Hunting bruins in North Carolina

Black bears are found throughout North Carolina, with the largest bears and the greatest population found in the eastern part of the state. Hunting is regulated by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Always consult the N.C. Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Regulations Digest before going hunting.

LICENSES

STATE: A valid N.C. hunting license is required, including a big-game hunting privilege. Non-residents also must possess a bear/wild boar license.

FEDERAL: State regulations and license requirements apply. Some federal lands may be closed to hunting. Contact the appropriate federal entity for the site you plan to hunt.

INFORMATION: order (888) 248-6834, questions (919) 707-0391

RESTRICTIONS

It is unlawful to:

* Hunt bear in any areas not included in the seasons listed below.

* Take a cub (less than 50 pounds) or a female bear with cub(s).

* Take bear with the aid of bait (salt, salt lick, grain, fruit, honey, sugar-based material or substance, animal parts or animal products).

* Hunt bear on a bear sanctuary.

LIMITS

DAILY: one

POSSESSION: one

SEASON: one

SEASONS

OCT. 17-NOV. 19 AND DEC. 12-JAN. 2: West of boundary formed by I-77 from Virginia state line to I-40 and I-40 west to N.C. 18 south to South Carolina line

NOV. 14-JAN. 2: In these counties and parts of counties: Bladen; Carteret; Cumberland (south of N.C. 24 and east of Cape Fear River); Duplin; New Hanover; Onslow; Pender; Sampson (south of N.C. 24)

DEC. 5-JAN. 2: Brunswick, Columbus counties

NOV. 14-19: Beaufort County

DEC. 12-24: Bertie; Camden; Chowan (north of U.S. 17); Craven; Currituck (except Knott's Island and Outer Banks); Dare; Gates; Hyde (except Long Shoal tract of Gull Rock Game Lands; see N.C. regulations digest); Jones; Pamlico (use of dogs prohibited); Pasquotank; Tyrrell (except on certain game lands); Washington

NOV. 14-19: Hertford County

DEC. 12-14: Halifax (east of U.S. 301); Martin; Northampton (east of U.S. 301)

BEAR SANCTUARIES

Bear may not be taken in the parts of counties included in bear sanctuaries (county in parentheses):

LOCATIONS: Bachelor Bay Bear Sanctuary (Bertie, Martin, Washington counties); Bombing Range (Dare, except by permit only); Daniel Boone (Avery, Burke, Caldwell); Columbus County; Croatan (Carteret, Craven, Jones); Fires Creek (Clay); Flat Top (Mitchell, Yancey); Green Swamp (Brunswick); Gull Rock (Hyde); Gum Swamp (Pamlico, Beaufort); Harmon Den (Haywood); Panthertown-Bonas Defeat (Jackson); Mount Mitchell (McDowell, Yancey); North River (Camden, Currituck); Pisgah (Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson, Transylvania); Pungo River (Hyde); Rich Mountain (Madison); Sherwood (Haywood); Standing Indian (Macon); Suggs Mill Pond (Bladen); Thurmond Chatham (Wilkes); Wayah Bear (Macon)

ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS: Dogs may not be used to pursue bear on sanctuaries; training dogs or allowing dogs to run unleashed is prohibited on bear sanctuaries in and west of Madison, Buncombe, Henderson and Polk counties March 1 until the Monday on or nearest Oct. 15.

RESEARCH

The wildlife commission is collecting information from black bears killed by hunters and requests that hunters contribute an upper premolar tooth (located directly behind an upper canine tooth).

PURPOSE: The tooth is used to determine the bear's age, and that information helps biologists monitor the status of the state's bear population. A hunter who contributes a tooth will be notified of the age of the bear before the next hunting season.

CONTACTS: A tooth may be given to wildlife staff in the field, or the hunter can call the Wildlife Management Division at (919) 707-0050 to request information on how to collect the tooth.

LEARN MORE

PHONE: Division of Wildlife Management (919) 707-0050

DIGEST: Available where licenses are sold or from commission Web site

ONLINE: www.ncwildlife.org

NUMBERS TO KNOW

REPORT A BIG-GAME KILL: 1-800-I-GOT-ONE (800-446-8663), www.ncwildlife.org

REPORT VIOLATIONS: (919) 662-4381, (800) 662-7137

(N.C. WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION)