Military Wildlife Exemption Clarification

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Topsail Area Charter Boats
2009 NC Recreational Coastal Waters Guide

Got this from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission:

[quote]
Media contact: Jodie Owen,
Public Information Officer
(919) 707-0187
jodie.owen@ncwildlife.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission wants all military personnel, their families and friends to be aware of information regarding a new law establishing a hunting and fishing license exemption for resident North Carolinians serving full-time military duty outside of the state. The new law (House Bill 97) was incorrectly interpreted in an article in North Carolina Sportsman magazine’s August issue.

The inaccuracy of this interpretation of the law could create circumstances that place our military servicemen and women in violation of the law and compromise their rights. The Commission wants to make sure no hardship is caused to the men and women of North Carolina in dedicated service to our country.

The new law states that a resident of North Carolina who is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, including reservists, serving full-time military duty outside the state is exempt from hunting, inland and coastal fishing license requirements while on leave in this state for 30 days or less . Individuals must have military identification and a copy of the official authorized leave notice from a duty station outside the state with them while hunting or fishing to take advantage of this exemption.

The full text of the law can be viewed by clicking the following link:
Active Duty Hunting and Fishing License Exemption

If further clarification is needed, please contact the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
[end quote]

Sounds kind of confusing to me. They should have exempted them altogether. My 2 cents

Below is the law as written in the NC Code
[quote]

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2009

SESSION LAW 2009-25

HOUSE BILL 97

AN ACT to provide that residents of this state who are serving on full‑time active military duty outside this state in the armed forces of the united states or a reserve component of the armed forces of the united states may hunt or fish while on leave in this state without obtaining a license.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1. G.S. 113‑276 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:

"(l2) A resident of this State who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States serving outside the State, or who is serving on full‑time active military duty outside the State in a reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States as defined in 10 U.S.C. 10101, is exempt from the hunting and fishing license requirements of G.S. 113‑270.1B, G.S. 113‑270.3(b)(1), G.S. 113‑270.3(b)(3), G.S. 113‑270.3(b)(5), G.S. 113‑271, G.S. 113‑272, G.S. 113‑272.2(c)(1), and the Coastal Recreational Fishing License requirements of G.S. 113‑174.2 while that person is on leave in this State for 30 days or less. In order to qualify for the exemption provided under this subsection, the person shall have on his or her person at all times during the hunting or fishing activity the person's military identification card and a copy of the official document issued by the person's service unit confirming that the person is on authorized leave from a duty station outside this State.

A person exempted from licensing requirements under this subsection is responsible for complying with any reporting requirements prescribed by rule of the Wildlife Resources Commission, complying with the hunter safety requirements of G.S. 113‑270.1A, purchasing any federal migratory waterfowl stamps as a result of waterfowl hunting activity, and complying with any other requirements that the holder of a North Carolina license is subject to."

SECTION 2. This act becomes effective July 1, 2009.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 5th day of May, 2009.

s/ Walter H. Dalton President of the Senate
s/ Joe Hackney Speaker of the House of Representatives
s/ Beverly E. Perdue Governor

Approved 6:15 p.m. this 13th day of May, 2009
[end quote]

Till next time....
Tight lines!
Johnny and Donna