N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission

This month's free articles from the popular Wildlife in North Carolina magazine are all about the agency's involvement in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. Read the articles at: https://lnkd.in/ehcJMD2q Subscribe for as little as $10 by visiting ncwildlife.org/winc or https://lnkd.in/ejh75Wrx.

Anyone who catches a BIG fish in 2025 can get official NC Wildlife Resources Commission recognition for the accomplishment. Anglers can submit their catch info and a photo from their phone, tablet or computer to receive a downloadable, printable PDF certificate from the N.C. Angler Recognition Program. Learn more and submit your big catch at: https://bit.ly/3zgiKFU Pictured: Alexander T. with a Largemouth Bass caught in High Rock Lake.

REMINDER: The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission invites the public to submit comments and questions about the potential implementation of a Conservation Access Pass currently under consideration. Comments and questions can be submitted through March 28. The Pass would grant individuals who do not possess a NCWRC-issued hunting, fishing or trapping license, access to and use of NCWRC property, including: - 542,205 acres of game lands *Excludes partner properties pending further discussion of proposed pass - Five NCWRC owned and managed shooting ranges - Over 250 Boating Access areas (BAAs) to more than 100 bodies of water for non-registered vessel owners To make a comment, watch the webinar or read the FAQ, please visit https://lnkd.in/emw2bZZg.

Have you ever seen a cluster of leaves in a tree like this and wondered what kind of bird made it? You may be surprised to learn that these nests, which are called "dreys," are actually built and used by squirrels! Dreys are made of twigs and leaves, which unlike bird nests, form a fully-enclosed cubby instead of a cup shape. Female squirrels line the drey with fur pulled from their own bodies. Sometimes during nesting season, you can spot particularly-devoted female squirrels with a "saddle" of missing or sparse hair before the hair grows back.

Feeling stressed? Take a couple of minutes to enjoy this beautiful footage of tundra swans taken in Hyde County in January, 2025. Each fall, approximately 65 to 75 thousand swans migrate to northeastern North Carolina to take advantage of the abundant food sources found in our lakes, sounds and farms. Learn more about these beautiful birds at: https://lnkd.in/eEWshRx6

Check out the excellent in-person and virtual fishing classes being offered by the NCWRC Fishing Education Team in March. Visit our class calendar and register at: https://bit.ly/44YkCxs Pechmann Fishing Education Center in Fayetteville: March 6th: Fly-fishing Connections, 6:00pm -8:00pm, ages 10 and older March 8th & 9th: Scouting Fly-fishing Merit Badge Camp, 8:00 am-3:00 pm, Recommeded ages 14 years or older March 12th: Bass Jig Basics, 6:00pm- 9:00pm, Ages 12 years and older March 13th: Catfishing Basics; 6:00pm-8:00pm, ages 12 years and older March 15th: Introduction to Fishing for Adults; 8:00am – 2:00pm, ages 16 years and older March 15th: Volunteer Orientation and Basic Fishing Instructor Training, 8:30 am-12:00 pm, ages 18 years and older March 18th, 19th, & 20th: ABC Boating Course; 6:00pm -9:00pm, age 12 years and older March 22nd: Intermediate Fly-fishing Workshop, 9:00am-3:00pm, ages 13 years and older March 25th: Soft Plastics Lure Making Workshop, 6:00pm – 9:00pm, March 26th: Soft Plastics Rigging and Presentation, 6:00pm- 8:00pm, ages 12 years and older March 27th: Intermediate Fly-tying Workshop; 6:00pm-8:00pm, ages 10 years and older March 29th & 30th: Fly-casting Instructors Academy; 8:00am-5:00pm; Ages 18 years and older Western North Carolina: March 8th: Fly-fishing Basics: Understanding and Selecting Fly-fishing Equipment; 9:00am- 5:00pm, ages 14 years or older March 14th: Intermediate Fly-tying Workshop; 5:30pm -9:00pm, ages 14 and older March 20th: Volunteer Orientation and Basic Fishing Instructor Training; 5:30 pm-8:00 pm, ages 18 years and older March 28th: Creating Hand-tied Leaders; 6:00pm-8:00pm, ages 14 years and older March 29th: Basic Rod building Workshop; 8:00am- 5:00pm, ages 16 years and older Virtual: March 5th: Soft Plastics Rigging and Presentation, 6:00pm-8:00pm, ages 8 and older March 11th: How to Read a Trout Stream; 6:00pm – 8:00pm, all ages welcome March 12th: Fly-fishing Basic: Wading Safety and Stream Etiquette; 6:00pm-8:00pm, all ages welcome March 19th: Springtime Tactics for Crappie, 6:00pm – 8:00pm, ages 14 years or older March 26th: Rod Building Primer; 8:00am -1:30pm, ages 13 years or older

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has completed its revised spring and summer Delayed Harvest and Hatchery Supported trout stocking schedule following an assessment of impacts from Hurricane Helene. The list informs anglers of all the locations NCWRC will be stocking during the spring and summer, and the “week of” stocking schedule through June. In addition, an online map that displays all stocking locations, and their access status, has been revised. You can view the map at: https://lnkd.in/e4nB675P “We are encouraged that there is access to the vast majority of our Delayed Harvest and Hatchery Supported stocking locations,” said Mountain Region Fishery Supervisor Doug Besler. “Currently, we still have 14 locations that are not accessible due to storm impacts. We will continue to assess locations as recovery work is completed in the impacted areas.” Mountain region fisheries management and production staff assessed all Hatchery Supported and Delayed Harvest locations across the region to determine if they could be safely accessed by hatchery staff and anglers. Those assessments considered whether each location is in an active disaster recovery area, has major stream damage impacts, has parking and access infrastructure damage, and whether the location can safely be accessed by stocking trucks and anglers. The assessment information was used to develop a list of Hatchery Supported and Delayed Harvest locations that are open or closed for the spring and summer 2025 stocked trout season. The fall Delayed Harvest schedule will be released in July, following an additional assessment of production capabilities and logistical issues caused by the storm.

The??North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission?(NCWRC) is seeking?nominations?for its?Nongame Wildlife Advisory Committee?(NWAC) through April 18, 2025. The NWAC is comprised of North Carolina citizens who use their scientific, academic and habitat expertise to provide advice to the NCWRC on nongame wildlife conservation issues for the state’s most vulnerable wildlife populations. This input includes guidance on changes to the?North Carolina protected species list?and development of conservation plans for endangered, threatened and special concern species.? Learn more: https://bit.ly/41EzDWB

Representatives from wildlife law enforcement, the wildlife management division, Wildlife in North Carolina magazine and Ben and Corey from the Better Fishing podcast will be on-site at the Dixie Deer Classic this weekend, so be sure to stop by with any burning questions you may have or just to say hello!

The NC Wildlife Resources Commission's National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) State Tournament took place this month at the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds. A total of 1,040 archers represented 49 schools from across the state, making it one of the largest in-person NASP tournaments in agency history. Awards were given to the top three schools in each division (elementary, middle and high school) and the top three male and top three female individuals in each division. Teams can score a total of 3600 points. The winning teams were: Elementary School Team: Startown Elementary School (Newton) with 2,932 points. Middle School Team: East Burke Middle School (Connelly Springs) with 3,285 points. High School Team: South Caldwell High School, (Hudson) with 3,290 points.