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RALEIGH, N.C. – The announcement that concealed firearms will be allowed in some national parks and wildlife refuges has prompted questions about what is allowed at areas held by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, including game lands.
The Interior Department issued a rule on Dec. 5 that allows an individual to carry a concealed firearm if the person has a concealed carry permit, and if the state where the national park or federal wildlife refuge is located also allows it. This is a federal ruling for national parks and should not to be confused with state parks, state forests and state recreational properties, such as game lands.
Loaded firearms are prohibited at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s public access areas (boat ramps) and public fishing areas. This includes handguns, regardless of a concealed carry permit. It is also unlawful to possess a loaded firearm within a posted restricted zone on any state-owned fish hatchery.
In North Carolina, more than 2 million acres are maintained by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission for hunting, trapping and fishing as game lands. Concealed firearms are allowed on game lands only when doing so coincides with a firearm hunting season and the concealed firearm is of a caliber allowed for hunting under game land rules. During closed hunting season for game animals and trapping seasons, only handguns limited to .22 caliber with a barrel length not greater than seven and a half inches, firing short, long or long-rifle ammunition, are allowed.
“The bottom line is, concealed carry permits do not supersede the other regulations that apply,” said Maj. Keith Templeton, supervising officer for field operations of the Enforcement Division, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. “That includes game lands. It is up to the permit holder to know the law and obey it. If anyone has a question about concealed carry pfrivileges in those situations, they should call a local wildlife officer or (919) 707-0030. ”
In much of the state, it is illegal between a half-hour after sunset and a half-hour before sunrise to intentionally shine a light on deer or in search of deer. Six counties had no local light laws as of Jan. 1, 2008. In those counties where shining a light at deer is not prohibited, it is always unlawful to be in possession of any firearm, including a concealed firearm with permit, while shining a light upon deer.
Hunter responsibility and ethics are taught as part of the free statewide hunter education program, required for first-time hunting license buyers. For more information, click here or call (919) 707-0030.
I am a law enforcement officer who likes to canoe, hike and camp with my kids in the National Forest & game lands in and surrounding the Morganton Burke Co. area. I enjoy these activitys during the summer months when hunting season is long gone. My problem with the current rule is thst I regularly see people when I’m out in the back country who carry guns with their beer and other drugs and cause trouble for the law abiding folks like myself. Heck campers have been killed in Burke county near Linville by some butthole who just wanted their car and knew no-one was around to help his victims. I do carry my little .22 but would feel a whole lot safer carring my .45.
My point is, if the crooks are going to carry their guns anyway the least you can do is let CCW holders like myself and law enforcement officers like myself to be allowed to defend ourselves and others also.
This is only my way of thinking, but the states position of letting the sheep remain prey to the wolves of the world on the property the state provides the sheep to play is as dumb as it gets.
Let those of us who have been trained to protect lives do just that.
People in Raleigh who never get out of their personal bubbles will not understand this and I expect them to make fun of my mis-spelled words and poor grammer as they delete my comments but someday, somewhere they are going to run ino one of those wolves of the world and will wish someone like myself was standing close by with a weapon to make that wolf tuck his tail and go the other way.
Please don’t take me wrong, I’m not as progun as I am anti-stupid.
Lawmakers just need to wake up!!!!!