04/16/2025
Hunters you still have time to contact your representatives. If this bill passes this could be the end of coonhunting. See link below to contact your representatives.
https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/RepresentationByCounty/H
SENATE BILL 220 - The Bill from Hell…
Concerning persons hunting, fishing, and trapping. The NC Senate has approved the BILL and sent it to the NC HOUSE.
The Bill that is now before the NC HOUSE and if approved will immediately do the following:
1. Create a Class-3 misdemeanor for willfully entering UNPOSTED land, waters, or ponds, for the purpose of, or while, hunting, fishing, or trapping without PRIOR WRITTEN permission from the property owner or a lessee or agent of the property owner.
2. A second or subsequent offense within three years of a first violation would be a Class-2 misdemeanor.
3. REQUIRES a 2-year suspension of hunting, fishing, or trapping license(s), applicable to the activity in which a person was engaged upon conviction of hunting, fishing, or trapping on property without written permission from the landowner.
4. Impose a $1,000 MINIMUM FINE for accessing public trust waters from land, hunting, fishing, or trapping on posted property without written permission from the landowner.
5. Add "accessing public trust waters from land" to the list of activities, in addition to hunting, fishing, and trapping, that are prohibited on posted property of another without written permission from the property owner or a lessee or agent of the property owner.
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The current law states (G.S. 14-159.6(a)), it is a Class 2 misdemeanor to willfully enter property POSTED with: SIGNAGE or PURPLE BOUNDARY paint marks to hunt, fish, or trap without the WRITTEN PERMISSION of the owner, or a lessee or agent
of the owner.
This proposed law would make it a Class 2 or 3 Misdemeanor to willfully enter ANY UNPOSTED or POSTED property to hunt, fish, or trap without the PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION of the owner, or a lessee or agent of the owner. Verbal permission would no longer be allowed.
Note: This proposed law would extend to secondary activities for the purpose of, or while, hunting, fishing, or trapping without PRIOR WRITTEN permission, such as recovering hunting dogs, trying to safely reach a roadway or public trail, etc..
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NC HUNTERS have 7 days to contact their NC HOUSE Representative in opposition to Senate Bill 220. Tell them No!
Here is the NC House Directory by County: https://www.ncleg.gov/Members/RepresentationByCounty/H
Copy of Senate Bill 220 is available at:https://www.ncleg.gov/Sessions/2025/Bills/Senate/PDF/S220v2.pdf
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Observation: You would have to go back before 2011 to find a piece of Senate legislation that so horribly affected every hunter, fishermen, or trapper in North Carolina to make it through the Senate.
On April 10th, the Senate held their Roll Call #91, to which an astonishing 40 NC Senators voted for Bill S220. Every Democrat Senator who was present voted for the Bill, likewise many Republican Senators also voted for the Bill.
While only two (2) Senators opposed the Bill and they were Senator Bob Brinson (Beaufort, Craven, Lenoir Counties), and Senator Norman Sanderson (Carteret, Chowan, Halifax, Hyde, Martin, Pamlico, Warren, Washington Counties). We think that Senators Brinson and Sanderson understand enough about hunting and fishing to know that to step onto "Unposted" Property while hunting, fishing or trapping should not be a crime. Nor should landowners be required to issue written permission when they don’t mind sportsmen/women to enter or cross their property. Thank you, Senators Brinson and Sanderson.
NOW the battle turn to the NC House, call or email your representative today.
