GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1997 SESSION

S. L. 1997-132
HOUSE BILL 718

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE HUNTING AND TRAPPING OF FOXES AND RACCOONS IN HYDE AND BEAUFORT COUNTIES, AND TO ALLOW THE USE OF SNARES WHEN TRAPPING FUR-BEARING ANIMALS IN THOSE COUNTIES.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, there is an open season for the trapping of foxes from the day after the close of gun deer season until February 28 of each year.
Section 2.  Section 1 of Chapter 630 of the 1995 Session Laws reads as rewritten:
"Section 1.  Notwithstanding the provisions of G.S. 113-291.2, there shall be no bag limits on the hunting or trapping of foxes or raccoons."
Section 3.  Section 3 of Chapter 630 of the 1995 Session Laws reads as rewritten:
"Sec. 3.  This act is effective upon ratification."
Section 4.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, connibear traps set during any trapping season established by the Wildlife Resources Commission and by the provisions of this act shall be visited every 72 hours and any animal caught in the trap removed.
Section 5.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, it is lawful to transport, buy, sell, barter, trade, or otherwise transfer possession or ownership of the carcass or pelt of foxes taken during any trapping season established by the Wildlife Resources Commission or by the provisions of this act without obtaining tags provided by the Wildlife Resources Commission.
Section 6.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, foxes and raccoons may be taken during any trapping season established by the Wildlife Resources Commission or by the provisions of this act with steel-jaw or leghold traps with trap chains of up to 18 inches in length.
Section 7.  Notwithstanding G.S. 113-291.1(b)(2) or any other law, it is lawful to use snares when trapping fur-bearing animals during seasons for trapping fur-bearing animals as established by the Wildlife Resources Commission and by the provisions of this act.
Section 8.  This act applies only to Beaufort and Hyde Counties.
Section 9.  This act becomes effective October 1, 1997, and expires June 1, 1999.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 3rd day of June, 1997.
s/	Dennis A. Wicker
President of the Senate

s/	Harold J. Brubaker
Speaker of the House of Representatives