WILMINGTON — The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is accepting public comments through Sept. 14, 2026, for the agency’s proposed 2027-2028 hunting, fishing and game land regulation changes. Virtual public hearings on the proposed changes are scheduled for August 20 and August 25.
Each year, the commission reviews and adjusts seasons, bag limits, and land management regulations, as needed, to achieve conservation management goals, comply with statutory changes, and respond to constituent requests and suggestions.
Some of this year’s proposed changes include:
- Specify that a person may not possess more than 4 individuals of any combination of native reptile species without a license
- Remove the daily bag limit for raccoon by means of hunting
- Prohibit shining of artificial light from a motorized conveyance from a public road or public road right of way in search of coyotes or feral swine while in possession of a weapon
- Reduce the daily sheepshead creel limit from 10 fish to 5 fish and increase the minimum size from 10 inches to 14 inches
- Change the statute so that hunting on game lands is prohibited while using or under any level of influence of an impairing substance
The full list of changes can be found here.
The public can make comments online, by emailing [email protected] (please include name, county, and state of residence), or mailing a letter to Rulemaking Coordinator, 1701 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1701.
Wildlife Commissioners will consider the proposed changes at the October 2026 meeting. If adopted, most of the rules will take effect Aug. 1, 2027, and will be in place for the 2027-2028 inland fishing, hunting, and trapping seasons. A few approved rules would have a Jan. 1, 2027 effective date.
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