NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1967 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 953

HOUSE BILL 343

 

 

AN ACT TO PROHIBIT THE KILLING OF BEARS OUT OF SEASON, EXCEPT WHEN CAUGHT IN THE ACT OF DESTROYING PROPERTY.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina do enact:

 

Section 1.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, it shall be unlawful to take, trap, kill, or attempt to take, trap or kill bears in North Carolina except during the open seasons therefor as established by regulations of the Wildlife Resources Commission; provided, that when bears are found in the act of destroying, or attempting to destroy, real or personal property, such property owners may take such action as appears reasonable and necessary, including killing the bear, to protect their real or personal property. When a bear is killed out of season by a property owner while such bear is destroying or attempting to destroy real or personal property, a Wildlife Resources Commission representative shall be notified within 12 hours of said killing by the person killing the bear and the carcass of such bear shall be disposed of by gift to some recognized charitable institution located in the county where the bear was killed; provided further, that when there is evidence of depredation to crops or other real or personal property by bears, the Wildlife Resources Commission, in its discretion, may issue a permit authorizing the owner to take necessary and reasonable steps to prevent further depredations.

Sec. 2.  Any person violating the provisions of this Act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00) or imprisoned for not more than 60 days, or both fined and imprisoned, in the discretion of the court.

Sec. 3.  All laws and clauses of laws in conflict with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.

Sec. 4.  This Act shall be in full force and effect from and after its ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 27th day of June, 1967.