Division ......................................( 919) 707- 0220 License Information ............................................( 888) 248- 6834 License Purchases by Credit Card ....................( 888) 2HUNTFISH ............................................................................( 888- 248- 6834) Marine Fisheries ..................................................( 252) 726- 7021 ............................................................................( 800- 682- 2632) Migratory Bird Hunting Dates & Shooting Hours ......( 800) 675- 0263 Personnel Officer ..................................................( 919) 707- 0101 Regulation Information ........................................( 919) 707- 0030 Wildlife Calendar ..................................................( 866) 945- 3746 Wildlife in North Carolina Magazine/ N. C. Wild Store Products ........................................................................ ( 866) WILDSHOP ............................................................................( 866- 945- 3746) Vessel Registration and Titling ..........................( 800) NC- VESSEL ............................................................................( 800- 628- 3773) Violations Reporting ............................................( 800) 662- 7137 ..............................................( 919) 707- 0040 in the Raleigh area) ..................................................................( 800) 662- 7137vTTY* *( TTY machine available for people with hearing disabilities) Wildlife Management Division ..............................( 919) 707- 0050 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA Michael F. Easley, Governor William G. Ross Jr., Secretary, N. C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources N. C. WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION Wes Seegars, Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Goldsboro SteveWindham, Vice- Chairman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winnabow Randy Allen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte Joe Barker III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . New Bern CharlesW. Bennett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matthews John Litton Clark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clinton Nat T. Harris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Burlington DavidW. Hoyle Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dallas RussellMaughan Hull Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elizabeth City Durwood S. Laughinghouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raleigh Martin Lewis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Asheville Wendell H. ( Dell) Murphy Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wallace W. Douglas Parsons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clinton Eugene Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dudley Bobby Purcell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cary Dalton D. Ruffin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winston- Salem Mitch St. Clair Sr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Washington Berkley C. Skinner III . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RockyMount W. RayWhite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nags Head Fred Harris, Interim Executive Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . Raleigh EQUAL OPPORTUNITY The N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All wildlife programs are administered for the benefit of all North Carolina citizens without prejudice toward age, sex, race, religion or national origin. Violations of this pledge may be reported to the Equal Employment Officer, 1703 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1703, Tel. ( 919) 707- 0101. CONTENTS License Information .......................................... 2 General Information .............................................................. 2 License Requirements and Exceptions .................................... 2 License Type Descriptions ...................................................... 3 License Type Charts................................................................ 9 Disabled Sportsman Information ........................ 11 The Wildlife Endowment Fund ............................ 11 Lifetime Hunting and Inland Fishing Licenses ...................... 11 Lifetime Magazine Subscriptions .......................................... 11 Coastal Recreational Fishing License ( CRFL) .......... 12 Inland Fishing Regulations and Information ........ 16 General Information ............................................................ 16 Inland Game Fish ................................................................ 16 Fish Consumption Advisories .............................................. 17 Warmwater Game Fish ........................................................ 18 Mountain Trout .................................................................... 21 Designated Public Mountain TroutWaters ............................ 21 Nongame Fish...................................................................... 27 Miscellaneous Prohibitions .................................................. 31 General Fishing Information ................................................ 32 Nongame Regulations and Information .............. 35 Trapping Regulations and Information ................ 36 Hunting Regulations and Information.................. 38 Manner of Taking ................................................................ 40 Hunting on Federal Lands .................................................... 41 Big Game ............................................................................ 42 Bear .................................................................................. 42 Deer.................................................................................. 43 Wild Boar .......................................................................... 51 Wild Turkey ...................................................................... 51 Season Maps ............................................................................ 44 Big Game Harvest and Reporting .......................................... 51 Small Game and Other Seasons ............................................ 52 Migratory Birds .................................................................... 53 Federal Regulations .............................................................. 54 Game Lands .................................................. 55 Game Lands License ............................................................ 55 Game Lands Restrictions ...................................................... 55 Disabled Access and Disabled Sportsman Programs .............. 57 Either- Sex Seasons and Other Rules ...................................... 57 Local Laws .................................................... 64 Local Fox Laws .................................................................... 64 Hunting and Trapping.......................................................... 64 Big Game Harvest Reports ................................ 72 Sunrise- Sunset Table.................................... 76- 77 Cover photo: Mark Suggs 550,000 copies of this public document were printed at a cost of $ 91,850.00 or $. 1670 per copy. Printed on 100% post- consumer recycled paper. 2 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. License Information For more information on licenses, obtaining license applications or obtaining a list of wildlife ser-vice agents nearest you, visit us online at www. ncwildlife. org, call us at ( 888) 248- 6834, or write to this address: NCWRC, 1707 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1707. LICENSE REQUIREMENTS AND EXCEPTIONS License Identification Requirements To show entitlement to a license issued by theWildlife Resources Commission, any-one exercising the privileges conveyed by the license shall carry a picture identification card and show it to any wildlife enforce-ment officer upon request. The picture identification card should include the license- holder’s correct name, address and date of birth. ( A North Carolina Driver License or Dept. of Motor Vehicles identification card is acceptable.) Residency Definitions and Requirements Resident— You are considered a resident if you have resided in the state for six months or have been domiciled ( established a permanent residence) for 60 days. When residency is used to establish eligibility, the applicant must complete a Certificate of Residency, available from a wildlife service agent or theWildlife Resources Commission, certifying that he has maintained his residence in a county of the state for at least 60 days with the intent to reside there permanently or indefinitely. Students— Nonresident students may purchase a resident license while attending a university, college or community college in North Carolina. When purchasing your license from a wildlife service agent, you must show your valid student identification. Military— Nonresident members of the armed forces ( including their spouses and children under 18) who are stationed in the state are deemed residents of the state and of the counties in which they reside for the purpose of purchasing resident licenses. County— Resident county licenses are limited to the county in which the person resides. Nonresident— Nonresident status applies to anyone who does not live in the state of North Carolina, with the exceptions noted above ( students and members of the armed forces). Hunter Safety Course Requirement No person, regardless of age, may procure a hunting license in this state without first producing a certificate of competency showing completion of a hunter safety course or a hunting license issued prior to July 1, 1991, or a signed statement ( shown on the license) that he or she had such a license. The hunter safety course is a minimum of 10 contact hours. Each student must score a minimum of 70 on the written exam and must also meet the “ hands- on” minimum requirements. For more information pertaining to hunter safety courses, visit us online at www. ncwildlife. org, or write to the NCWRC Division ofWildlife Enforcement, 1718 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1718. Big Game Harvest Report Card Requirement Big game harvest report cards always expire on June 30 of each year. If your hunting license and big game hunting privilege license is still valid after the big game harvest report card expires, you may obtain a replenishment card at no charge from either theWild-life Resources Commission or any wildlife service agent. Lifetime license- holders also may obtain the big game harvest report card through themail by completing the postcardmailed to each license- General Information The services that the North Caro-lina Wildlife Resources Commission provides to the public are financed primarily through the sale of licenses, which include hunting, fishing, trapping and other licenses. The various types of licenses sold by the Commission differ with respect to the activities they authorize, where and when the activities occur, and where the license- holder resides. This section provides some general information about these licenses, followed by detailed summaries of the various licenses available, the privileges they authorize and the associated fees. All licenses are nontransferable. Replacement Licenses If your license becomes worn, lost or destroyed, you can submit a written request for a replacement. A $ 5 fee is charged to defray the cost of processing. Include in the request your name, address, telephone number, N. C. driver license number ( if applicable), WRC customer number, and date of birth. Enclose a check or money order for $ 5 ( made pay-able to “ NCWRC”). Mail your request to NCWRC, Replacement Licenses, 1707 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1707. Reciprocal License Agreements A reciprocal license agree-ment is in effect between North Carolina and each of the states listed below. The agreement provides for the following: All state-wide hook- and- line fishing licenses obtainable from either North Carolina or the respective state are honored on certain boundary waters as noted: Georgia— The agreement with Georgia covers fishing from boats on Chatuge Reservoir including all tributaries that are accessible by boat from the main body of the reservoir. Tennessee— The agreement with Tennessee covers the state- line por-tion of Slick Rock Creek and boat fishing on Calderwood Reservoir. Virginia— The agreement with Virginia covers the Dan River east of the Brantly Steam Plant Dam, the Staunton River east of the Rt. 360 bridge, and Kerr and Gaston reservoirs and their tribu-taries that are accessible by boat. The Rt. 360 bridge is the first bridge crossing the Staunton River upstream of Kerr Reservoir. The agreement also covers that portion of the New River between the confluence of the North and South forks of the New River in North Carolina ( Alleghany County) and the confluence of the New and Little rivers in Virginia ( Grayson County). No reciprocal agreements exist between North Carolina and South Carolina that provide for honoring the other state’s fishing licenses on any boundary waters. Purchasing Licenses You can purchase a license in four ways: Visit a wildlife service agent— Most licenses, including life-time licenses, can be obtained from your local wildlife service agent. Be prepared to present your valid driver license or state identification card. Visit us online at www. ncwildlife. org— Most