NC Wildlife Resources Commission & Other News this Week in Raleigh



Eastern Carolina Houndsmen Alliance

We saw Todd Purvis of Weyerhaeuser and Terry Morris of Swift Creek Hunting Club at the NC Wildlife Resources Commission meeting again this week. Last month, Terry gave the WRC a brief update on the formation of a group “to address deer dog problems”. Todd and Terry have been meeting often and working hard to avoid the unhappy decisions Weyerhaeuser executives made to exclude deer dog hunting from company land in other southern states (Louisiana, for example). Todd Purvis does not want to lose deer dog hunting on Weyerhaeuser land in NC. I was happy for the opportunity to speak with Terry Morris as he plans their next meeting of deer dog Clubs that lease land from Weyerhaeuser. Terry tells me he and Todd have been doing a lot of talking. Terry has formed the “Eastern Carolina Houndsmen Alliance” to work proactively to secure parti****tion from deer dog Clubs that lease land from Weyerhaeuser. Discussions will continue about how Clubs can require better behavior of their members in order to avoid conflicts with adjacent land owners and to avoid, if possible, complaints being lodged with Weyerhaeuser. The ECHA Facebook page features a written Code of Ethics and urges hunters to abide by the Code of Ethics. What happens if a Club member fails to comply? What happens if a non-member causes the trouble? Terry envisions developing a plan of action against non-compliant members through a careful planning process. All Clubs that lease land from Weyerhaeuser would be wise to parti****te in his planning process. What about a mediation process for complaints between a lessee Club and Weyerhaeuser? What about complaints from still hunters or animal rightists who oppose dog hunting in all form? We agree with Todd Purvis and Terry Morris the loss of Weyerhaeuser land to deer dog hunters would be a catastrophic loss for deer dog hunting in eastern NC. These are important issues with far reaching consequences. Do not let them be decided without you. Clubs should have gotten email notices from Todd Purvis. The next meeting is today, Saturday, 8/29/15 at 4:00 pm at Terry Morris’s Shop, 415 Streets Ferry Road, Vanceboro, NC 28586. (Pig pickin’ at 4pm and Meeting at 5pm.)



WRC Study of NC Wildlife Preserves on the agenda for 2015-2016

An important item on the NC WRC agenda this week was announced by David Cobb, Chief of Wildlife Management. David began with a slow description of staff discussions and reviews of work in other states, and Director Gordon Myers interjected an ominous reference to “rabies movement across our state”. Finally, David Cobb dropped the bomb, “We have the opportunity for regulatory changes on controlled fox hunting preserves”. Here we go! They have invited the Virginia Dept. of Game & Inland Fisheries fur bearer biologist Mike Fies to speak to the October 2015 full Commission meeting. As you may know, VA wildlife preserves took a political beating in negotiations with HSUS several years ago. They negotiated in good faith in a favorable political environment (Republican Governor). They gave up some things in order to bring about a settlement, believing it would bring them “peace in our time”. But that does not work with the animal rights activists. After the 2013 election of a Democratic governor (liberal, for gun control, supported by HSUS), the animal rights radicals saw an immediate opportunity to grab more advantage, and they went for blood. Preserve owners had a weaker political position, and fewer friends. They were at a serious disadvantage, and the results were bad for VA wildlife preserves. For example, there is now a sunset on all wildlife preserve licenses. There will be no VA permits for fox preserves after 7/1/2054. That might sound like a long way off, but it is less than 39 years from now. How about your grandchildren? If your grandson is born today, he would have to quit before his 39th birthday. How can the sport continue to the next generation? The VA wildlife preserves are NOT happy. We will watch this situation very closely in NC. No action or votes were taken at this week’s WRC meeting. It was only the introduction of the issue by David Cobb and Gordon Myers, but more will soon follow. Of course, the North Carolina wildlife preserves would rather be left alone. But we will gear up for the fight. The NC WRC has wildlife preserves on its agenda. They will want statutory changes, which means legislation in 2016 or 2017. This WRC “regulatory review” will bring in HSUS and PETA like circling buzzards. We must stay strong, and give them no opportunity to take us out. What we know from our past experiences with the animal rights activists is the same as we have witnessed in VA. We will not negotiate with them. We must defeat them.



2016 Elections

Think elections do not have consequences? Please re-read the paragraph above about how VA lost the long term battle to keep their foxhound training preserves. When Joe McClees calls and asks you to donate to pro-hunting candidates, especially NC Senators and NC Representatives, please remember elections are the way American citizens protect our rights, our heritage, and our way of life. If you are not registered to vote, click here. The NC Board of Elections website has a wealth of information at election time, too.



