Sunday Hunting
Access is primary mission pillar for BHA along with keeping public land in public hands and ensuring healthy habitat for wildlife. Antiquated so called “blue laws” that restrict hunters’ access to lands we own is untenable. While North Carolina has some made progress alleviating some Sunday hunting restrictions that progress is insufficient and inequitable.
Prior to 2010, all Sunday hunting in North Carolina was banned. In 2010, some Sunday hunting was cleared based on method of take. That is, hunters using falconry and archery equipment could hunt and harvest game on private lands excluding migratory birds. 2015 saw the passage of the Outdoor Heritage Act (HB 640), which provided some Sunday hunting opportunity with firearms on private lands although still with restrictions, namely time of day.
In 2017, five additional changes to NC blue laws were passed in the Outdoor Heritage Enhanced bill: (1) removal of the prohibition from hunting within 500 yards of a house; (2) removal of the prohibition against Sunday hunting on public lands, subject to rules by WRC (signed by governor last July); (3) removal of the prohibition against hunting migratory birds on Sunday, subject to WRC rules; (4) removal of the prohibition against hunting in counties larger than 700,000; and (5) change to the county opt-out provision.