Last Updated on July 1, 2015 3:36 pm
Hunters in North Carolina could soon be allowed to hunt on Sundays with firearms, but with some exceptions.
House Bill 640 won final approval from the Senate on June 24 after passing the House earlier in the month. In 2013 the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission adopted a resolution in support of Sunday hunting. “Allowing Sunday hunting on private lands will provide additional hunting days and additional options for youth and adults whose school and employment responsibilities limit their hunting opportunities to weekends,” said Gordon Myers, executive director of the Wildlife Commission, at the time.
Prohibited items for Sunday hunting in House Bill 640 are:
Hunting on Sunday between 9:30 A.M. and 12:30 P.M. except on controlled hunting licensed preserves.
Hunting of migratory birds.
The use of a firearm to take deer that are run or chased by dogs.
Hunting on within 500 yards of a place of worship or any accessory structure thereof, or within 500 yards of a residence not owned by the
landowner.
Hunting on Sunday in a county having a population greater than 700,000 people.
The measure also states that “a county may adopt an ordinance to prohibit Sunday hunting prior to October 1, 2017, but any such ordinance shall not become effective until October 1, 2017. The remainder of this section becomes effective October 1, 2015.”
The use of archery equipment for Sunday hunting is already legal in the state.
No matter the day of the week, in Watauga County it is illegal to hunt, take or kill any species of wild animal or wild bird by loaded firearm or lethal weapon from the right-of-way of any state-maintained road or to discharge a firearm or weapon across any such road.
The measure has been sent to the Governor's office awaiting his signature into law. Including North Carolina there are 11 states that prohibit Sunday hunting with firearms.