Alligators Hunting?

The WRC Commissioners now believe their own studies have substantially under-reported the actual alligator populations in coastal NC waters. It is difficult to count alligators. For the first time in almost thirty years, the WRC has initiated a serious discussion about options to deal with an increasing alligator population. The US Fish & Wildlife Service protects the alligator at a certain level because it is “threatened due to similarity of appearance” (i.e. to the crocodile), but the alligator is not an endangered species. Though perhaps no widely understood, depredation permits are already available for alligators. The NC WRC can legally establish an alligator hunting season by rule, and no statute change is necessary. Director Gordon Myers suggested the Commission consider the following: (1) season of September 1 through October 1 (earliest possible would be 9/1/2016); (2) hunt by permit only; (3) take limit one alligator per permit; and (4) take by all legal methods. A lively discussion erupted. The Commissioners are interested in hunting alligators, and some seemed ready to jump in a boat immediately. Much debated was the number of permits to be issued per year, with suggestions ranging from a somber 10 permits per year to the gleeful suggestion of 1,500 permits per year (like South Carolina). David Cobb, Chief of Wildlife Management, calmly reminded the Commissioners there is likely to be as much public outcry against killing alligators in any numbers as there is against killing the beloved, but rampaging elk in western NC. We will keep you advised, but we see an alligator season in North Carolina’s future.



Yes, they talked about elk, deer management, quail habitat, land acquisition, falcons, ducks, mussels, and fishing as much as they talked about alligators. There were numerous other wildlife topics discussed during the Wednesday WRC committee meetings and the Thursday full WRC Commission meeting. Detailed agendas and exhibits may be found here. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to call or email Henri McClees.



NC General Assembly

The NC legislature continues to work almost exclusively on budget issues. Bills that have passed one chamber, either passed the House or passed the Senate, will be eligible for consideration in the “Short Session”, which will begin in May 2016. If you have a question on a specific gun bill or hunting bill, contact us. The NC General Assembly this week passed its third continuing resolution, which continues the existing budget through Friday, 9/18/15. Most legislators believe they can complete their work by that date.



Iredell County Victory

Thank you to Keith Loudermilt, President of the NC Sporting Dog Association and all the concerned citizens who turned out to express their opposition to proposed changes to the Iredell County Animal Control Ordinance. Most were dog owners, but other animal owners were well represented. Almost no one spoke in favor of the proposed changes, and the overwhelming sentiment of the packed crowd was NOT change the Ordinance. Thank you, Iredell County Commissioners. The best results are achieved when local dog owners keep up with local animal news. Many dog clubs appoint a person to attend animal control meetings for this purpose. Be sure your Club has someone to faithfully attend County Commission meetings, so you know what is happening. We all need to follow Keith’s good example in Iredell County. Good job, Keith!



Lt. Governor Dan Forest

Is your Club having a big event this fall/winter? Would you like to invite the Lt. Governor? Please send Henri the date, location, and details of your event. We will contact his staff immediately. Lt. Governor Dan Forest would like to learn more about dog hunting in your area.



NC Sporting Dog Association

We really appreciate your continuing support. Members, thank you, thank you, thank you! Club & individual membership renewals as well as new memberships enable us to work for you wherever we are needed. The NC General Assembly promises to adjourn in September, and this means we will have more time to travel outside Raleigh. We would love to visit your Club. Invite us! In the meanwhile, we appreciate you. Have not joined yet? Click here to join online. Call Joe or Henri if you have questions or want to share news from your area. God bless you! Best regards, Henri & Joe



Joe & Henri McClees

NC Sporting Dog Association, Inc.

PO Box 430

Oriental, NC 28571

Office (252) 249-1097

Fax (252) 249-3275

www.ncsportingdog.org

Folks be aware, know what is happening with regard to hound hunting, field trialing, and fox preserves in North Carolina!

Join an organization that supports your right to deer hunt with hounds, fox hunt with hounds, or runs hounds inside the preserves in North Carolina!

Be active, be a good sportsman, help promote "hound hunting" of all types!

The "ANTI's", and even folks within your state could be making a move to end the privilege you cherish, and that is hunting with hounds!

Good Luck to my fellow hound hunters, fox hunters, and field trailers in North Carolina! With the support of the hound hunting community, you can prevail, and keep alive a long held tradition!!

Allan Bishop
(Jabber Jaw)