15A NCAC 10B .0113. BIG GAME KILL REPORTS

(a)  Upon killing a bear, deer or wild turkey and before moving the animal from the site of kill, the successful hunter shall validate the Big Game Harvest Report Card furnished with the big game hunting license by cutting or punching out the validation box that correctly identifies the big game animal harvested.  In lieu of the Big Game Harvest Report Card, antlerless deer may be recorded as outlined above on the Bonus Antlerless Deer Harvest Report Card acquired from the Wildlife Resources Commission or a Wildlife Service Agent.

(b)  Before any harvested bear, deer or wild turkey is skinned, dressed, or dismembered for consumption and within 24 hours of the kill, the animal must be registered with a Wildlife Cooperator Agent or registered through the Electronic Big Game Reporting System.  Deer harvested during the urban deer season specified in 15A NCAC 10B .0203(e) shall be registered through the Electronic Big Game Reporting System and shall not be registered with a Wildlife Cooperator Agent.  The hunter may field dress the animal at the site of kill or before registering it by bleeding and removing the digestive, respiratory, and circulatory organs.  However, the hunter may not further process the carcass in a manner that obscures its species identity, age, or sex before registering the animal.  When the kill occurs in a remote area which prevents the animal from being transported as an entire carcass, the animal may be skinned and quartered before being registered.  When a hunter harvests a big game animal in a remote area and plans to remain in the remote area for longer than a day, the 24-hour time limit to register the kill is extended until the hunter leaves the area.  Upon leaving the remote area, the hunter shall register the kill within 24 hours.

(c)  When a hunter registers a kill with a Wildlife Cooperator Agent, the Wildlife Cooperator Agent shall issue an authorization number that includes the date of kill to the big game hunter.  The hunter shall record the authorization number given by the Wildlife Cooperator Agent or obtained through the Electronic Big Game Reporting System in the space provided immediately adjacent to the validation box that has been cut or punched out on the Big Game Harvest Report Card or the Bonus Antlerless Deer Harvest Report Card.  The record entered on the Big game Harvest Report Card or the Bonus Antlerless Deer Harvest Report Card shall thereafter constitute authorization for the continued possession of the carcass.  Possession of a harvested bear, deer or wild turkey without the validated Big Game Harvest Report Card or Bonus Antlerless Deer Harvest Report Card where applicable, including the authorization number obtained from a Wildlife Cooperator Agent or through the Electronic Big Game Reporting System is unlawful.

(d)  Persons who kill a big game animal and leave it unattended shall identify the carcass with their name, their hunting license number, and the date of kill.  Once an unattended animal is registered the animal need only be identified with the authorization number received by registering the kill.  It is unlawful for a person to possess a Big Game Harvest Report Card or Bonus Antlerless Deer Harvest Report Card on which the species validation box has been cut or punched out, but on which the authorization number received by registering the kill has not been recorded, unless the animal is in the person's possession or is identified as described in this Paragraph and not more than 24 hours have passed since the harvest.

(e)  Persons who are by law exempt from the big game hunting license shall obtain a Big Game Harvest Report Card or Bonus Antlerless Deer Harvest Report Card for License Exempt Hunters from a Wildlife Service Agent. Upon harvesting a bear, deer or wild turkey, the exempt person shall validate the Big Game Harvest Report Card or Bonus Antlerless Deer Harvest Report Card and register the kill as provided by this Rule.

(f)  Persons who use special tags issued pursuant to G.S. 113-291.2(e) to validate the harvest of a deer shall follow the tagging and reporting requirements set forth by statute and are not obligated to take any action under this Rule.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-270.3; 113-276.1;

Eff. February 1, 1976;

Amended Eff. July 1, 1998; July 1, 1997; July 1, 1995; July 1, 1994; July 1, 1993; July 1, 1989;

Temporary Amendment Eff. July 1, 1999;

Amended Eff. August 1, 2012; August 1, 2010; June 1, 2009; May 1, 2007; May 1, 2004; July 1, 2000.