GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

S	4 

SENATE BILL 485
Marine Resources & Wildlife Committee Substitute Adopted 4/27/89
House Committee Substitute Favorable 6/30/89
Fourth Edition Engrossed 7/5/89

Short Title:  Statewide Fox Management Plan.	(Public)
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Sponsors:
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March 16, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH A STATEWIDE FOX MANAGEMENT PLAN.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Chapter 113 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 113-291.4A.  Open seasons for taking foxes with firearms.
(a)	There is an open season for the taking of foxes with firearms in all areas of the State east of Interstate Highway 77 from the beginning of the season established by the Wildlife Resources Commission for the taking of rabbits and quail through January 1 of each year.  The selling, buying, or possessing for sale of any fox or fox part taken pursuant to this subsection is prohibited, and is punishable as provided by G.S. 113-294(a) or (k).
(b)	The Wildlife Resources Commission shall establish appropriate bag and season limits that may be imposed upon the taking of foxes pursuant to this act, and may make reasonable rules governing the possession of foxes killed by motor vehicles or other accidental means."
Sec. 2.  G.S. 113-270.2(c)(5) reads as rewritten:
"(5)	Controlled hunting preserve hunting license – $15.00. This license is valid only for use by an individual hunting within a controlled hunting preserve licensed in accordance with this Subchapter."
Sec. 3.  G.S. 113-273(g) reads as rewritten:
"(g)	Controlled Hunting Preserve Operator License. – The Wildlife Resources Commission is authorized by rule to set standards for and to license the operation of controlled hunting preserves operated by private persons. Controlled hunting preserves are of two types: one is an area marked with appropriate signs along the outside boundaries on which only domestically raised game birds other than wild turkeys are taken; the other is an area enclosed with a dog-proof fence on which foxes may be hunted with dogs only.  A controlled fox hunting preserve operated for private use may be of any size; a controlled hunting preserve operated for commercial purposes shall be an area of not less than 500 acres or of such size as set by regulation of the Wildlife Resources Commission, which shall take into account differences in terrain and topography, as well as the welfare of the foxes.
Operators of controlled fox hunting preserves may purchase live foxes from licensed trappers who live-trap foxes during any open season for trapping them and may, at any time, take live foxes from their preserves for sale to other licensed operators. The controlled hunting preserve operator license may be purchased for a fee of fifty dollars ($50.00), and is an annual license issued beginning August 1 each year running until the following July 1."
Sec. 4.  G.S. 113-291.4(c) reads as rewritten:
"(c)	Foxes may not be taken with firearms except:
(1)	As provided in subsection (f) or (i) of this section or G.S. 113-291.4A(a).
(2)	As an incidental method of humanely killing them following any lawful method of taking that does not result in death.
(3) 	When they are lawfully shot under laws and rules pertaining to the destruction of animals committing depredations to property."
Sec. 5.  Chapter 636, Session Laws of 1977, as it applies to Pamlico County, is repealed.
Sec. 6.  Any provisions of this act inconsistent with the terms of any local act are superseded by the provisions of the local act.
Sec. 7.  This act shall become effective September 1, 1989.