licenses are available for purchase online. Phone ( 888) 2HUNTFISH ( 888) 248- 6834— Have a pen, paper, VISA or MasterCard, your driver license number and WRC customer number handy. All licenses may be obtained directly from theWildlife Resources Commission in person at NCSU Centennial Campus, 1751 Varsity Drive, Raleigh, NC or by mail. Please note: Sportsmen purchasing licenses online or by telephone will be eligible to exercise the privileges of the license immediately after completing the transaction or telephone call. LICENSE INFORMATION holder in early summer. Persons exempt by law from the big game hunting license must obtain a “ License Exempt Big Game Harvest Report Card” for license- exempt hunters ( at no charge) froma wild-life service agent. For more information on license exceptions, refer to the “ Exceptions to License Requirements” section on this page. Authorization numbers for big game animals, taken prior to receiving the big game harvest report card via the mail ( when license is purchased by telephone), must be recorded and avail-able for inspection. Once the harvest report card is received, the big game kill authorization number must be recorded on the harvest report card and the card validated for the appropriate animal. For more information on big game reporting, refer to the “ Big Game Harvest and Reporting” section on page 51. HIP Certification Requirement All licensed hunters hunting migratory game birds ( doves, rails, woodcocks, gallinule, snipes or waterfowl) in North Carolina are required to have a certificate of participation in the federal Harvest Information Program ( HIP). This certification can be obtained free of charge from any wild-life service agent when you purchase a hunting license. Lifetime license- holders may also obtain HIP certification through the mail by completing the postcard/ HIP survey mailed to license- holders in early summer. Persons exempt by law from the hunting license requirement are not required to obtain the HIP certification. Federal Duck Stamp In addition to the North Carolina waterfowl privilege, waterfowl hunters are required to carry in their possession the federal duck stamp, signed in ink across the face. Federal duck stamps can be obtained at most U. S. post offices or from selected wildlife service agents. Visit Resident Nonresident $ 20.00 N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A $ 15.00 N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A FREE N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A $ 40.00 N/ A FREE N/ A LICENSE TYPE DESCRIPTIONS Purchase your license online at www. ncwildlife. org HUNTING AND INLAND FISHING COMBINATION LICENSES Following is a list of annual and lifetime combination hunting and inland fishing licenses and the privilege license( s) and certification associated with each. Privilege licenses and certifications authorize a particular hunting or inland fishing activity not included with a basic license type. Privileges may be purchased separately if the purchaser holds a valid basic license. If a privilege license is not listed, the license type includes the special hunting or inland fishing activity. HIP Certification is required for all those planning to hunt migratory game birds, including lifetime license- holders. See page 7 for a complete list of privileges and certifications. LICENSE INFORMATION Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 3 www. duckstamp. com to order the duck stamp online or to find the duck stamp retailer nearest you. The federal duck stamp expires on June 30 of each year. Exceptions to License Requirements General A youth under age 16, accompanied by a properly licensed adult, may enjoy those privileges conveyed by the licenses held by the accompanying adult. A youth under 16, who has obtained a certificate of competency showing his or her completion of the hunter safety course, may hunt without a license, but must carry his or her certificate while hunting. A landowner or person leasing land primarily for cultivation, their spouse, and dependents under 18 residing with them, may hunt, trap and fish on such land without a license. An individual exempt from the requirements of a hunting license must obtain a “ Big Game Harvest Report Card” from theWildlife Resources Commission or a wildlife service agent, at no charge, when exercising the privileges of big game hunting. Inland Fishing Persons under age 16 are exempt from the requirement of a basic inland fishing and trout privilege license. The game lands license is not required to fish in any waters on game lands orWildlife Conservation Areas. An inland fishing license is not required to fish in a private pond. A pond or lake located on land owned by a public body such as a state-supported university or a governmental entity is not a private pond. July 4th is declared “ FREE FISHING DAY,” and a fishing license and trout privilege license are not required in any public waters on this date. ANNUAL LICENSES Annual licenses, privileges and certifications are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. Refer to page 13 for a list of annual Unified Sportsman/ Coastal Fishing licenses. • Combination Hunting and Inland Fishing ( basic): Statewide hunting and inland fishing for resi-dents during a license term. Includes fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. Additional Privilege Licenses and Certification Available: Big Game Hunting: Needed to hunt deer, bear, wild boar and wild turkey. Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands. Waterfowl Hunting: Needed to hunt waterfowl. HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). Special Trout Fishing: Needed to fish in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters. Includes trout fishing on game lands. • Sportsman: Statewide hunting and inland fishing for residents during a license term. Includes the privileges of hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. Additional Certification Available: HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). 4 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. LICENSE INFORMATION Resident Nonresident $ 500.00 $ 1,000.00 N/ A $ 125.00 FREE FREE $ 350.00 $ 350.00 $ 200.00 $ 200.00 $ 15.00 N/ A FREE N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A $ 15.00 N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A FREE N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A $ 15.00 N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A FREE N/ A $ 100.00 N/ A FREE N/ A $ 100.00 N/ A FREE N/ A LIFETIME LICENSES Lifetime licenses are valid for the lifetime of the license- holder. The privilege license and HIP Certification are valid for 12 months from date of purchase. Refer to pages 13 – 14 for a list of lifetime Unified Sportsman/ Coastal Fishing licenses. • Sportsman ( ages 12 & older): Statewide hunting and inland fishing. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. Additional Privilege License and Certification Available: Bear/ Wild Boar Hunting: Needed by nonresidents, in addition to the lifetime sportsman license, to hunt bear or wild boar. HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). • Sportsman ( ages 1– 11): Statewide hunting and inland fishing. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. • Sportsman ( under age 1): Statewide hunting and inland fishing. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. • Age 65 ( or older) Sportsman: Statewide hunting and inland fishing for residents. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. Additional Certification Available: HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). • Disabled Veteran Hunting and Inland Fishing ( basic): Statewide hunting and inland fishing for residents who are 50 percent or more disabled veterans as determined by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Includes fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions. Additional Privilege Licenses and Certification Available: Big Game Hunting: Needed to hunt deer, bear, wild boar and wild turkey. Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands. Waterfowl Hunting: Needed to hunt waterfowl. HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). • Totally Disabled Hunting and Inland Fishing ( basic): Statewide hunting and inland fishing for residents who are totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board. Includes fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions. Additional Privilege Licenses and Certification Available: Big Game Hunting: Needed to hunt deer, bear, wild boar and wild turkey. Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands. Waterfowl Hunting: Needed to hunt waterfowl. HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). • Disabled Veteran Sportsman: Statewide hunting and inland fishing for residents who are 50 percent or more disabled as determined by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain Trout Waters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions. Additional Certification Available: HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). • Totally Disabled Sportsman: Statewide hunting and inland fishing for residents who are totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions. Additional Certification Available: HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 5 LICENSE INFORMATION HUNTING LICENSES Following is a list of short- term, annual and lifetime hunting licenses and the privilege license( s) and certification associated with each. Privilege licenses and certifications authorize a particular hunting activity not included with a basic license type. Privileges may be purchased separately if the purchaser holds a valid basic license. If a privilege license is not listed, the license type includes the special hunting activity. HIP Certification is required for all those planning to hunt migratory game birds, including lifetime license- holders. See page 7 for a complete list of privileges and certifications. Resident Nonresident N/ A $ 40.00* N/ A $ 40.00* N/ A $ 125.00 N/ A $ 15.00 N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A FREE $ 15.00 $ 60.00* $ 10.00 $ 60.00* N/ A $ 125.00 $ 15.00 $ 15.00 $ 10.00 $ 10.00 FREE FREE $ 10.00 N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A $ 15.00 N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A FREE N/ A $ 30.00 N/ A FREE N/ A $ 250.00 N/ A FREE N/ A License type Ga. S. C. Tenn. Va. Season Hunt $ 60 $ 125 $ 60 $ 80 Season Big Game $ 118 $ 100 $ 100 $ 60 6- Day Hunt $ 40 $ 70 $ 55 $ 50 6- Day Big Game $ 103 $ 70 $ 50 $ 50 SHORT- TERM LICENSE Short- term licenses are valid for the period specified on the license. Privileges and certifi-cations are valid 12 months from the date of purchase unless otherwise noted. If planning to hunt on Sunday on a military installation that allows Sunday hunting, license must be purchased online at www. ncwildlife. org, by mail, by telephone ( 888) 248- 6834, or in person atWRC Headquarters in Raleigh. • State Hunting— Six- Day ( basic): Statewide hunting for nonresidents during the six- day period specified on the license. Additional Privilege Licenses and Certification Available: Big Game Hunting— Six- Day: Hunting of deer, bear, wild boar and wild turkey during the six- day period specified on the license. This license privilege is needed in addition to the basic state hunting license. Does not include the nonresident bear/ wild boar hunting privilege. Bear/ Wild Boar Hunting: Needed by nonresidents, in addition to the short- term state hunting license and the big game hunting privilege, to hunt bear or wild boar. Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands. Waterfowl Hunting: Needed to hunt waterfowl. HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). ANNUAL LICENSE Annual licenses, privileges, and certifications are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. • State Hunting ( basic): Statewide hunting during a license term. Additional Privilege Licenses and Certification Available: Big Game Hunting: Needed to hunt deer, bear, wild boar and wild turkey. Nonresidents hunting bear or wild boar must also purchase the Bear/ Wild Boar privilege license. Bear/ Wild Boar Hunting: Needed by nonresidents, in addition to the annual state hunting license and the big game hunting privilege, to hunt bear or wild boar. Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands. Waterfowl Hunting: Needed to hunt waterfowl. HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). • County Hunting ( basic): Hunting within the county of residence during a license term. Additional Privilege Licenses and Certification Available: Big Game Hunting: Needed to hunt deer, bear, wild boar and wild turkey. Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands. Waterfowl Hunting: Needed to hunt waterfowl. HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). • Comprehensive Hunting: Statewide hunting for residents during a license term. Also includes the privileges of hunting for big game, hunting on game lands and hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp). Additional Certification Available: HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). LIFETIME LICENSE Lifetime licenses are valid for the lifetime of the license- holder. The HIP Certification is valid for 12 months from date of purchase. • State Comprehensive Hunting: Statewide hunting, hunting for big game, hunting on game lands and hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp). Additional Certification Available: HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). * The following reciprocal license fees apply to Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia residents: LICENSE INFORMATION 6 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. Resident Nonresident $ 5.00 $ 10.00 $ 10.00 $ 10.00 $ 15.00 $ 30.00 $ 10.00 $ 10.00 $ 10.00 N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A $ 20.00 N/ A $ 10.00 $ 50.00 $ 100.00 $ 200.00 $ 250.00 N/ A $ 15.00 N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A SHORT- TERM LICENSE Short- term licenses are valid for the period specified on the license. Privileges are valid 12 months from the date of purchase. • State Inland Fishing– 10- Day ( basic): Statewide inland fishing during the 10- day period specified on the license. Includes fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. Additional Privilege License Available: Special Trout Fishing: Needed to fish in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters. Includes trout fishing on game lands. ANNUAL LICENSE Annual licenses and privileges are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. Refer to page 13 for a list of annual Inland/ Coastal Fishing licenses. • State Inland Fishing ( basic): Statewide inland fishing during a license term. Includes fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. Additional Privilege License Available: Special Trout Fishing: Needed to fish in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters. Includes trout fishing on game lands. • County Inland Fishing ( basic): Inland fishing within the county of residence during a license term. Includes fishing in joint waters within the county of residence. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. Additional Privilege License Available: Special Trout Fishing: Needed to fish in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters. Includes trout fishing on game lands. • Comprehensive Inland Fishing: Statewide inland fishing for residents during a license term. Includes fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. • Special Inland Fishing Devices ( basic/ noncommercial): Authorizes the taking of nongame fish from inland waters ( does not include joint and coastal waters) during designated seasons with nets, traps, gigs, reels, spear guns, baskets, bow and arrow, and any other authorized special fishing device. Includes the sale of these nongame fish. Taking of nongame fishes with bow and arrow is authorized under any of the licenses providing basic hunting or inland fishing privileges. This license is valid when no more than three special fishing devices are used. • Special Inland Fishing Devices ( basic/ commercial): Authorizes the taking of nongame fish from inland waters ( does not include joint and coastal waters) during designated seasons with nets, traps, gigs, reels, spear guns, baskets, bow and arrow, and any other authorized special fishing device. Includes the sale of these nongame fish. Taking of nongame fishes with bow and arrow is authorized under any of the licenses providing basic hunting or inland fishing privileges. This license is valid when four ormore special fishing devices are used. LIFETIME LICENSE Lifetime licenses are valid for the lifetime of the license holder. Refer to pages 13– 14 for a list of lifetime Unified Inland/ Coastal Fishing licenses. • State Comprehensive Inland Fishing: Statewide inland fishing. Includes fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. • Age 65 ( or older) Comprehensive Inland Fishing: Statewide inland fishing for residents. Includes fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. • Disabled Veteran Inland Fishing: Statewide inland fishing for residents who are 50 percent or more disabled veterans as determined by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Includes fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions. • Totally Disabled Inland Fishing: Statewide inland fishing for residents who are totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board. Includes fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in coastal waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions. INLAND FISHING LICENSES Following is a list of short- term, annual, and lifetime inland fishing licenses and the privilege license associated with each. The privilege license authorizes a particular inland fishing activity not included with the basic license type. Privileges may be purchased separately if purchaser holds a valid basic license. If a privilege license is not listed, the license type includes the special inland fishing activity. These licenses include fishing in joint waters. They do not include fishing in coastal waters. See page 7 for a complete list of privileges and certifications. NOTE: Effective Jan. 1, 2007, individuals 16 years of age or older using any type of bait or gear to catch finfish while fishing in North Carolina’s public waters must possess a valid North Carolina fishing license. This license requirement does not apply to private ponds. Individual residents who receive Food Stamps, Medicaid or Work First Family Assistance may obtain a written waiver ( Annual Subsistence License Waiver) from this fishing license requirement through their county Department of Social Services. Resident Nonresident $ 25.00 $ 100.00 $ 15.00 $ 15.00 $ 10.00 N/ A $ 15.00 N/ A Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 7 LICENSE INFORMATION ANNUAL LICENSE Annual and privilege licenses are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. • State Trapping ( basic): Statewide trapping during a license term. Additional Privilege License Available: Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands. • County Trapping ( basic): Trapping within the county of residence during a license term. Additional Privilege License Available: Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands. TRAPPING LICENSES PRIVILEGE LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS For your convenience, we have separately listed the privilege licenses and certifications below. Annual privilege licenses and certifications authorize particular hunting or inland fishing activities and must be obtained in addition to the appropriate basic license. Privileges may be purchased separately if the purchaser holds a valid license. Privilege licenses and certifications are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. HIP Certification is required for all those planning to hunt migratory game birds, including lifetime license- holders. Resident Nonresident $ 10.00 $ 60.00* N/ A $ 40.00* N/ A $ 125.00 TBD TBD $ 15.00 $ 15.00 $ 10.00 $ 10.00 FREE FREE $ 10.00 $ 10.00 Big Game Hunting: Needed to hunt deer, bear, wild boar and wild turkey. Nonresidents hunting bear or wild boar must also purchase the Bear/ Wild Boar privilege license. Big Game Hunting– Six- Day: Hunting of deer, bear, wild boar and wild turkey during the six- day period specified on the license. This license privilege is needed in addition to the basic state hunting license. Does not include the nonresident bear/ wild boar hunting privilege. Bear/ Wild Boar Hunting: Needed by nonresident license holders, in addition to the big game privilege, to hunt bear or wild boar. NOTE: For those nonresidents with a lifetime sportsman license: • purchased prior to May 24, 1994, you do not have to purchase this additional privilege license to hunt bear or wild boar. • purchased between May 24, 1994 and May 18, 2001, you will have to purchase the nonresident Bear/ Wild Boar Hunting privilege license if you are hunting bear. If hunting wild boar only, you do not need to purchase this privilege license. • purchased after May 18, 2001, you will have to purchase the nonresident Bear/ Wild Boar Hunting privilege license if you are hunting bear or wild boar. Bonus Antlerless Deer: Allows the harvest of two additional antlerless deer per report card in counties or parts of counties with a maximum either- sex season or any municipality enrolled in the Urban Archery Season. Not valid for use on game lands. Refer to page 43 for more information. Game Lands: Needed to hunt or trap on game lands. Waterfowl Hunting: Needed to hunt waterfowl. HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). Special Trout Fishing: Needed to fish in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters. Includes trout fishing on game lands. * Reciprocal license fees apply to Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia residents. Refer to page 5 for a list of fees. 8 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. LICENSE INFORMATION Bobcat/ Otter Tags: Needed to sell or otherwise transfer ownership of bobcat or otter carcasses or pelts. Must have valid trapping license to purchase. All bobcat and otter carcasses or pelts shall be properly tagged within 10 days following the close of the applicable hunting or trapping season. Controlled Hunting Preserve: Needed to hunt fox or pen- raised game birds on a licensed commercial hunting preserve. This license may be used without a basic hunting license. This license is not required if you possess a basic hunting, comprehensive hunting or sportsman’s license. Crossbow Permit: Authorizes persons with permanent or long- term disabilities that render them incapable of sufficient arm movement to draw other legal bows. Permit is valid as long as the qualifying disability persists. For more information, refer to the “ Disabled Sportsman” section on page 11. Disabled Access Permit: Authorizes persons with limited physical mobility to operate vehicles on open- gated or ungated roads, otherwise closed to vehicular traffic on certain game lands and to have access to special disabled hunting blinds. One able- bodied companion may accompany the disabled person, provided that person possesses the “ companion card” issued to the disabled hunter. The disabled hunter will also be issued a “ vehicle access card.” Permit is valid as long as the qualifying disability persists. For more infor-mation, refer to the “ Disabled Sportsman” section on page 11. Disabled Sportsman Hunt Certification: This is a medical certification used to establish eligibility for participation in disabled hunt opportunities. This certification is only necessary when the applicant does not possess a lifetime disabled veteran or totally disabled license. This certification is not a license; therefore, a valid hunting license, in addition to the hunt permit, is required when participating in a disabled hunt opportunity. For more information, refer to the “ Disabled Sportsman” section on page 11. Falconry: Needed to hunt by the use of any raptor. License expires June 30 of each year. Call ( 919) 707- 0050 for an application. Fox Tags: Needed to sell or otherwise transfer ownership of a fox carcass or pelt. Must have valid trapping license to purchase. All fox carcasses or pelts shall be properly tagged within 10 days following the close of the applicable hunting or trapping season. Fur Dealer: Authorizes buying and selling furs anywhere in North Carolina. License expires June 30 each year. Fur Dealer Station: Authorizes the license- holder and his or her employee( s) to buy or sell furs at an established location in North Carolina and under the supervision of the license- holder. License expires June 30 each year. Hunting/ Inland Fishing Guide: Needed to guide others for a fee. Special Landholder and Guest Fishing License: May be purchased by the landholder of private property bordering inland or joint fishing waters, including Public Mountain TroutWaters. This license shall entitle the landholder, and guests of the landholder, to fish from the shore or any pier or dock originating from the property without any additional inland fishing license. May not be used for commercial purposes. A guest is defined as any individual invited by the landholder to fish from the property at no charge. A charge includes any fee, assessment, dues, rent, or other consideration which must be paid, whether directly or indirectly, in order to be allowed to fish from the property, regardless of the stated reason for such charge. License valid 12 months from date of issue. Taxidermy: Authorizes persons to practice taxidermy involving wildlife for any compensation. License expires Dec. 31 each year. OTHER LICENSES AND PERMITS The Wildlife Resources Commission offers a wide range of special licenses and permits to serve the public. For information on the licenses or permits listed below or to obtain an application, you may visit us online at www. ncwildlife. org, call us at ( 888) 248- 6834 or write to NCWRC, 1707 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1707. $ 2.20 ea. $ 2.20 ea. $ 15.00 $ 15.00 FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE FREE $ 10.00 $ 10.00 $ 2.25 ea. $ 2.25 ea. $ 60.00 $ 300.00 $ 120.00 N/ A $ 10.00 $ 100.00 $ 50.00 $ 50.00 $ 10.00 N/ A Resident Nonresident Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 9 LICENSE INFORMATION ( 1) Valid for use only in the license holders’ county of residence. ( 2) Must also possess the appropriate basic hunting license. ( 3) Must also possess a Federal Duck Stamp. ( 4) Must also possess a valid inland fishing license. ( 5) This license may be used without a hunting license. ( 6) Required to hunt Federal Migratory & Waterfowl birds. ( 7) Must also possess either a basic hunting, comprehensive hunting or sportsman’s license. ( 8) Trapping on game lands requires a Game Lands License and a Trapping License. ( 9) Must have the HIP Certification. = Lifetime Licenses Additional Information RESIDENT HUNTING, INLAND FISHING AND TRAPPING LICENSE TYPES and Associated Privilege Licenses Refer to License Type Section for a complete description of license types and privileges. Refer to page 15 for a list of Resident Coastal Fishing and Unified Sportsman/ Coastal Fishing license types. Deer Bear Boar Turkey Squirrel Rabbit Migratory Game Birds ( 9) Quail Grouse Pheasant Raccoon Opossum Bobcat Crow Beaver Groundhog Coyote Controlled Shooting Preserves Waterfowl ( 3) ( 9) Game Lands ( hunting) Trapping Game Lands ( trapping) ( 8) Basic Inland Fishing Trout Fishing Public TroutWaters Special Device Fishing Nongame Fish Bow & Arrow Hunt \ Inland Fish Guide L I C E N S E S P R I V I L E G E S HUNTING Big Game Basic Hunting OTHER Price Hunting& Inland Fishing $ 20 Annual Combo Hunt & Inland Fish ( basic) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 40 Annual Sportsman X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 200 Lifetime Sportsman ( under age 1) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 350 Lifetime Sportsman ( ages 1- 11) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 500 Lifetime Sportsman ( ages 12 & older) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 15 Age 65 ( or older) Sportsman X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 10 Disabled Veteran ( basic) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 10 Totally Disabled ( basic) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 100 Disabled Sportsman X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Hunting $ 15 Annual State Hunting ( basic) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 10 Annual County Hunting ( basic) ( 1) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 30 Annual Comprehensive Hunting X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 250 Lifetime Comprehensive Hunting X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Additional Hunting Privileges $ 10 Big Game ( 2) X X X X $ 15 Game Lands ( 2) ( 8) X X $ 10 NCWaterfowl ( 2) ( 3) X Free HIP Certification ( 6) ( 7) X X Inland Fishing $ 5 10- Day Inland Fishing ( basic) X X $ 15 Annual State Inland Fishing ( basic) X X $ 10 Annual County Inland Fishing ( basic) ( 1) X X $ 20 Annual Comprehensive Inland Fishing X X X X $ 250 Lifetime Comprehensive Inland Fishing X X X X Additional Inland Fishing Privilege $ 10 Trout Fishing ( 4) X X Trapping $ 25 Annual State Trapping ( basic) ( 8) X $ 10 AnnualCounty Trapping ( basic) ( 1)( 8) X Other Licenses $ 10 Annual Hunt/ Inland Fish Guide X $ 15 Controlled Hunting Preserve ( 5) X $ 10 Noncommercial Special Inland Fishing Device X $ 100 Commercial Special Inland Fishing Device X “ X” indicates the privileges authorized for each license type. 10 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. LICENSE INFORMATION NONRESIDENT HUNTING, INLAND FISHING AND TRAPPING LICENSE TYPES and Associated Privilege Licenses Refer to License Type Section for a complete description of license types and privileges. Refer to page 15 for a list of Nonresident Coastal Fishing and Unified Sportsman/ Coastal Fishing license types. Deer Bear Boar Turkey Squirrel Rabbit Migratory Game Birds ( 9) Quail Grouse Pheasant Raccoon Opossum Bobcat Crow Beaver Groundhog Coyote Controlled Shooting Preserves Waterfowl ( 3) ( 9) Game Lands ( hunting) Trapping Game Lands ( trapping) ( 8) Basic Inland Fishing Trout Fishing Public TroutWaters Special Device Fishing Nongame Fish Bow & Arrow Hunt \ Inland Fish Guide L I C E N S E S P R I V I L E G E S HUNTING Big Game Basic Hunting OTHER Price Hunting& Inland Fishing $ 200 Lifetime Sportsman ( under age 1) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 350 Lifetime Sportsman ( ages 1- 11) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 1,000 Lifetime Sportsman ( ages 12 & older) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Hunting $ 40 Six- Day State Hunting ( basic) ( 10) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 60 Annual State Hunting ( basic) ( 10) X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Additional Hunting Privileges $ 40 Six- Day Big Game ( 2) ( 10) X X $ 60 Big Game ( season) ( 2) ( 10) X X $ 125 Bear/ Wild Boar ( 1) X X $ 15 Game Lands ( 2) ( 8) X X $ 10 N. C. Waterfowl ( 2) ( 3) X Free HIP Certification ( 6) ( 7) X X Inland Fishing $ 10 10- Day Inland Fishing ( basic) X X $ 30 Annual State Inland Fishing ( basic) X X Additional Inland Fishing Privilege $ 10 Trout Fishing ( 4) X X Trapping $ 100 Annual State Trapping ( basic) ( 8) X Other Licenses $ 100 Annual Hunt/ Inland Fish Guide X $ 15 Controlled Hunting Preserve ( 5) X $ 50 Noncommercial Special Inland Fishing Device X $ 200 Commercial Special Inland Fishing Device X “ X” indicates the privileges authorized for each license type. ( 1) Must also possess either a basic hunting or sportsman’s license and a big game license. ( 2) Must also possess the appropriate basic hunting license. ( 3) Must also possess a Federal Duck Stamp. ( 4) Must also possess a valid inland fishing license. ( 5) This license may be used without a hunting license. ( 6) Required to hunt Federal Migratory & Waterfowl birds. ( 7) Must also possess either a basic hunting or sportsman’s license. ( 8) Trapping on game lands requires a Game Lands License and a Trapping License. ( 9) Must have the HIP Certification. ( 10) Reciprocal license fees apply to Georgia, South Carolina, Ten-nessee and Virginia residents. Refer to page 5 for a list of fees. = Lifetime Licenses Additional Information Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 11 General Information The N. C. Wildlife Resources Commi-ssion does not honor disabled licenses or permits from other states. Disabled licenses and permits must be obtained directly from the Wildlife Resources Commission. To obtain a disabled license or permit application, visit us online at www. ncwildlife. org, call us at ( 888) 248- 6834, or write to NCWRC, 1707 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1707. Disabled Sportsman Program Information TheWildlife Resources Commission has established increased access and opportunities for persons with disabilities to hunt on agency game lands and other lands. A brief description and the quali-fications for each is provided below. To obtain an application, you may visit us online at www. ncwildlife. org, call us at ( 888) 248- 6834, or write to NCWRC, Disabled Sportsman Program, 1707 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1707. For specific information on disabled hunt opportunities, refer to the Permit Hunting Opportunities publication. The Disabled Access Permit is designed to generally improve access for persons with disabilities on game lands where land-owners agree. It allows persons with limited physical mobility to operate vehicles on open- gated or ungated roads, otherwise closed to vehicular traffic on certain game lands. The permit also allows access to special hunting blinds designed for hunters with disabilities. There is no fee associated with this permit. ( See page 57 for a list of areas with special access.) Qualifications: Competent medical evidence must be submitted indicating that a disability exists that limits physical mobility, to the extent that normal utilization of the game lands is not possible without vehicular assistance. The Disabled Sportsman Hunt Certification is a medical certifi-cation used to establish eligibility for participation in disabled hunt opportunities. This certification is only necessary when the applicant does not possess a lifetime disabled veteran or totally Several types of lifetime licenses are available as noted under the “ License Information” section of this digest, which begins on page 2. Lifetime sportsman and lifetime comprehensive hunting licenses include the state waterfowl privilege. Lifetime compre-hensive hunting licenses and lifetime comprehensive inland fishing licenses are sold only to residents of North Carolina. Nonresidents may purchase the nonresident lifetime sportsman license. Lifetime licenses may also be personalized for an addi-tional $ 5 fee ( some exclusions apply). There are no residency restrictions for the infant and youth lifetime licenses. You may also give a lifetime license as a gift. All of these licenses are good for the life of the license- holder. Even if you move out of North Carolina, you can use the license anytime you return to the state. Lifetime licenses can be purchased at your local wildlife service agent, online at www. ncwildlife. org, by telephone ( 888) 248- 6834) or by mail from theWildlife Resources Commission. Refer to inside cover for an application. Please note that infant and youth lifetime licenses require a copy of the birth certificate; these two licenses cannot be purchased online or by telephone. Disabled licenses must be purchased by mail or in person at WRC Headquarters. Tax Deductible Contributions to the Wildlife Endow-ment Fund Donations to theWildlife Endowment Fund are deductible from your taxable income. Donations can be made directly to the fund or as a bequest from a will or as a memorial gift to honor a deceased friend or family member. The fund can also be named as a beneficiary to a life insurance policy. When making a memorial donation, include the name and address of the donor or donors as well as the name of the person or persons who is/ are being remembered by the donation. A card will be sent to the donor acknowledging the contribution. Lifetime Magazine Subscriptions Lifetime subscriptions to Wildlife in North Carolina magazine can be purchased for $ 150. The magazine is the official educational publication of the Wildlife Resources Commission; it is dedicated to the sound conservation of the state’s wildlife and the interrelated natural resources we share with them. Monthly issues contain articles on wildlife, natural history, hunting and fishing, boating and the environment. The magazine has won many awards for writing, design, photography and illustration. It is also widely used in schools. For additional information, visit us online at www. ncwildlife. org, call ( 866) 945- 3746, or write to NCWRC, Wildlife Endowment Fund, 1710 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1710. Lifetime Hunting and Inland Fishing Licenses Lifetime hunting and inland fishing licenses are a great deal for sportsmen. Purchasing a lifetime license saves you money over the years, may be charged to a VISA or MasterCard, and supports North Carolina’s rich wildlife heritage. Funds from lifetime license sales are deposited directly into the Wildlife Endowment Fund, which supports wildlife conservation programs. THEWILDLIFE DISABLED SPORTSMAN INFORMATION ENDOWMENT FUND disabled license. This certification is not a license; therefore, a valid hunting license, in addition to the hunt permit, is required when participating in a disabled hunt opportunity. There is no fee for this certification. For a list of disabled hunt opportunities, refer to the Permit Hunting Opportunities publication. Qualifica-tions: Medical certification in one of the following disabilities: missing fifty percent ( 50 percent) or more of one or more limbs, whether by amputation or natural causes; paralysis of one or more limbs; dysfunction of one or more limbs rendering the individual unable to perform the task of grasping and lifting with the hands and arms or unable to walk without mechanical assistance, other than a cane; disease, injury or impairment confining the individual to a wheelchair, walker or crutches; legal deafness. This certification shall remain valid as long as the qualifying disability persists. The Crossbow Permit allows persons to use a crossbow if they have permanent or long- term disabilities that render them incapable of sufficient arm movement to draw other legal bows. There is no fee associated with this permit. Qualifications: Competent medical evidence must be submitted indicating that the disability restricting the use of bows is from an injury or impairment that cannot be overcome with exercise and physical therapy. The disability must be long- term ( greater than one year), and it must prevent the person from drawing a bow with 35 pounds of pull 15 inches and holding at a reduced pull of 12 pounds for five seconds. Within the national forests in North Carolina, off highway vehicles ( OHVs) are permitted only on designated routes. Further infor-mation about areas managed by the U. S. Forest Service, includ-ing the Nantahala, Pisgah, Croatan and Uwharrie National Forests, may be obtained online http:// www. cs. unca. edu/ nfsnc/. General Information The Coastal Recreational Fishing License ( CRFL) is required to recreationally take finfish in the state’s coastal fishing waters, which includes sounds, coastal rivers and tributaries and out to three miles in the ocean. Recreational anglers, who catch fish in the ocean greater than three miles offshore, are required to have a coastal recreational fishing license in order to bring fish back to shore in North Carolina. Finfish harvested is for personal consumption only and cannot be sold. Coastal Recreational Fishing License ( CRFL) 1. Who must purchase a CRFL? Individuals 16 years or older who want to recreationally finfish in any water designated as coastal or joint waters of North Carolina must purchase a CRFL. The exceptions are: a. An individual who holds a resident/ nonresident lifetime infant, youth, adult, over 70, disabled sportsman, lifetime comprehensive fishing license, hunting/ fishing basic disabled veteran or hunting/ fishing basic totally disabled license issued by theWildlife Resources Commission ( WRC) before Jan. 1, 2006. b. An individual who holds a lifetime legally blind or adult care home license, regardless of when it was issued. 2. Where will I be able to fish with a CRFL? To fish recreation-ally in coastal waters managed by the Division of Marine Fish-eries ( DMF), you will need a CRFL. To fish in public, inland fishing waters, you need an inland fishing license, available from theWRC. To fish in the joint waters managed by both DMF andWRC, you will need a CRFL or an inland fishing license. The boundaries between coastal, inland and joint fishing waters are marked with signs posted adjacent to the affected waters. 3. What types of individual CRFLs are available and what do they cost? Several individual CRFLs are available to accommo-date a variety of needs and situations. These include: short- term licenses annual licenses lifetime licenses, valid for the lifetime of the holder unified licenses, include hunting/ statewide fishing privileges. A list of these licenses can be found on page 13. 4. Where will I be able to purchase my CRFL? a. Go to theWRCWeb site, www. ncwildlife. org. b. Visit aWRC wildlife service agent. Most are located in bait-and- tackle shops, hunting and sporting good stores and larger chain stores across the state. c. Call toll- free, ( 888) 248- 6834. Hours of operation: 8 a. m.– 5 p. m., Monday– Friday. d. Visit one of six DMF offices located on the coast. For loca-tions, go to the DMFWeb site, www. ncfisheries. net. 5. I live in a coastal county, but I have a private pond on my property that I have stocked. Will I need a CRFL to fish in my pond? No, private ponds are exempt from any licensing requirements. 6. Will I need a CRFL to fish in my county of residence? Yes, the new legislation repeals the natural- bait exemption for fishing in public and inland waters. Any person 16 and older fishing in North Carolina public waters ( excluding private ponds) must have a fishing license. People who receive Food Stamps, Medicaid orWork First Family Assistance may receive a subsistence waiver through their county Department of Social Services. This annual waiver allows the holder to fish recreationally with hook- and- line in inland waters ( with the exception of designated Public Mountain TroutWaters), joint and coastal waters. 7. What types of blanket CRFLs are available? Who is eligible to purchase one? Two types of blanket CRFLs are available only through DMF offices: a. For- Hire Blanket— a person who operates a “ for- hire boat” ( i. e., charter boat) may purchase a CRFL for each vessel that will allow all individuals on the for- hire boat who do not hold a CRFL to fish in coastal fishing waters that are not joint fishing waters. This license does not authorize individuals to fish recreationally in inland or joint fishing waters. b. Ocean Fishing Pier Blanket— a person who operates or owns an ocean fishing pier and who charges a fee to allow a person to fish recreationally from the pier may purchase an Ocean Fishing Pier Blanket CRFL. This license allows all individuals who do not hold an individual CRFL to engage in recreational fishing in coastal waters while on the pier. 8. Is there a CRFL boat license I can buy so my guests do not have to worry about purchasing an individual CRFL? No, the purpose of the legislation creating the CRFL was to license the individual so the state could assess more accurately the impact of recreational fishing. All guests who are fishing need a CRFL. 9. Will I need a CRFL to harvest crabs, mussels, clams, lobsters, shrimp and other shellfish? No, the license is only required for the recreational harvest of finfish. 10. Will anglers who use gigs and castnets to harvest finfish recreationally be required to have this license? Yes. 11. Will I need a CRFL license to fish from a privately owned pier? Yes. 12. Will I be able to sell my catch if I have a CRFL? No. Seafood harvested under the license is for personal consumption and cannot be sold. 13. Are there any rules or regulations for recreational finfish-ing? Yes, individuals possessing this license must comply with the state’s recreational size and possession limits, which can change frequently. To view the most up- to- date version of these limits, visit www. ncdmf. net/ recreational/ recguide. htm or call the DMF at ( 800) 682- 2632 or ( 252) 726- 7021 to receive a copy. A CRFL is required for ANY type of recreational finfish harvest not included under the Recreational Commercial Gear License. This includes fishing with hook- and- line, spears, gigs, bait- and- line, seines less than 30 feet, dip nets, landing nets and cast nets. For more information on the Recreational Com-mercial Gear License, visitwww. ncdmf. net/ license/ RCGL. htm. 14. Are there any additional requirements of those who hold a CRFL? Individuals possessing this license are required to comply with all DMF sampling and survey programs. 15. Does a landowner need a CRFL if fishing from his/ her pier or property? Yes. For more information, contact: N. C. Wildlife Resources Commis-sion, www. ncwildlife. org, ( 919) 707- 0391 or Division of Marine Fisheries, www. ncfisheries. net, local ( 252) 726- 7021, toll- free ( 800) 682- 2632. COASTAL RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENSE 12 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. Resident Nonresident $ 5.00 $ 10.00 $ 15.00 $ 30.00 $ 250.00 $ 500.00 $ 150.00 $ 150.00 $ 100.00 $ 100.00 $ 15.00 N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A COASTAL RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENSE TYPE DESCRIPTIONS Following is a list of short- term, annual and lifetime coastal recreational fishing licenses valid in coastal and joint waters. ANNUAL UNIFIED LICENSE Annual licenses and privileges are valid for 12 months from date of purchase. • Unified Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide hunting, inland and coastal recreational fishing for residents during a license term. Includes the privileges of hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. Additional Privilege License Available: HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). • Unified Inland/ Coastal Recreational Fishing License: Statewide inland and coastal recreational fishing for residents during a license term. Includes the privileges of fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. • Unified Subsistence Inland/ Coastal Recreational Fishing License Waiver: Statewide basic inland and coastal recreational fishing for residents who receive Medicaid, Food Stamps, orWork First Family Assistance through the County Department of Social Services. Includes fishing in joint waters. It does not include fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters and fishing in trout waters on game lands. LicenseWaiver can be obtained through the County Department of Social Services upon request. Additional Privilege License Available: Special Trout Fishing: Needed to fish in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters. Includes trout fishing on game lands. UNIFIED LIFETIME LICENSE Lifetime licenses are valid for the lifetime of the license holder. The privilege license and HIP Certification are valid for 12 months from date of purchase. Hunting and Fishing: • Unified Adult Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing ( ages 12 & older): Statewide hunting, inland and coastal recreational fishing. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. Additional Privilege License and Certification Available: Bear/ Wild Boar Hunting: Needed by nonresidents, in addition to the lifetime sportsman license, to hunt bear or wild boar. HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). • Unified Youth Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing ( ages 1 – 11): Statewide hunting, inland and coastal recreational fishing. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. • Unified Infant Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing ( under age 1): Statewide hunting, inland and coastal recreational fishing. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. SHORT- TERM LICENSE Short- term licenses are valid for the period specified on the license. • Coastal Recreational Fishing 10- Day: Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters during the 10- day period specified on the license. It does not authorize fishing in inland waters. ANNUAL LICENSE Annual licenses are valid for 12 months from the date of issuance. • Coastal Recreational Fishing: Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters during a license term. It does not authorize fishing in inland waters. LIFETIME LICENSE Lifetime licenses are valid for the lifetime of the license holder. • Adult Coastal Recreational Fishing ( ages 12 & older): Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters. It does not authorize fishing in inland waters. • Youth Coastal Recreational Fishing ( ages 1– 11): Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters. It does not authorize fishing in inland waters. • Infant Coastal Recreational Fishing ( under age 1): Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters. It does not authorize fishing in inland waters. • Age 65 ( or older) Coastal Recreational Fishing: Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters. It does not authorize fishing in inland waters. • Disabled Veteran Coastal Recreational Fishing: Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters for residents who are 50 percent or more disabled veterans as determined by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. It does not authorize fishing in inland waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions. • Totally Disabled Coastal Recreational Fishing: Authorizes fishing in coastal and joint waters for residents who are totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board. It does not authorize fishing in inland waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions. UNIFIED HUNTING, INLAND AND COASTAL RECREATION FISHING LICENSE TYPE DESCRIPTIONS Following is a list of annual and lifetime unified hunting, inland and coastal recreational fishing licenses valid in coastal and joint waters. Resident Nonresident $ 55.00 N/ A FREE N/ A $ 35.00 N/ A FREE N/ A $ 10.00 N/ A $ 675.00 $ 1350.00 N/ A $ 125.00 FREE FREE $ 450.00 $ 450.00 $ 275.00 $ 275.00 COASTAL RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENSE Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 13 • Unified Age 65 ( or older) Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide hunting, inland and coastal recreational fishing. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. Additional Certification Available: HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). • Unified Disabled Veteran Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide hunting, inland and coastal recreational fishing for residents who are 50 percent or more disabled veterans as determined by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions. Additional Certification Available: HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). • Unified Totally Disabled Sportsman/ Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide hunting, inland and coastal recreational fishing for residents who are totally and permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration or the Railroad Retirement Board. Includes hunting for big game, hunting on game lands, hunting for waterfowl ( does not include federal duck stamp), fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. Refer to page 11 for application instructions. Additional Certification Available: HIP Certification ( federal requirement): Needed to hunt migratory game birds ( waterfowl, doves, rails, gallinule, snipe and woodcock). FISHING: • Unified Inland/ Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide inland and coastal recreational fishing. Includes fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, fishing in trout waters on game lands, and fishing in joint waters. • Unified Legally Blind Inland/ Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide fishing in all public waters for residents who have been certified by the Dept. of Health and Human Services as being legally blind. Includes fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters and fishing in trout waters on game lands. Refer to page 11 for application instructions. • Unified Adult Care Home Inland/ Coastal Recreational Fishing: Statewide fishing in all public waters for residents of an adult care home. Includes fishing in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters and fishing in trout waters on game lands. License valid during time of residency at adult care facility. Call ( 888) 248- 6834 to obtain an application. Resident Nonresident $ 30.00 N/ A FREE N/ A $ 110.00 N/ A FREE N/ A $ 110.00 N/ A FREE N/ A $ 450.00 N/ A FREE N/ A FREE N/ A COASTAL RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENSE 14 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. Check out our Web site: www. ncwildlife. org Purchase hunting, fishing and trapping licenses Locate a nearby wildlife service agent Report a Big Game Harvest Check status of permit hunts Renew vessel registration Register for a Hunter Education course Register for a Boating Education course Purchase Wild Store products Purchase a subscription toWildlife in North Carolina magazine Request a Regulations Digest View updated game landsmaps Browse for fishing publications Browse for habitatmanagement publications Find a local shooting range Register for wildlife programs for children and adults at any of our Wildlife Education Centers. We make it easy! ( 1) Required to hunt Federal Migratory & Waterfowl birds. ( 2) Must also possess either a