15A NCAC 10B .0202      BEAR

(a)  Open Seasons for hunting bear shall be from the:

(1)           Saturday on or immediately prior to October 9 through the Saturday before Thanksgiving and the third Saturday after Thanksgiving through January 1 in and west of Surry, Wilkes, Caldwell, Burke, and Cleveland counties;

(2)           second Monday in November through January 1 in Bladen, Brunswick, Carteret, Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pender, Robeson, and Sampson counties;

(3)           second Saturday in November through the second Sunday thereafter and the third Saturday after Thanksgiving through the fifth Sunday after Thanksgiving in Beaufort, Bertie, Craven, Hertford, Jones, Martin, and Washington counties;

(4)           second Saturday in November through the third Sunday thereafter and the third Saturday after Thanksgiving through the fifth Sunday after Thanksgiving in Dare, Hyde, and Tyrrell counties;

(5)           second Saturday in November through the second Sunday thereafter and the third Saturday after Thanksgiving through the fifth Sunday after Thanksgiving in Currituck, Gates, and Perquimans counties;

(6)           second Sunday in November through the following Sunday, when November 1 falls on a Sunday the season shall be from the third Sunday in November through the following Sunday, and the third Saturday after Thanksgiving through the fifth Sunday after Thanksgiving in Camden, Chowan, and Pasquotank counties;

(7)           third Saturday in November though the fifth Sunday thereafter in Edgecombe, Greene, Halifax, Lenoir, Nash, Northampton, Pitt, Wayne, and Wilson counties; and

(8)           concurrent with the open season for All Lawful Weapons for hunting deer as specified in 15A NCAC 10B .0203(a)(1) in Alamance, Alexander, Anson, Cabarrus, Caswell, Catawba, Chatham, Davie, Davidson, Durham, Franklin, Forsyth, Gaston, Granville, Guilford, Harnett, Hoke, Iredell, Johnston, Lee, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Orange, Person, Randolph, Richmond, Rockingham, Rowan, Scotland, Stanly, Stokes, Union, Vance, Wake, Warren, and Yadkin counties.

(b)  Restrictions

(1)           For purposes of this Paragraph, "bait" means a natural, unprocessed food product that is a grain, fruit, nut, vegetable, or other material harvested from a plant crop that is not modified from its raw components.

(2)           Bears shall not be taken with the use or aid of:

(A)          processed food product as defined in G.S. 113-294(r), an animal, animal part or product, salt, salt lick, honey, sugar, sugar-based material, syrups, candy, pastry, gum, candy block, oils, spices, peanut butter, or grease;

(B)          extracts of substances identified in Part (A) of this Subparagraph;

(C)          substances modified by substances identified in Part (A) of this Subparagraph, including extracts of those substances; or

(D)          bear bait attractant, including sprays, aerosols, scent balls, and scent powders.

(3)           Bears may be taken with the aid of bait during the open season in the counties identified in Paragraph (a) of this Rule.

(4)           Bears shall not be taken while in the act of consuming bait as specified in G.S. 113-291.1(b)(2).

(5)           Hunters shall not take bears using dogs in the following counties: Alamance south of Interstate 85, Anson west of N.C. Highway 742, Cabarrus, Chatham, Davie, Davidson, Forsyth, Gaston, Guilford, Lee, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Orange south of Interstate 85, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Stanly, Union, and Wake south of N.C. Highway 98. In other counties and parts of counties, hunters may take bears using dogs and may release dogs in the vicinity of bait.

(c)  No Open Season. It shall be unlawful to take bear on posted designated bear management areas except when authorized by permit issued by the Commission. See 15A NCAC 10D .0106 for posted designated bear management areas.

(d)  The daily bag limit for bear is one, the possession limit is one, and the season limit is one.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-291.1; 113-291.2; 113-291.7; 113-305;

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Amended Eff. July 1, 1998; September 1, 1995; July 1, 1995; July 1, 1994; April 14, 1992;

Temporary Amendment Eff. July 1, 1999;

Amended Eff. July 1, 2000;

Temporary Amendment Eff. July 1, 2002;

Amendment Eff. August 1, 2002;

Temporary Amendment Eff. September 1, 2003;

Temporary Amendment Expired Eff. December 27, 2003;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2015; August 1, 2014; August 1, 2012; August 1, 2010; May 1, 2009; May 1, 2008; May 1, 2007; May 1, 2006; June 1, 2005;

Temporary Amendment Eff. May 31, 2016;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2018; August 1, 2017; August 1, 2016;

Temporary Amendment Eff. August 1, 2018;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2019;

Temporary Amendment Eff. September 1, 2020;

Amended Eff. June 1, 2021;

Readopted Eff. February 1, 2022;

Amended Eff. March 24, 2025.