Bethany Daniel - Franklin Press Intern
Mia Overton - editor@thefranklinpress.com
Hunting in three Western North Carolina bear sanctuaries will not open this fall as originally proposed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
In February, the state Wildlife Resources Commission adopted a new rule that would have allowed bear hunting in three WNC bear sanctuaries — Panthertown-Bonas Defeat, Pisgah and Standing Indian in the Mountain Bear Management Unit. The rule was to go into effect on Aug. 1.
Wildlife officials said allowing limited hunting in the areas would aid in managing the bear population and address the increasing number of human-bear interactions on U.S. Forest Service and private property. The definition of “interaction” ranges from observing a bear to conflicts with bears.
The rule change would also amend the name of the areas from Designated Bear Sanctuaries to Designated Bear Management Areas. Wildlife officials say both changes are consistent with the N.C. Black Bear Management Plan.
During the public comment period, the Wildlife Commission received 2,744 responses. Of those, 2,365 (86.1%) did not support hunting in the sanctuaries and 370 (13.48%) were in support of it. Nine responses stated no preference. Despite the number of negative responses from the public, the commission unanimously approved the rule change.
When the rule went before the N.C. Rules Review Commission in April, the commission objected the rule, finding the rule was “unclear and ambiguous” and lacked specific guidelines or criteria for issue hunting permits in the sanctuaries.
Mindy Wharton, NCWRC public relations manager, said the language was revised and approved at the Rules Review Commission meeting on May 19. However, because the rule received more than 10 letters of objection, it is subject to legislative review in the 2023 session. Wharton said the sanctuaries in question will not be opened for hunting this year due to the pending legislative review.
Hunting is already allowed in two bear sanctuaries in Western North Carolina: Mt. Mitchell which opened to hunting in 2006 and Daniel Boone opened in 2009.
Rep. Pricey Harrison from Guilford County introduced House Bill 1072 on May 25 to prohibit the killing of bears in bear sanctuaries. The bill states it is an act to “disapprove a rule of the Wildlife Resources Commission allowing hunting of bears in certain areas previously managed as bear sanctuaries.” The bill passed the first reading on May 27 and was forwarded to the Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House.
“We are hopeful that N.C. Wildlife will further consider the comments and continue to study the issue before they issue permits,” said. Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Macon), who serves on the House Wildlife Resources Committee,
The legislature is meeting in non-voting sessions for the remainder of the year, so any further action would have to take place in the 2023 session.
To view HB 1072 bill, visit the NC General Assembly website at ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2021/H1072.