basic hunting, comprehensive hunting or sportsman’s license. ( 3) Must also possess a valid inland fishing license. ( 4) Must also possess either a basic hunting or sportsman’s license and a big game license. ( 5) Must also have the HIP Certification. ( 6) Must also possess a Federal Duck Stamp. ( 7) Trapping on game lands requires a Game Lands License and a Trapping License. = Lifetime Licenses Additional Information Deer Bear Boar Turkey Squirrel Rabbit Migratory Game Birds ( 5) Quail Grouse Pheasant Raccoon Opossum Bobcat Crow Beaver Groundhog Coyote Controlled Shooting Preserves Waterfowl ( 5) ( 6) Game Lands ( hunting) Trapping Game Lands ( trapping) ( 7) Basic Fishing Trout Fishing Public TroutWaters Special Device Fishing Nongame Fish Bow & Arrow Coastal Recreational Fishing L I C E N S E S P R I V I L E G E S HUNTING Big Game Basic Hunting OTHER “ X” indicates the privileges authorized for each license type. UNIFIED HUNTING, INLAND AND COASTAL RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENSE ( CRFL) TYPES and Associated Privilege Licenses RESIDENT LICENSE TYPES Price Hunting, Inland& CRFL $ 55 Annual Unified Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 675 Lifetime Adult Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 450 Lifetime Youth Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 275 Lifetime Infant Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 30 Unified Age 65 & Older Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 110 Unified Disabled Vet Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 110 Unified Totally Disabled Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Additional Hunting Privileges Free HIP Certification ( 1) ( 2) X X Fishing $ 5 10- Day - CRFL X $ 15 Annual CRFL X $ 35 Annual Unified Inland/ CRFL X X X X X Free Annual Subsistence Inland/ CRFLWaiver X X X $ 250 Lifetime Adult CRFL X $ 150 Lifetime Youth CRFL X $ 100 Lifetime Infant CRFL X $ 15 Age 65 & Older CRFL X $ 10 Disabled Vet CRFL X $ 10 Totally Disabled CRFL X $ 450 Lifetime Unified Inland/ CRFL X X X X X Additional Inland Fishing Privilege $ 10 Trout Fishing ( 3) X X NONRESIDENT LICENSE TYPES Price Hunting, Inland& CRFL $ 1,350 Lifetime Adult Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 450 Lifetime Youth Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X $ 275 Lifetime Infant Sportsman/ CRFL X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X Additional Hunting Privileges Free HIP Certification ( 1) ( 2) X X $ 125 Bear/ Wild Boar ( 4) X X Fishing $ 10 10- Day - CRFL X $ 30 Annual CRFL X $ 500 Lifetime Adult CRFL X $ 150 Lifetime Youth CRFL X $ 100 Lifetime Infant CRFL X COASTAL RECREATIONAL FISHING LICENSE Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 15 16 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. General Information Inland, Joint and Coastal Fishing Waters. Both the Wildlife Resources Commission and the Div-ision of Marine Fisheries have licensing, management and regulatory authority in certain waters along the coast of North Carolina. These waters are designated as inland, joint and coastal waters. The Wildlife Resources Commission has jurisdiction in inland waters, and the Division of Marine Fisheries has jurisdiction ( except that pertaining to inland game fishes) in coastal waters. Both agencies have licensing and regulatory authority in joint waters. The boundaries between inland, joint and coastal fishing waters are prominently marked with metal signs posted adjacent to the affected waters. Lists of these waters, with their boundaries indicated, are available from theWildlife Resources Commis-sion, 1721 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699- 1721 ( www. ncwildlife. org; see Fishing– Publications– Coastal, Joint and Inland FishingWaters Designations in N. C.), or from the Division of Marine Fisheries, P. O. Box 769, Morehead City, NC 28557 ( www. ncdmf. net; see Quick Links– Maps to Download). SPECIAL REGULATIONS FOR JOINT FISHING WATERS It is unlawful to possess striped bass or striped bass hybrids less than 18 inches in length. It is unlawful to possess striped bass or striped bass hybrids between 22 and 27 inches in length in the joint waters of the Central- Southern Striped Bass Management Area. It is unlawful to possess striped bass or striped bass hybrids May through September in the joint waters of the Central- Southern and Albemarle Sound Striped Bass Management Areas. It is unlawful to possess striped bass or striped bass hybrids from the joint waters of the Cape Fear River. It is unlawful to possess more than one daily creel limit of striped bass or striped bass hybrids, in aggregate, per person per day, regardless of the number of management areas fished. It is unlawful to possess striped bass or striped bass hybrids that are not in agreement with size and creel limits of the waters being fished, regardless of other management areas that may have been fished that day. It is unlawful to net fish for striped bass or their hybrids in joint waters except as authorized by rules of the Marine Fisheries Commission. It is unlawful to use seines, gill nets or trawl nets in the Lake Mattamuskeet canals. It is unlawful to use any net, net stakes, or electrical fishing device within 800 feet downstream of the dam at Lock No. 1 on the Cape Fear River. It is unlawful to possess more than 10 American or hickory shad in aggregate per person per day taken by hook- and- line Otherwise, in joint fishing waters, commercial fishing and licensing— including commercial trotlines— are subject to the coastal fishing laws and regulations; inland game fish and hook- and-line licensing— exclusive of commercial trotlines— are subject to the inland fishing laws and regulations. How to Measure Inland Game Fish The harvest of several game fishes is regulated by length limits. Fish length is determined by measuring along a straight line ( in other words, not along the curvature of the body) the distance from the tip of the closed mouth to the tip of the compressed caudal ( tail) fin. INLAND GAME FISH The following fishes are designated as inland game fish: Black bass ( largemouth, smallmouth and spotted) Crappie ( white and black) Sunfish Bluegill Redbreast sunfish ( robin) Redear sunfish ( shellcracker) Pumpkinseed Warmouth Green sunfish Roanoke bass Rock bass Flier All other species of the family Centrarchidae Mountain trout ( including but not limited to brook, brown and rainbow trout) Kokanee salmon Walleye Sauger Pickerel, chain ( jack) and redfin Muskellunge White bass Bodie bass ( striped bass x white bass) Striped bass, in inland waters Shad, American and hickory, in inland waters White perch, in inland waters Yellow perch, in inland waters All other species of perch and pickerel Spotted sea trout, in inland waters Flounder, in inland waters Red drum( channel bass, red fish and puppy drum), in inland waters GENERAL REGULATIONS FOR INLAND GAME FISH Purchase and Sale The purchase and sale of inland game fish are unlawful, except from and by licensed commercial trout ponds and fish propagators. Spawning Areas Fishing is prohibited from Feb. 15 through April 15 in the Linville River from the mouth, as marked at Lake James, upstream to the N. C. 126 bridge. Manner of Taking Inland game fish may be taken only with a hook and line. Landing nets may be used to land fishes caught on a hook and line. INLAND FISHING REGULATIONS & INFORMATION Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 17 It is unlawful to snag fish by pulling or jerking a device equipped with one or more hooks through the water for the purpose of impaling fish. American and hickory shad may be taken with bow nets from March 1 through April 30. In the inland waters of the Roanoke River upstream of the U. S. 258 bridge, only a single barbless hook or a lure with a single barbless hook may be used from April 1 to June 30. “ Barbless” means that the hook either does not have a barb or that the barb is bent down. Using Trotlines, Set- hooks, and Jug- hooks Trotlines, set- hooks and jug hooks may be fished under any license that authorizes basic fishing privileges. It is unlawful to use live bait with trotlines, set- hooks or jug- hooks. Trotlines ( a line with multiple hooks) must be set parallel to the nearest shore in all public waters, where their use is authorized. Each trotline, set- hook, and jug- hook shall have attached the name and address of the user legibly inscribed. Each trotline shall be conspicuously marked at each end, and each set- hook shall be conspicuously marked at one end with a prominent flag or floating object. Metal cans and glass containers cannot be used as markers. The number of jug- hooks thatmay be fished is limited to 70 per boat. Trotlines, throwlines, set- hooks and jug- hooks must be fished daily, and all fish must be removed daily. Untended trotlines, set- hooks and jug- hooks, as evidenced by the absence of bait, may be removed from the water by wildlife enforcement officers. Exceptions No trotlines or set- hooks may be used in the impounded waters of Sandhills Game Land, in designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, or in Cheoah Lake. In LakeWaccamaw it is unlawful to use trotlines or set- hooks from May 1– Sept. 30. State Fish Hatcheries It is unlawful to fish at any time in the waters or on the property of any state fish hatchery, including Bones Creek from the Lake Rim Dam to the U. S. 401 Bypass ( Raeford Road) with the following exception: - McKinney Lake Reservoir at McKinney Lake State Fish Hatchery. Seasons There are no closed seasons on inland game fishes with the following exceptions: 1. In designated Hatchery- Supported TroutWaters, where the season for all fishes is closed and fishing is prohibited from March 1– April 3, 2009. 2. In undesignated waters where it is unlawful to possess trout caught during the closed season ( March 1 through April 3). 3. On the Lake Mattamuskeet NationalWildlife Refuge, where federal regulations apply. 4. On the MacKay Island NationalWildlife Refuge, where federal regulations apply and specified waters are closed to access between Oct. 15 and March 15. 5. On the Roanoke River, where the striped bass season, except if changed by proclamation of the Executive Director, Wildlife STATEWIDE Albemarle Sound from Bull Bay to Harvey Point west to themouths of the Roanoke and Chowan rivers ( Perquimans, Chowan, Bertie, Washington and Tyrrell counties) Roanoke River from U. S. Hwy. 17 bridge near Williamston to the mouth of Albemarle Sound ( Martin, Bertie andWashington counties) Welch Creek ( Martin, Beaufort andWashington counties) Brier Creek Reservoir ( Wake County), Brier Creek _ downstream of Brier Creek Reservoir, and Little Brier Creek and tributaries downstreamof Brier Creek Parkway Lake Crabtree ( Wake County) Crabtree Creek ( Wake County) above and below Lake Crabtree to Neuse River Neuse River ( Wake County) downstream of Crabtree Creek to Auburn- Knightdale Road Walnut Creek ( Wake County) and Rocky Branch tributary just upstream of confluence with Neuse River Women of childbearing age, pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under age 15: no more than 2 meals per week of fish LOWin mercury and no consumption of fish HIGH in mercury. All other people: no more than 4 meals per week of fish LOWin mercury and only 1 meal per week of fish HIGH in mercury. ( The names of fishes containing high and low levels ofmercury are available fromN. C. Dept. Health and Human Services at ( 919) 707- 5912 or www. epi. state. nc. us/ epi/ fish/ safefish. html) Carp and catfish. No consumption by women of childbearing age or children. No more than one meal per month for others. Carp and catfish. No consumption by women of childbearing age or children. No more than one meal per month for others. Carp and catfish. No consumption by women of childbearing age or children. No more than one meal per month for others. All fish. No consumption. Carp and catfish. No consumption. No more than one meal per month for all other fish. Carp, catfish and largemouth bass. No more than one meal per month. Carp and catfish. No more than one meal per month. Carp and catfish. No more than one meal per month and no more than one meal per week for all other fish. FISH CONSUMPTION ADVISORIES Elevated levels of some pollutants may be found in certain fish caught by the public or sold commercially in the United States. For more information, see www. epi. state. nc. us and click on “ Fish Consumption Advisories.” The following table lists the current fish consumption advisories for North Carolina inland fishing waters: Mercury Dioxins Dioxins Dioxins PCBs PCBs PCBs PCBs PCBs Body ofWater Advisory Pollutant INLAND FISHING REGULATIONS & INFORMATION ( continued on page 21) 18 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. REGULATIONS FORWARMWATER GAME FISH LOCATION Black bass ( including largemouth, smallmouth and spotted) - Roanoke River downstreamof Roanoke Rapids Dam - Tar River downstream of Tar River Reservoir Dam - Neuse River downstream of Falls Lake Dam - Lake Raleigh ( Wake Co.) - Haw River downstream of Jordan Lake Dam - Deep River downstream of Lockville Dam - Cape Fear River - Waccamaw River downstream of LakeWaccamaw Dam - Lumber River, including Drowning Creek - All other public waters east of Interstate 95, except Tar River Reservoir ( Nash Co.) - South Yadkin River downstream of Cooleemee Dam - Yadkin- Pee Dee River from Idols Dam to the South Carolina state line, including High Rock Lake, Tuckertown Reservoir, Badin Lake, Falls Lake ( Stanley and Montgomery counties), Lake Tillery and Blewett Falls Lake. - Randleman Reservoir ( Randolph and Guilford counties) - Lake Luke Marion ( Moore Co.) - Reedy Creek Park lakes ( Mecklenburg Co.) - Lake Rim ( Cumberland Co.) - Sutton Lake ( New Hanover Co.) - B. Everett Jordan Reservoir - Falls of the Neuse Reservoir ( Wake, Durham and Granville counties) to Lake Michie Dam on Flat River and to the mouth of Cub Creek on Eno River - Buckhorn Reservoir ( Wilson and Nash counties) - Cane Creek Lake ( Union Co.) - Lake Thom- A- Lex ( Davidson Co.) - Shearon Harris Reservoir - Lake Phelps - Lake Lure - New River ( Alleghany Co. portion) - Designated Public Mountain TroutWaters and waters in and west of Madison, Buncombe, Henderson and Polk counties - City or county- owned lakes underWildlife Resources Commission management - All other public fishing waters Striped bass and Bodie bass ( Inland impoundments and tributaries) - John H. Kerr Reservoir - Dan River in Caswell Co., N. C., downstream of Danville, Va. - Cape Fear River upstream of Buckhorn Dam and the Deep and Haw rivers to the first impoundment - Lake Gaston - Roanoke Rapids Reservoir - B. Everett Jordan Reservoir - Lake Norman - Other impounded inland waters and their tributaries State waters are classified as: inland, joint and coastal ( see “ Gen-eral Information" on page 16). These state waters are collectively referred to as public fishing waters. Certain fishes, including large-mouth bass, crappie and mountain trout are designated inland game fish and under the jurisdiction of the Wildlife Resources Com-mission in all public waters, whereas, some species, including striped bass, white and yellow perch, flounder and red drum, are desig-nated as inland game fish only in inland waters ( see list on page 16). SIZE LIMIT 14- inch minimum 14- inch minimum Dec. 1– March 31: No bass may be possessed. 