The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is accepting comments on proposed rule changes for 2025-26 inland fishing, hunting, trapping and game land regulations.
A handful of the amendments could affect coastal outdoor enthusiasts if passed. The public has until Sept. 13 to submit comments.
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Commissioners are expected to consider the proposed changes when they meet in October. If adopted, the rules will take effect Aug. 1, 2025, and ahead of the 2025-26 inland fishing, hunting, and trapping seasons.
One proposed change is to lower the daily creel limit for striped and white mullet from 200 to 100 fish in aggregate and establish a limit of no more than 400 fish total per boat in commission-managed waters.
Striped mullet is considered overfished, and the Striped Mullet Fisheries Management Plan Amendment 2 indicates harvest reductions are required. The change is to be consistent with the consistent the North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission.
Another proposed change is to add the recently acquired 407-acre Bay River Tract in Pamlico County to the Goose Creek Game Land Program to allow deer, bear and turkey hunting by permit only.
The land deal was announced last fall and was made possible through a partnership of the North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, National Wild Turkey Federation, Wildlife Resources Commission and North Carolina Division of Coastal Management. The 407-acre tract is made up of several small parcels with residential homes.
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“By enrolling this new land into the Special Permit Hunt Opportunity Program for deer, bear, and turkey, we are limiting the chance for negative interactions between hunters and the homeowners, while also offering high-quality hunting opportunities for successful applicants,” wildlife officials said.
The commission also proposes renaming at the Gull Rock Game Land in Hyde County an existing waterfowl impoundment and a new impoundment, which is included in a tract of land the state is acquiring that will be incorporated into the game lands.
Another proposed rule change would restrict access to waterfowl impoundments in Lantern Acres Game Land in Tyrrell and Washington counties to permitted hunters only. This is to reduce disturbance to waterfowl during open waterfowl hunting seasons, according to the commission.
There is a proposed rule to shift turkey harvest to later in the season to the Saturday on or immediately after April 11. Officials said this move to when most hens have begun laying eggs is to keep with the commission’s goal to “maximize continued increases in population size and distribution.”
Other rule proposed rule changes deal with public mountain trout waters, crappie in Wake County, and Cold Mountain Game Land in Haywood County,
Each year, Wildlife Resources Commission reviews and adjusts seasons, bag limits, and land management regulations when necessary to achieve conservation management goals, comply with statutory changes, and respond to constituent requests and suggestions, officials said.
A virtual hearing is scheduled 7 p.m. Aug. 14. Register for the public hearing or join by phone by calling 833-568-8864. ID and registration passcode are 161 300 5238.
There are in-person hearings in Asheboro on Aug. 13 and in Winterville Aug. 15.
Comments can be submitted until Sept. 13 inland fishing at this link, using this link for land and water access using this link and using this link for wildlife management.
The public may also submit comments to regulations@ncwildlife.org or NCWRC, Rulemaking Coordinator, 1701 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1701. Staff ask that the comments include your name, county and state of residence.
