The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission officially approved the opening of 51 state game lands earlier this week. The first Sunday hunts on these public lands in over 150 years will begin on August 1, 2021.
The Sportsmen’s Alliance worked for years and most recently participated in focus groups with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources commission in 2020 to advocate for these openings. Of the 51 game lands opened, 45 will now be open seven days a week and six will be open to hunting four days a week, including Sundays. The proposal still restricts hunting with a firearm on Sundays between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
The Sportsmen’s Alliance has long advocated for expanded Sunday hunting opportunities across the U.S. Sunday hunting allows hardworking sportsmen, who fund wildlife conservation on public lands, to go afield on a traditional non-working day.
“This is a major milestone for the state of North Carolina and we applaud the efforts of the North Carolina legislature and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for making this opportunity a reality for thousands of hunters in the state,” said Jacob Hupp associate director of state services at the Sportsmen’s Alliance.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.