A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to confirm that north carolina citizens have a fundamental privilege to hunt and fish the Marine, ESTUARINE, and wildlife resources of the state.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 113‑131 reads as rewritten:
"§ 113‑131.  Resources belong to public; stewardship of conservation agencies; grant and delegation of powers; injunctive relief.
(a)	The marine and estuarine and wildlife resources of the State belong to the people of the State as a whole. The Department and the Wildlife Resources Commission are charged with stewardship of these resources.
(a1)	The Department, the Marine Fisheries Commission, and the Wildlife Resources Commission shall promote conservation and scientific management of marine, estuarine, and wildlife resources. The people of the State shall have the fundamental privilege to hunt, trap, fish, and harvest marine, estuarine, and wildlife resources subject only to the acts of the General Assembly and regulations adopted by the Department, the Marine Fisheries Commission, and the Wildlife Resources Commission to promote conservation and management of these resources and preserve the ability of the people of the State to hunt and fish. Public hunting and fishing shall be a preferred means of managing and controlling marine, estuarine, and wildlife resources, provided that this section shall not be construed to modify or repeal any provision of law relating to trespass or property rights.
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SECTION 2.  G.S. 153A‑129(b), as enacted by Section 5(b) of S.L. 2015‑144, and G.S. 103‑2 are repealed.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2017.