16- inch minimum 18- inch minimum 14- inch minimum, except that 2 may be less than 14 inches and no fish between 16 - 20 inches may be possessed 14- inch minimum and no fish between 16 - 20 inches may be possessed 16- inch minimum ( largemouth). 14- inch minimum ( smallmouth). No minimum size for smallmouth bass, and no smallmouth between 14- 20 inches may be possessed. 12- inch minimum, except that 2 may be less than 12 inches As posted Largemouth: 14- inch minimum, except that 2 may be less than 14 inches Smallmouth& spottedbass: 12- inchmin-imum, except that2maybeless than12inches Oct. 1– May 31: 26- inch minimum. June 1– Sept. 30: no minimum size limit 20- inch minimum Oct. 1– May 31: 16- inch minimum. June 1– Sept. 30: no minimum size limit 16- inch minimum, except that 2 may be less than 16 inches DAILY CREEL LIMIT* 5 in aggregate* 5 in aggregate Dec. 1– March 31: No bass may be possessed. 5 in aggregate 5 in aggregate 5 in aggregate, including only 2 less than 14 inches 5 in aggregate 5 in aggregate 5 in aggregate, including only 1 smallmouth bass greater than 20 inches 5 in aggregate, including only 2 less than 12 inches As posted 5 in aggregate, including only 2 largemouth less than 14 inches and 2 smallmouth or spotted bass less than 12 inches Oct. 1– May 31: 2 in aggregate. June 1– Sept. 30: 4 in aggregate 4 in aggregate 4 in aggregate 8 in aggregate, including only 2 fish less than 16 inches * Please note: “ In aggregate” means the total number for all species combined. continued INLAND FISHING REGULATIONS & INFORMATION Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 19 LOCATION Striped bass and Bodie bass continued ( Coastal rivers and impoundments) Roanoke River Striped BassManagement Area ( including Roanoke, Cashie, Middle and Eastmost rivers and their tributaries) - Roanoke Rapids Dam downstream to mouth of the river at Albemarle Sound Albemarle Sound Striped BassManagement Area ( including Roanoke Sound, Croatan Sound, Albemarle Sound, Currituck Sound, Chowan, Yeopim, Perquimans, Little, Pasquotank, North, Alligator and Scuppernong rivers and their tributaries) Central- Southern Striped BassManagement Area, inland and joint waters including: - Tar - Pamlico River and tributaries from Rocky Mount Mill Dam downstream to N & S Railroad Bridge atWashington - Neuse River and tributaries from Milburnie Dam downstream to Southern Railroad Bridge at New Bern - Pungo River - All other unlisted inland and joint waters of coastal rivers and their tributaries, except Cape Fear River Central- Southern Striped BassManagement Area, coastal waters including: - Tar- Pamlico River downstream of the N & S Railroad Bridge atWashington including Pamlico Sound and tributaries designated as coastal waters - Neuse River downstream of Southern Railroad Bridge at New Bern, including Pamlico Sound and tributaries designated as coastal waters - All other unlisted coastal waters Central- Southern Striped BassManagement Area, inland, joint, and coastal waters of: - Cape Fear River downstream of Buckhorn Dam - Pee Dee River downstream of Blewett Falls Dam - Lake Mattamuskeet Sunfish ( except black bass and crappie) In the following waters and their tributaries: - Roanoke River downstreamof Roanoke Rapids Dam - Tar River downstream of Tar River Reservoir Dam - Neuse River downstream of Falls Lake Dam - Haw River downstream of Jordan Lake Dam - Deep River downstream of Lockville Dam - Cape Fear River - Waccamaw River downstream of LakeWaccamaw Dam - Lumber River, including Drowning Creek - All other public waters east of Interstate 95, except Tar River Reservoir ( Nash Co.) - All other public fishing waters Crappie ( black and white) In the following waters and their tributaries: - Roanoke River downstream of Roanoke Rapids Dam - Tar River downstream of Tar River Reservoir Dam - Neuse River downstream of Falls Lake Dam - Haw River downstream of Jordan Lake Dam - Deep River downstream of Lockville Dam - Cape Fear River - Waccamaw River downstream of LakeWaccamaw Dam - Lumber River, including Drowning Creek - All other public waters east of Interstate 95, except Tar River Reservoir ( Nash Co.) and Sutton Lake ( New Hanover Co.) - South Yadkin River downstream of Cooleemee Dam - Yadkin- Pee Dee River from Idols Dam to the South Carolina state line, including High Rock Lake, Tuckertown Reservoir, Badin Lake, Falls Lake ( Stanley and Montgomery counties) Lake Tillery, and Blewett Falls Lake - Lake Norman, Lake Hyco, Lake Ramseur, and Cane Creek Lake - All public waters west of Interstate 77 - B. Everett Jordan Reservoir - Buckhorn Reservoir ( Wilson and Nash counties) - All other public fishing waters White bass - All public fishing waters American and Hickory shad - Roanoke River upstream of U. S. 258 bridge near Scotland Neck - All other public fishing waters SIZE LIMIT Season - March 1– April 30 ( unless closed by proclamation): 18- inch minimum, no fish between 22- 27 inches Established by Division of Marine Fisheries 18- inch minimum and no fish between 22- 27 inches Season- October 1 – April 30 Established by Division of Marine Fisheries No striped bass may be taken or possessed 18- inch minimum No minimum size limit None 8- inch minimum 10- inch minimum None None None None None DAILY CREEL LIMIT Season - March 1– April 30 ( unless closed by proclamation): 2 in aggregate including only 1 greater than 27 inches Established by Division of Marine Fisheries 2 in aggregate Season- October 1 – April 30 Established by Division of Marine Fisheries No striped bass may be taken or possessed 3 in aggregate 30 in aggregate, including no more than 12 redbreast sunfish None 20 in aggregate 20 in aggregate 20 in aggregate None 25 10 in aggregate, including no more than 1 American shad 10 in aggregate INLAND FISHING REGULATIONS & INFORMATION 20 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. LOCATION Spotted sea trout - Inland waters Flounder - Inland waters Red drum - Inland waters Walleye - Lake James and tributaries - Linville River upstream from N. C. 126 bridge - All other public fishing waters Muskellunge - French Broad River betweenWilson Road bridge ( SR 1540) at Pisgah Forest and the U. S. 64 bridge near Etowah - All other public fishing waters Sauger - All public fishing waters Kokanee salmon - All public fishing waters All other warmwater game fishes - All public fishing waters SIZE LIMIT 12- inch minimum 14- inch minimum 18- inch minimum and 27- inch maximum 15- inch minimum None None 46- inch minimum 30- inch minimum 15- inch minimum None None DAILY CREEL LIMIT 10 8 1 8 4 8 1 2 8 7 None INLAND FISHING REGULATIONS & INFORMATION Longest spine over twice as long as shortest spine Deep notch between fins No scales at base of fin No scales at base of fin Upper jaw extends beyond eye Horizontal band One patch of teeth on tongue Longest spine less than twice the length of shortest spine Shallow notch between fins Scales at base of fin Upper jaw extends to back of eye Horizontal band Horizontal streaks Scales at base of fin Largemouth Bass Found statewide BASS IDENTIFICATION CHART M0RONE IDENTIFICATION CHART Stripes distinct and usually broken Two patches of teeth on tongue Spotted Bass Found in theMountains, Foothills and Little River in Harnett County Longest spine less than twice the length of shortest spine Shallow notch between fins Scales at base of fin Scales at base of fin Upper jaw doesn’t extend beyond back of eye Vertical bars Smallmouth Bass Found in theMountains and Foothills One patch of teeth on tongue Stripes often faint White Bass Bodie Bass ( striped bass hybrid) Two patches of teeth on tongue Striped Bass Stripes distinct and usually continuous Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 21 Resources Commission, extends from March 1– April 30 from the Roanoke Rapids dam downstream to the mouth of the river at the Albemarle Sound. 6. In Sutton Lake, where possession of largemouth bass is prohibited from Dec. 1– March 31. Possession of Game Fish It is unlawful to take, in any one day, more than the daily creel limit of any inland game fish having a specified creel limit. It is unlawful, while fishing, to change the appearance of fish subject to size limits or daily creel limits or remove the head and/ or tail from fish that are regulated by a size limit so that they may not be measured and/ or identified. It is unlawful to possess fish whose size, creel or season restrictions are not in compliance with the regulations on the waters being fished. It is unlawful to possess more than the daily creel limit while fishing, boating or afield; or to possess at any place more than three days’ creel limit. It is unlawful to destroy unnecessarily any inland game fish taken from public fishing waters. REGULATIONS FORMOUNTAIN TROUT Brook, brown and rainbow trout are the dominant species of fresh-water trout in North Carolina. These trout require cold, clean water and are therefore generally restricted to mountain streams and lakes. Those mountain waters that support trout and are open to public fishing are designated as “ Public Mountain Trout Waters” by theWildlife Resources Commission and are managed for public trout fishing. Maps of trout water and their classifica-tions may be viewed at www. ncwildlife. org under the link for regulations – fishing – mountain trout. Designated Public Mountain Trout Waters Designated Public Mountain TroutWaters are classified for management purposes as either “ Hatchery- Supported TroutWaters” or “ Wild TroutWaters.” Hatchery- Supported TroutWaters must be stocked periodically with trout to sustain angling. Wild Trout Waters are high- quality waters that sustain trout populations by natural reproduction. Some Designated Public Mountain Trout Waters are specially regulated to meet specific management objectives. These are further classified as follows: “ Catch and Release/ Artificial Lures Only,” “ Catch and Release/ Artificial Flies Only,” “ Wild Trout/ Natural Bait,” “ Delayed- Harvest TroutWaters,” or “ Special Regulation TroutWaters.” For Designated Public Mountain TroutWaters, an artificial lure is defined as a fishing lure that neither contains nor has been treated with any substance that attracts fish by the sense of taste or smell. Natural bait is defined as any living or dead organism ( plant or animal), or parts thereof, or prepared substances designed to attract fish by the sense of taste or smell. All waters on the game lands listed below, except Cherokee Lake, Grogan Creek, Big Laurel Creek downstream from the U. S. 25- 70 bridge to the French Broad River, Pigeon River downstream of Waterville Reservoir to the Tennessee state line, Nolichucky River, Mill Ridge Pond, Cheoah River downstream of Santeetlah Reservoir, Little River from Hooker Falls downstream to the Dupont State Forest boundary, Lake Imaging, Lake Dense, Lake Alfred, Lake Julia, Fawn Lake and the portion ofWest Fork Pigeon River below Lake Logan and North Fork Catawba River downstream of the mouth of Armstrong Creek, are designated Public Mountain TroutWaters and are classified asWild Trout Waters unless classified and posted otherwise. Three Top Mountain Game Land in Ashe Co. Nantahala National Forest Game Land in Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Jackson, Macon, Swain and Transylvania counties. Pisgah National Forest Game Land in Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Haywood, Henderson, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Transylvania and Yancey counties. Dupont State Forest Game Lands in Henderson and Transylvania counties. Thurmond Chatham Game Land inWilkes Co. Toxaway Game Land in Transylvania Co. SouthMountainsGame Land inCleveland and Rutherford counties. Cold Mountain Game Land in Haywood Co. Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Some Designated Public Mountain TroutWaters running through or adjacent to certain cities or towns may be further classified as Mountain Heritage TroutWaters. In lieu of special trout fishing license requirements, resident or non- resident anglers may fish in these waters with a valid Mountain Heritage TroutWaters 3- day license. This license is $ 5 for both residents and non- residents and can be purchased online at www. ncwildlife. org or by calling 1- 888- 248- 6834, 8 a. m. – 5 p. m., Monday – Friday. The following waters are classi-fied as Mountain Heritage TroutWaters and listed by county, Mountain Heritage City name and regulation type. The boundaries for Mountain Heritage TroutWaters are marked with signs posted conspicuously along the watercourses. Avery County Newland North Toe River ( Watauga St. bridge to Roby ShomakerWet-lands and Family Recreation Park) [ Hatchery- Supported regulations apply] Haywood County Maggie Valley Jonathan Creek – upper ( S. R. 1302 bridge ( west) to upstream SR 1307 bridge) [ Hatchery- Supported regulations apply] Jonathan Creek – lower ( S. R. 1394 bridge to SR 1389 bridge) [ Hatchery- Supported regulations apply] Waynesville Richland Creek ( Russ Avenue bridge to U. S. 19A- 23 bridge) [ Hatchery- Supported regulations apply] Mitchell County Bakersville Cane Creek ( N. C. 226 bridge to Baker Lane bridge) [ Delayed- Harvest regulations apply] Spruce Pine North Toe River ( U. S. 19E bridge to N. C. 226 bridge) [ Delayed- Harvest regulations apply] Trout Fishing in Undesignated Waters Some waters that are not Designated Public Mountain TroutWaters ( as identified above) contain mountain trout. When fishing in these waters, the trout fishing regulations are the same as for Hatchery- Sup-ported TroutWaters except that the trout fishing license is not required to fish undesignated waters, and there is no closed season for fishing. Also, trout may not be possessed or retained in the creel when fishing undesignated waters during the closed season for Hatchery- Supported TroutWaters. INLAND FISHING REGULATIONS & INFORMATION 22 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. TROUT FISHING REGULATIONS FOR HATCHERY-SUPPORTED AND WILD TROUT WATERS Hatchery- Supported and Wild Trout UndesignatedWaters Waters Season July 1, 2008- Feb. 28, 2009 Year- round 7 a. m. April 4, 2009 – June 30, 2009 Daily Creel 7 4 Limit Minimum None 7 inches Size Limit Lure None Artificial lures Restriction having a single hook Exceptions There is no closed season for trout in Nantahala River and all tributaries ( excluding impoundments) upstream from Nantahala Lake, Linville River within Linville GorgeWilderness Area ( including tributaries), Catawba River from Muddy Creek to the City of Morganton water intake dam, power supply lakes and municipal water supply lakes. Undesignated waters not listed may be fished during the closed season for hatchery- supported waters, however, trout may not be possessed or retained in the creel. In Lake Lure, the daily creel limit for trout is five fish in the aggregate, and the minimum size limit for trout is 15 inches. Hatchery- Supported Trout Waters There are approxi-mately 1,100 miles of Hatchery- Supported TroutWaters in North Carolina. In hatchery- supported waters there is no size limit or bait restriction, and the creel limit is seven trout per day. Hatchery- Supported TroutWaters are marked with green- and-white signs that are posted conspicuously along the watercourses. The following waters are classified as Hatchery- Supported Trout Waters ( streams that are underlined are stocked with catchable- size trout at frequent intervals during the months of March through August): Alleghany County Little River ( Whitehead to McCann dam) Crab Creek Brush Creek ( except where posted against trespassing) Big Pine Creek Laurel Branch Glade Creek Bledsoe Creek Piney Fork Meadow Fork Ashe County North Fork New River ( Watauga Co. line to Sharp dam) Big Horse Creek ( Mud Creek at S. R. 1363 to confluence with North Fork New River) Buffalo Creek ( headwaters to junction of N. C. 194- 88 and S. R. 1131) Big Laurel Creek Three Top Creek ( except game land portion) Hoskins Fork ( Watauga Co. line to North Fork New River) Cranberry Creek ( Alleghany Co. line to South Fork New River) Nathans Creek Peak Creek ( headwaters to Trout Lake, except Blue Ridge Parkway waters) Roan Creek Beaver Creek Pine Swamp Creek ( all forks) Old Fields Creek Mill Creek ( except where posted against trespassing) Avery County North Toe River ( headwaters to Mitchell Co. line ( except where posted against trespassing) Squirrel Creek Elk River ( S. R. 1305 crossing immediately upstream of Big Falls to the Tennessee state line) Boyde Coffey Lake Linville River ( Land Harbor line [ below dam] to the Blue Ridge Parkway boundary line, except where posted against trespassing) Milltimber Creek Buncombe County Ivy Creek ( Ivy River) ( Dillingham Creek to U. S. 19- 23 bridge) Dillingham Creek ( Corner Rock Creek to Ivy Creek) Stony Creek Mineral Creek Corner Rock Creek Reems Creek ( Sugar Camp Fork to U. S. 19- 23 bridge, except where posted against trespassing) Swannanoa River ( S. R. 2702 bridge near Ridgecrest toWood Avenue bridge [ intersection of N. C. 81 and U. S. 74A in Asheville], except where posted against trespassing) Bent Creek ( headwaters to N. C. Arboretum boundary line) Cane Creek ( headwaters to S. R. 3138 bridge) Lake Powhatan Burke County Catawba River ( Muddy Creek to the City of Morganton water intake dam) Henry Fork ( lower South Mountains State Park line downstream to S. R. 1919 at Ivy Creek) Carroll Creek ( game lands above S. R. 1405) Linville River ( portion within Linville GorgeWilderness Area, including tributaries, and portion below Lake James power-house from upstream bridge on S. R. 1223 to Muddy Creek) Caldwell County Wilson Creek ( Phillips Branch to Brown Mountain Beach dam, except where posted against trespassing) Thorps Creek ( falls to N. C. 90 bridge) Boone Fork Pond Buffalo Creek ( mouth of Joe’s Creek to McCloud Branch) Joes Creek ( first falls upstream of S. R. 1574 to confluence with Buffalo Creek) Cherokee County North Shoal Creek ( Cane Creek) ( headwaters to S. R. 1325) Shuler Creek ( Joe Brown Hwy ( S. R. 1325) bridge to Tennessee line) Davis Creek ( confluence of Bald and Dockery creeks to Hanging Dog Creek) Valley River ( headwaters to U. S. 19 business bridge in Murphy) Hyatt Creek Webb Creek Junaluska Creek ( Ashturn Creek to Valley River) Clay County Fires Creek ( first bridge above the lower game land line on U. S. Forest Service Road 442 to S. R. 1300) Big Tuni Creek Tusquitee Creek ( headwaters to lower S. R. 1300 bridge) Shooting Creek ( S. R. 1349 bridge to U. S. 64 bridge at S. R. 1338) Hothouse Branch ( including portions of tributaries on game lands) Vineyard Creek Graham County Calderwood Reservoir ( Cheoah Dam to Tennessee state line) Yellow Creek Santeetlah Creek ( Johns Branch to mouth, including portions of INLAND FISHING REGULATIONS & INFORMATION Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. 23 tributaries on game lands, excluding Johns Branch and Little Santeetlah Creek) West Buffalo Creek Mountain Creek ( game lands boundary to S. R. 1138 bridge) Sawyer Creek Big Snowbird Creek ( old railroad junction to S. R. 1127 bridge including portions of tributaries on game lands) Long Creek ( portion not on game lands) Tulula Creek ( headwaters to lower bridge on S. R. 1275) Franks Creek Cheoah Reservoir Stecoah Creek Panther Creek Haywood County Pigeon River ( Stamey Cove Branch to upstream U. S. 19- 23 bridge) Cold Springs Creek Jonathans Creek— lower ( S. R. 1394 bridge to Pigeon River) Jonathans Creek— upper ( S. R. 1302 bridge [ west] to S. R. 1307 bridge) Hemphill Creek West Fork Pigeon River ( the triple- arch bridge on N. C. 215 to Queen Creek, except Middle Prong) Richland Creek ( Russ Avenue bridge to U. S. 19A- 23 bridge) Henderson County ( Rocky) Broad River ( 1/ 2 mile north of Bat Cave to Rutherford Co. line) Green River— upper ( mouth of Joe Creek to mouth of Bobs Creek) Green River— lower ( Lake Summit Dam to I- 26 bridge) Camp Creek ( S. R. 1919 to the Polk Co. line) ( Big) Hungry River Little Hungry River Cane Creek ( S. R. 1551 bridge to U. S. 25 bridge) Clear Creek ( S. R. 1591 bridge at Jack Mountain Lane to S. R. 1572) Jackson County Tuckasegee River— upper ( confluence withWest Fork Tuckasegee River to N. C. 107 bridge at Love Field) Tuckasegee River— lower ( Dillsboro Dam to S. R. 1534 bridge atWilmot) Scott Creek ( except where posted against trespassing) Dark Ridge Creek ( Jones Creek to Scott Creek) Savannah Creek ( headwaters to Bradley’s packing house onN. C. 116) Green’s Creek ( Green’s Creek Baptist Church on S. R. 1730 to Savannah Creek) Cullowhee Creek ( Tilley Creek to Tuckasegee River) Balsam Lake Bear Creek Lake Wolf Creek Lake Tanasee Creek Lake Macon County Nantahala River ( Nantahala Dam toWhiteoak Creek and Nantahala hydropower discharge canal to Swain County line) Queens Creek Lake Burningtown Creek Cullasaja River ( Sequoyah Dam to U. S. 64 bridge near junction of S. R. 1672, excluding the game land portions of Buck Creek and Turtle Pond Creek) Ellijay Creek ( except where posted against trespassing) Cliffside Lake Cartoogechaye Creek ( U. S. 64 bridge to Little Tennessee River) Tessentee Creek ( Nichols Branch to Little Tennessee River, except where posted against trespassing) Madison County Shut- in Creek Spring Creek ( junction of N. C. 209 and N. C. 63 to lower U. S. Forest Service boundary line) Little Creek Meadow Fork Creek ( except Little Creek) Roaring Fork Max Patch Pond Big Laurel Creek ( Mars Hill watershed boundary to the S. R. 1318 [ Big Laurel Road] bridge downstream of Bearpen Branch) Spillcorn Creek ( entire stream, excluding tributaries) Shelton Laurel Creek ( confluence of Big Creek and Mill Creek to N. C. 208 bridge at Belva) Mill Creek ( headwaters to confluence with Big Creek) Big Pine Creek ( S. R. 1151 bridge to French Broad River) Puncheon Fork ( Hampton Creek to Big Laurel Creek) Little Ivy Creek ( confluence of Middle Fork and Paint Fork at Beech Glen to confluence with Ivy Creek at Forks of Ivy) McDowell County Catawba River ( Catawba Falls Campground to Old Fort Recreation Park) Little Buck Creek ( game land portion) North Fork Catawba River ( headwaters to North Cove School at S. R. 1569 bridge) Armstrong Creek ( Cato Holler lower line downstream to Greenlee upper line) Mill Creek ( upper railroad bridge to U. S. 70 bridge, except where posted against trespassing) Mitchell County Big Rock Creek ( headwaters to N. C. 226 bridge at S. R. 1307 intersection) Little Rock Creek ( Green Creek bridge to Big Rock Creek, except where posted against trespassing) Cane Creek ( S. R. 1219 to N. C. 226 bridge) Grassy Creek ( East Fork Grassy Creek to mouth) East Fork Grassy Creek North Toe River ( Avery Co. line to S. R. 1121 bridge) Polk County North Pacolet River ( Pacolet Falls to N. C. 108 bridge) Fork Creek ( Fork Creek Church on S. R. 1100 to North Pacolet River) Big Fall Creek— upper ( portion above water supply reservoir) Big Fall Creek— lower ( portion below water supply reservoir) Green River ( Mouth of Cove Creek to mouth of Brights Creek) Little Cove Creek Cove Creek Camp Creek ( Henderson Co. line to Green River) Rutherford County ( Rocky) Broad River ( Henderson Co. line to U. S. 64/ 74 bridge, except where posted against trespassing) Stokes County Dan River ( Virginia state line downstream to a point 200 yards below the end of S. R. 1421) Surry County Pauls Creek ( Virginia state line to 0.3miles below S. R. 1625 bridge) Fisher River ( Cooper Creek) ( Virginia state line to Interstate 77 bridge) Little Fisher River ( Virginia state line to N. C. 89 bridge) Ararat River ( S. R. 1727 bridge downstream to the N. C. 103 bridge) Swain County Calderwood Reservoir ( Cheoah Dam to Tennessee state line) Cheoah Reservoir INLAND FISHING REGULATIONS & INFORMATION 24 Please note: For the convenience of the reader, major regulation changes appear in RED. Deep Creek ( Great Smoky Mountains National Park boundary line to Tuckasegee River) Connelly Creek Alarka Creek ( game lands boundary to mouth) Nantahala River ( Macon Co. line to existing Fontana Lake water level) Transylvania County French Broad River ( junction of west and north forks to U. S. 276 bridge) Davidson River ( Avery Creek to lower U. S. Forest Service boundary line) Middle Fork French Broad River West Fork French Broad River ( S. R. 1312 and S. R. 1309 intersection to junction of west and north forks) Watauga County North Fork New River ( from confluence with Maine and Mine branches to Ashe Co. line) Maine Branch ( headwaters to North Fork New River) Meat Camp Creek Norris Fork Creek Howard Creek ( downstream from lower falls) Middle Fork New River ( Lake Chetola dam to South Fork New River) Stony Fork ( headwaters toWilkes Co. line) Elk Creek ( headwaters to gravel pit on S. R. 1508, except where posted against trespassing) Beech Creek Buckeye Creek Reservoir Coffee Lake Laurel Creek Cove Creek ( S. R. 1233 bridge at Zionville to S. R. 1233 bridge at Amantha) Dutch Creek ( second bridge on S. R. 1134 to mouth) Beaverdam Creek ( confluence of Beaverdam Creek and Little Beaverdam Creek to an unnamed tributary adjacent to the intersection of S. R. 1201 and S. R. 1203) Wilkes County East Prong Roaring River ( lower state park boundary to Brewer’s Mill on S. R. 1943) Middle Prong Roaring River ( headwaters to second bridge on S. R. 1736) Pike Creek Pond Bell Branch Pond Boundary Line Pond Pike Creek Cub Creek ( 0.5 miles upstream of S. R. 2460 bridge to S. R. |
| OCLC number | 12707335 |
