New N.C. Regulations Address Potential Elk and Alligator Seasons

I have already tackled proposals that were coming down the pipe in North Carolina for both alligator and elk hunting seasons in previous columns. On February 11, 2016, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) held votes for rule changes to the regulations, and two of those that came up in the vote were the alligator and elk management.

Public meetings were held in each district throughout the state to gain input from the hunters and non-hunters alike on topics such as these two. In all there were 37 different rule changes brought to the forefront.

Of the rule changes, 34 were approved as taken to public hearings. This means you and I had an active voice in how to approach the potential rule changes. One gameland rule was amended and approved, bringing the total approvals to 35 of 37 proposals.

One rule was disapproved, that being the regulation and approval of alligator hunting in North Carolina. This in essence now states more input from biologists would be needed prior to opening a season for alligators. The commission did open the possibility of a nuisance and depredation clause that could be handed down via proclamation from Gordon Myers, the executive director of the NCWRC. In other words, it may be possible for a property owner to take an alligator through a special permit in which the alligator causes or can cause harm to land and/or property.

An alligator season is not in the cards anytime soon in N.C.

One rule was withdrawn from consideration regarding the Eastern cougar being removed from a federally listed species, as state law requires the species to match the federal listing. It was up for approval because it is expected to be removed from the federal list, however it has not happened as of yet.

As far as the elk hunting proposal, the commission opened the door for elk hunting in North Carolina, although there will be no permits issued for the coming 2016-17 season. Much is speculation at this point, and I have been vocal on this matter myself. Our herd has not been managed to this point in a way to allow any abundance of hunting, as the herd has been very slow to grow. We did not take the same approach Kentucky did for instance.

It does look like the commission is taking the challenge seriously though. It has been speculated the permit for hunting elk in North Carolina may be one of the hardest tags to get in the country; perhaps as few as five will be available each year.

Hunting elk in NC could be one of the hardest tags to obtain in the country.

Some have noted they expect a commissioner’s or governor’s tag that can be issued or auctioned off to anyone. There is also some thought that a tag will be reserved for a youth hunter as well. Others have stated that the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation may receive one, and then the remainder either dispersed through a lottery draw or some type of auction.

Myers also stated he plans on working with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians as well as other partners in establishing the proper metrics to guide a permit only hunt in the near future.

Based on how I have seen other states handle hard to hunt and limited hunts for specific species, I will share my beliefs in what should happen. I invite any and all readers to share their thoughts as well either by letter to the editor of this newspaper or to me personally at billhowardoutdoors@gmail.com.

Especially in the early going, I would like to see a resident-only lottery permit system put in place. For instance, Georgians have been vocal about their disapproval for non-residents pulling alligator permits in their state and Georgia issues more permits for alligators in a single zone than we have total elk population in North Carolina.

I am fine with both a governor’s tag and a youth tag. I do think the governor’s tag should be an auction style bid in which the most money proposed gets the tag. This money should go directly towards the conservation of the herd.

Monies from the lottery for the remaining tags should go with the auctioned tag and used in possibly expanding the herd by bringing in more animals. The one question here, which I am back and forth on, is the possibility of introducing a disease detrimental to the herd, so care will need to be taken.

Obviously there is much more to be looked at here, but I am growing more confident each day that we may do this correctly.

Trophy Care

You have spent the late summer and early fall planting food plots, setting trail cameras and scouting.  You have honed your shooting skills to the point a military sniper would admire your technique and control.  Up in the stand you see a creature that is so majestic you pause momentarily to admire its beauty before you lay the sights on the beast and gently squeeze the trigger.  Yep, he is a wall hanger.  This one will be a center piece in your man cave.  Heck, your wife will likely be so impressed she will let it hang over the fireplace (as long as you let her go shopping for shoes or dresses or something girly like that, of course).

You call several hunting buddies and have them come take a gander before you field dress him.  Then, you bring out the skinning knife and start your cuts.

This is where a problem could come in.  You plan on putting the head on the wall, deciding to do a shoulder mount.  You make a cut around the neck line.  Many do not realize just how far back to make that cut.  You have to be behind the front legs and shoulder for a proper shoulder mount.

I spoke with Pat Nicholson of Nicholson’s Taxidermy (Elm City, NC) a while back about proper care with your game you intend to display.  People, especially new hunters, are unaware of the care needed to take care of the hides.  Three factors spoil meat and destroy hides; heat, dirt, and moisture.  Cool the animal down quickly using ice and field dressing the animal by removing the insides such as the intestines.  Dry the hide by patting it down and add salt to soak up the moisture and preserve it.  Use game bags or plastic trash bags to keep dirt from the making contact with the meat and hide.

One thing I do is contact the taxidermist prior to making the cuts.  Let them know what you intend on doing with the animal.  They will help you on what to do and where to do it.   For instance, on the alligator hunt I recently went on, I spoke with Strickland’s Outdoor Creations (Middlesex, NC) prior to the hunt.  She advised me what to do with the hide.  I also spoke with a wildlife biologist in Georgia on how to handle the meat to prevent spoilage.  If I had not spoken to both, I may have had a problem with the gator since reptiles are handled slightly different than mammals.

Even trappers must learn proper field care, as a wrong cut could determine how much the fur will sale for or even if it will sale at all.  The North Carolina Wildlife website (ncwildlife.org) has much information on game care for the different game animals as well as a simple search with the keywords game care for field care on the internet.

