8/15/2007

Hunters Should Purchase Licenses Now

RALEIGH, N.C.  – Although dove season doesn’t open until Sept. 1, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is encouraging hunters to purchase their license online at www.ncwildlife.org.

The agency expects the last week of August, traditionally the busiest week of the year for hunting license sales, to be even busier this year. The week culminates with the opening day of dove season and the beginning of a long Labor Day Weekend, a time when many beach-bound anglers will be making last-minute purchases of the newly required Coastal Recreational Fishing License.

“Visitors can go to the agency’s Web site to purchase a hunting or fishing license for immediate use with just a few clicks of the mouse.” said Lisa Hocutt, the Commission’s Customer Support Services section chief. “They can also click on the ‘Locate a Service Agent’ link to find the wildlife service agent closest to them.”

While purchasing a license online is the quickest and easiest way to purchase a license, hunters can also:

In addition to purchasing licenses and finding a wildlife service agent online, visitors can access important information related to dove hunting, such as season dates, bag limits and license requirements.

To hunt doves in North Carolina, residents must purchase an annual basic hunting license ($15), an annual comprehensive license ($30) or an annual Sportsman license ($40). Other lifetime licenses are available depending on age or disability of the license holder. Holders of a basic hunting license who are hunting on game lands must purchase a game lands privilege license. The $15 privilege license is included in the cost of a comprehensive or Sportsman license.

Those hunting migratory game birds, including waterfowl, are required to have a HIP certification, which is issued free of charge by calling 1(888) 248-6834 or visiting a Wildlife Service Agent. 

Click here for more information on the many other services available online, including renewing vessel registrations, reporting big game harvests, registering for hunter and boating education courses and downloading the 2007-2008 Regulations Digest.