North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

Smoky Mountain News: WNC bear-management plan raises some hackles

State wildlife officials in North Carolina are proposing a rule change that would allow hunters to kill black bears in areas that are currently off-limits to “harvesting” of the animals.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission cites the population boom of the bruins in its consideration of opening up permit hunting in sanctuaries such as Panthertown, Standing Indian and Pisgah.

The proposal is among changes to state wildlife law suggested by the commission for 2022-2023 hunting seasons.

“Allowing hunting in additional sanctuaries will help control the growing population as increased human development reduces hunter access outside the sanctuaries, the Wildlife Commission says, and it will also cut down on human-bear conflicts in those areas,” according to reporting from Holly Kays of Smoky Mountain News.

An outline and rationale for the bear sanctuary hunting rule is available on the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission website.