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From coyotes to electronic dog collars, area sportsmen voice their concernsBy Rose Hooper |
At Tuesday night's N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission public hearing, Calvin Sims of Tuckasegee presented wildlife supervisor Roger LeQuire with a 400-signature petition asking that recently-fired wildlife officer Danny Gibson, also of Tuckasegee, be reinstated. |
Hunter Mark Rogers said coyotes in this area are multiplying and hurting the game herd. He would recommend that the winter season for coyotes be expanded, and that hunters be allowed to use center-fired guns and electronic calls when hunting coyotes.
Rogers and a large contingency of other Western North Carolina sportsmen let their concerns be known at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission District 9 hearing Tuesday night. Dick Hamilton of Raleigh, an assistant wildlife director who conducted the hearing, told Rogers that the state Legislature had already approved electronic calls for coyotes. Bob Setzer of Cullowhee, commission member, called the hearing at Southwestern Community College "an important part in the process to change or add regulations." At the hearing, Dick Wilson of Sylva asked the wildlife biologists to study the population of small-mouth bass in the Tuckaseigee River and determine if that population could be supported with a stocking program. Brian Owens of the Canada community proposed a light law in Jackson County to stop spotlighting. Darrell Sorrells said a light law was also needed in Haywood County. |
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Michael Fuller told the commission he would like to see the $250 lifetime license extended to children over age 12. At that age, the cost increases to $350.
Jim Hart asked the commission what are North Carolina's chances of getting a trophy deer herd, like those proposed in Georgia and South Carolina. He went on to say he was in favor of the extension of deer season in District 9. However, a member of WNC Sportsmen Association noted his organization is opposed to the extension. One of the proposed changes outlined Tuesday night was to reduce the antlered buck limit from four to two in all areas of the state except that part in the eastern deer season. That regulation does not impact the total number of deer; the maximum bag limit is still six. Some sportsmen objected to the proposed change that would prohibit the operation of motor vehicles not licensed for highway use on game lands, except by disabled hunters and fishermen with permits. That change could affect the ATV trails in the Wayehutta community. One hunter asked if there was a law on the books about the illegal removal of electronic dog collars from hunting dogs. Hamilton said there was a special wildlife law dealing with such hunter harassment and that game wardens were authorized to enforce it. Another sportsman proposed that rates be increased for non-resident hunting licenses. A concern of sportsmen from several counties within District 9 was problems crossing private property to reach game lands. "Property owners are prohibiting us from going on their property," several told Hamilton. His response was that private property owners' rights need to be respected, but rivers are public trust, managed for everyone. When Calvin Sims of Tuckasegee began to request that recently-fired wildlife officer Danny Gibson be reinstated, Hamilton said that was a personnel matter which, by state law, could not be discussed in public. Hamilton then concluded the meeting. However, following the hearing, Sims presented wildlife supervisor Roger LeQuire with a 400-signature petition asking that Gibson be reinstated. Wednesday, Feb. 9, was the last day for the Wildlife Commission to receive either written or oral comments on changes in the 2000-2001 fishing, hunting and trapping regulations. On March 1, the commission will complete its review of the proposed changes and adopt those changes they consider appropriate. |
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