Several changes to HB 762 will be offered in the form of a Proposed Committee Substitute during the House Agriculture Committee meeting tomorrow afternoon at 1 PM. The primary changes are as follows:

1) All of the language of the bill that pertains to roadside hunting will be deleted. Roadside hunting will be regulated as it is today under existing law.

2) Existing law will be modified to require that the written permission authorization that a landowner or leasee or landowner's agent issues to a hunter that authorizes the hunter to hunt on posted land will need to be signed and dated and issued for a term not to exceed 12 months (most of this is in existing law, except the specifications on terms of the written permission).

3) The provisions requiring written permission on non-posted land will be deleted.

4) The provisions of the last version of SB 374 that allow a landowner to post his land through the use of markings has been retained but the distance between markings has been reduced from 200' to 100'.

5) The provisions of HB 762 and SB 374 that allow a WRC officer to issue a trespass citation in the same manner as a deputy sheriff can today has been retained in the PCS (under existing law, before a WRC officer can issue a trespass citation he has to get approval from the local magistrate...a deputy does not)

Don't hold me to 100% accuracy but I think this will be pretty close to what we see in the PCS tomorrow. I got if from a WRC official. I was told that the Commission as well as the Farm Bureau have signed off on this proposal.

Personally, I think this is a very good compromise and one that hunters should support. We need to thank both the WRC officials (particularly Big Game Committee Chair Dave Hoyle and WRC Chairman Steve Windham) as well as Joe and Henri McClees for their work in putting together this compromise. Both played significant roles in orchestrating this compromise!

Please read HipShots POST.

What is different that what we already have? This sounds great, basically what we already had unless I miss something. The only difference is game warden can write trespass ticket. Is that correct?

Gentlemen, did FB sign off on this because they proposed it? Just wondering?

John Foster

James,

It is far closer to what we have now, but not exactly. In 2 counties (I think it's Halifax and 1 other?) the sheriff or game warden have to secure consent of the property owner before issuing a citation for trespass. That provision of existing law would be deleted under the proposal, as I understand it.

With respect to written permission, it is basically the same as we have now.

John, this bill is an "agency bill", requested by the NC WRC. The Farm Bureau jumped on it after it was introduced. It is my understanding that the Farm Bureau has signed off on this latest compromise.

Mr. Howard, the other county is Warren, where I hunt. So, what you are saying is that if you are on posted and registered land, the owner does not have to give permission or take the warrent out? The sherriff or game warden can go ahead and write you a ticket for trespassing and the land owner is not involved? Just want clarification.

That is correct.

I believe most of us can live with this version. A whole lot better than the first bill

The PCS was voted out of the House Agriculture Committee today with a unanimous vote. The bill goes to the House floor next, probably tomorrow.

Preston you deserve a big thank you also. I know how much work has been put into this thing and how big your part was. Thanks for all you do and look forward to seeing you real soon.

how bout the right to retrieve law ?