State: NC

Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On September 7, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF) presented North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Representative Larry Yarborough with the Marine Resources Conservationist of the Year award at the 56th Annual Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards in Cary. NCWF CEO Tim Gestwicki said, “Fully understanding the value of…

Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager Two wildlife habitat improvement projects on National Forests in Western North Carolina are moving forward after years of planning and public input. On July 24, the U.S. Forest Service released the draft environmental assessment (EA) for the Twelve Mile Project on the Pisgah National Forest in Haywood County….

Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On August 7, House Bill 597 passed its third reading in the Senate on a 30-2 vote. Sponsored by North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chairs Representative Michael Wray and Representative Larry Yarborough and Caucus member Representative Jay Adams, HB 597 would make a number of changes to license…

Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On June 20, House Bill 483 (Let Them Spawn) passed its third reading in the state’s House of Representatives on a 58-47 vote. Sponsored by North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chairs Representative Larry Yarborough and Representative Michael Wray and Caucus members Representatives Jason Saine and Brian Turner, HB…

Contact John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On May 22, the North Carolina Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted a luncheon during the Legislative Sportsmen’s Day at the North Carolina General Assembly. More than 350 people, including more than 60 legislators and their staff, commissioners and staff from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC), and representatives…

Contact: John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On April 16, two marine fisheries management reform bills reported favorably out of the North Carolina House Committee on Wildlife Resources. HB 483, Let Them Spawn, would require a minimum size limit on marine fish species to ensure seventy-five percent of the juvenile fish at the minimum size…

By Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager On February 7, the North Dakota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted its Sportsmen’s Kickoff Lunch and Reception in Bismarck, which brought together a record attendance of nearly 90 legislators to support the state’s sportsmen and women. Caucus Co-Chair Senators Eran Oban and Jessica Unruh and Representatives Todd Porter and…

On November 6, voters in North Carolina approved an amendment to the state constitution to protect the Right to Hunt, Fish, and Harvest Wildlife. The amendment passed 57.18% to 42.82%. A total of 2,061,766 votes were cast “for” the amendment. Once the amendment is certified and enrolled, North Carolina will be 22nd state to constitutionally…

By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On November 6, voters in North Carolina will have the opportunity to constitutionally protect the Right to Hunt, Fish and Harvest Wildlife (RTHF). If this amendment (ballot measure 1) is approved by voters, North Carolina’s hunting and fishing traditions would be protected in perpetuity. Protecting these pastimes is…

By Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum recently became the 36th member of the Governors Sportsmen’s Caucus (GSC), a group of bipartisan state chief executives dedicated to supporting the outdoor traditions of sportsmen and women in their respective states. “North Dakota has a rich heritage of hunting and fishing, and I’m…

By John Culclasure, Central Appalachian States Manager On October 12, a coalition of sportsmen’s conservation organizations submitted a letter to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) encouraging the agency to move forward with rulemaking to open Sunday hunting on Game Lands. In 2017, the Outdoor Heritage Enhanced legislation was signed into law, removing the…

By Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager On October 9, the North Dakota Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus hosted its 4th annual Legislative Clay Competition at Capitol City Sporting Clays in Bismarck. Attendees included North Dakota Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chairs Senator Erin Oban and Representative Todd Porter along with several other legislators, representatives from the North Dakota Governor’s…