Also, do not expect a taxidermist to ‘rebuild’ something that has been destroyed.  As Pat Nicholson told me, if you blow every feather off a duck or turkey, do not bring him a bag full and ask him to put them back on.  It took God several years to put them there; it would take him much longer to put them back.

Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the Wilson Times and Yancey County News and the bowhunting blog site GiveEmTheShaft.com. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the North Carolina Bowhunters Association, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of Pope and Young, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.

Bucket List Dream Hunt - Alligator!

With opening day of archery deer season hitting this last weekend, you would think I might have a column on a bow hunt.  For a reason I cannot ignore, I had to forgo this weekend’s opening.  For the last three years I have attempted to pull a tag for an alligator in Georgia.  This weekend allowed me to put a check beside an item on my hunting bucket list.

Georgia Alligator tag for 2011.

I was notified in August that I was successful in drawing a gator tag for zone 4, which encompasses the counties around Valdosta, Georgia.  With less than a month before the hunt was to start, I had to find a place to hunt, decide what I was going to do with the gator if I was successful and find a the appropriate vendors to take care of it depending on my decision.  I had to do hours upon hours of ‘online’ scouting.  Looking trough different maps, contacting potential land owners, monitoring weather circumstances, and arranging my work schedule were critical in making this a successful hunt.

Lake Lewis. This would be my hunting 'land' for the next 48 hours.

Southern Georgia is in the middle of a drought, where many of their rivers are nothing more than small streams, often not even flowing because the water is so low.  I joined a hunting forum based in Georgia, and from information gathered there, decided a lake or pond would offer me the best opportunity.  I met one gentleman, Dane Lancaster, on the forum who received his first gator tag this year for zone 4 also.  We talked on the phone and agreed to tackle the hunt together rather than finding a guide.  He has a small camper he allowed me to stay in, which knocked off the cost of a hotel room.  He also would provide a boat for us to use and would work on permissions for us to hunt several areas.  I was to supply the equipment for the hunt, namely a Muzzy Gator Getter setup for the bow, as well as some lights.  We decided not to use a generator for fear of scaring the gators, and went with a couple of LED Lenser H7 head lamps instead.  Both of these ideas played to our favor in getting up close to the alligators.

READ ABOUT THE LED Lenser H7 HEAD LAMP HERE!

Now my wife, she had nightmares about this trip.  All she could envision was some swamp people with no teeth.  Their tools of the trade would consist of a chain saw and a banjo, and likely be using me for gator bait.  When I met Dane and his wife Sheri in person, I asked them to smile big for me.  Seeing they each had their teeth, I told them my wife's concerns and we all got a good laugh out of it.

Gator trying to get in the boat.



The hunt had its challenges.  After the first evening, we saw several dozen alligators, their reflective red eyes resembling a demon resting on the water’s surface.  We practiced calling, using a sound that imitates a young gator in distress.  Without fail, when we made the call, eyes would surface to see what was making the commotion.  Once we had a small alligator make a swim to the boat.  Dane commented if we had steps, the gator would have come right into the boat.  It is an eerie feeling in the swamps with the different noises, the glowing eyes, and the soft lifting fog in the middle of the darkness.  When we were pulling out that morning we heard a pop and watched the boat’s front end lower.  Upon investigation, the trailer broke near the tongue.  We set the boat and trailer to the side and decided to catch a few hours sleep, and then we would return with a generator and welder to secure the trailer in order to get it back to the house.

The killing shot.

After we made the repairs, we borrowed a boat from one of Dane’s relatives.  Things seemed to be working against us, but we were going to give it a good try with a positive attitude regardless.  Even if we did not harvest an ‘ole swamp lizard, we were enjoying the hunt and the pursuit.



Dane Lancaster (Nashville, Ga) and Bill Howard



Around 1am, we spotted a gator resting in some swamp grass.  With the lights, we were able to make out most of its head.  The rule to determine how big a gator is is to measure from the snout to the eyes.  Whatever the measurement is in inches, the total length will be that in feet.  Based on this information, we estimated the gator to be about 6 feet long, easily the largest we had come across.  I decided to take the shot, and we drifted in an arc behind the gator.  When the body lined up, I shot the arrow through the back.  After some thrashing and splashing, we pulled the gator to the side of the boat.  Usually in these instances, a pistol or ‘bang stick’ will be used to dispatch the gator before pulling him in the boat.  I wanted it to be strictly a bow kill, so I used a hunting broadhead to the base of the spine.  If anyone ever thinks a bow and arrow will not kill an alligator, I have testament to the contrary.

With the right photography, even this 6 foot'r looks like a monster!

In the end, I had experienced something I have only dreamed of.  I met new people and made new friends, all in the fellowship of hunting and the outdoors.  I had my trophy, regardless of size, taken the way I wanted to hunt it and by knowledge I had learned rather than watched.  If that is not considered a successful hunt, there is no such thing.

FIND OUT HOW I PLANNED MY LOTTERY QUOTA HUNT HERE!

Bill Howard writes a weekly outdoors column for the Wilson Times and Yancey County News and the bowhunting blog site GiveEmTheShaft.com. He is a Hunter Education and International Bowhunter Education instructor, lifetime member of the North Carolina Bowhunters Association, Bowhunter Certification Referral Service Chairman, member and official measurer of Pope and Young, and a regular contributor to North Carolina Bowhunter Magazine.