North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission - Nc Wildlife Resources Commission

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is a state government agency created by the General Assembly in 1947 to conserve and sustain North Carolina's fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use, and public input. The Commission is the regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of N.C. fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws.

Licenses and regulations

Hunting, fishing, trapping and boating

The agency issues licenses and permits for hunting, trapping, and fishing, as well as titles and registrations for boats 14 feet or longer and personal watercraft (jet skis) in the state. It employs peace officers (commonly called game wardens) who enforce the rules and regulations associated with these activities. The agency also constructs boating access areas that provide parking spaces for tow vehicles and trailers, and ramps and docks for launching boats into the water.

The sale of hunting and fishing licenses, federal grants and other receipts provide financial support of the agency. The Commission has an operational budget of approximately $65 million and employs over 590 full-time men and women across the state, including wildlife and fisheries biologists and technicians, wildlife officers, conservation educators, and public information, customer service, information technology, and administrative professionals.

Education

The agency operates three Wildlife Education Centers, one each in the mountain, Piedmont, and coastal plain regions of the state. From its headquarters in Raleigh, it publishes a monthly magazine and operates an online store that sells books and memorabilia associated with wildlife and conservation.