As a proud resident of Kannapolis, NC, I've watched as our city has lagged behind others in the state when it comes to hunting regulations. The current ordinances not only affect me personally but also many others who wish to responsibly utilize their property for hunting.

Hunting is more than just a recreational activity—it's a tradition, a way to provide food for our families, and a method for preserving wildlife populations. Many residents, including myself, feel that the outdated and overly restrictive ordinances prevent us from fully enjoying and utilizing our own lands.

In Kannapolis, you must have at least 10 acres. You have to hunt from a height of at least 10’ and you can not shoot a bow with in 500 feet of any property line. Just say you had a 10 acre lot that was completely squared it would measure 660 x 660 feet you could not legally hunt it. 

Under the current ordinance of Kannapolis you would have to have property that was over 1000 feet across to achieve the minimum of 500 feet from the property line.  

Here is a what our neighbors in China Grove and Concord have in their ordinance on archery hunting. I placed the full ordinance from all 3 cities at the bottom of the page if you want to read the whole ordinances.  

In China Grove,  the only requirement is that you must hunt on property greater than 1 acre. Thats it.

  In concord, You must hunt from height of at least 10’. You must have at least 2 acres and you can not discharge a bow with in 250 of dwelling. 
  

Our current regulations don't reflect the needs of modern hunters or the realities of controlled and ethical hunting practices. By revising these ordinances, we can allow responsible hunting practices that benefit both the community and the environment.

 Let's look at facts and statistics: in areas where hunting regulations are aligned with modern standards, there is better deer population control, reduced vehicle accidents related to wildlife, and improved forest and land health. 



Moreover, loosening these regulations can promote local economy, conservation efforts, and supports wildlife management initiatives. 

I urge you to sign this petition to bring about these much-needed changes.

Let's work together to reclaim our rights and modernize Kannapolis's hunting laws for the benefit of our community and environment.  

Kannapolis Sec. 11-1. - Discharging firearms, etc., prohibited; exceptions. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot or discharge any gun, pistol or other firearm, BB gun, air compression gun, spring gun or other similar device which propels with force a shot, pellet or other projectile within the municipal corporate limits of the city. (a1) It shall be unlawful for any person to shoot or discharge, by bow, crossbow or otherwise, any arrow, or similar projectile of deadly force within the municipal corporate limits of the city. (b) Nothing herein shall be construed so as to prohibit: (1) Any person from discharging any firearm in the lawful defense of his person, family or property or pursuant to lawful directions of law enforcement officers; (2) Any sworn law enforcement officer from discharging a firearm in the performance of official duties; (3) Any person, corporation or organization operating a rifle, pistol, skeet or trap range or other firing range including "turkey shoots," which range is substantially in accordance with specifications promulgated by the National Rifle Association or by an equivalent nationally recognized firearms safety authority for the type and caliber of firearm being fired; (4) Any person using, as intended, any device used for the firing of stud cartridges, explosive rivets or similar industrial ammunition; (5) Any person using model rockets designed to propel a model vehicle in a vertical direction; (6) Any person using a weapon or other instrument used to fire blank ammunition for a lawful purpose; (7) A person hunting on his own property or with the property owner, or on another's property in their absence if he has on his person a valid North Carolina hunting license and written permission from the property owner, and a. The firearm discharged by the person hunting is a shotgun employing number seven (7) or higher shot; and b. There is a valid hunting season in effect at the time the shotgun is discharged; and c. The shotgun is not discharged within five hundred (500) feet of a dwelling house, school, church, any other occupied building, street or road, park or recreation area or any other type of public gathering place; and d. The parcel or tract of land which the hunter owns or has permission to hunt upon is greater than fifty (50) acres in area; and e. The person discharging the shotgun exhibits reasonable regard for the safety and property of other persons. (8) A person hunting by bow or crossbow on his own property, or with the property owner, or on another's property in their absence if he has on his person both a valid North Carolina hunting license (or who qualify for an exemption from licensing by the state wildlife commission) and written permission from the property owner or the property owner's authorized agent or manager, and meets the following requirements: a. Hunts from a permanent or portable elevated platform of at least ten (10) feet above the ground; and b. Does not discharge a bow or crossbow from an elevated platform when within five hundred (500) feet from any property line or boundary of a dwelling house, school, church, commercial building, governmental property or other occupied building, street or road, park or recreation area or any type of public gathering place; and c. The parcel or tract of land which the hunter owns or has permission to hunt is greater than ten (10) acres in area; and d. There is a valid hunting season in effect for which the hunting license applies at the time the bow or crossbow is discharged; and e. The person discharging the bow or crossbow exercises reasonable regard for the safety and property of other persons. (9) Any person, corporation or organization operating or using an archery range which range is substantially in accordance with the outdoor target range or field archery specifications promulgated by the National Archery Association or by an equivalent nationally recognized archery safety authority or advocate. (c) Any person violating the provision of this section shall, upon conviction thereof, be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined or imprisoned in accordance with law. (Ord. of 3-26-90, §§ 1—3; Ord. of 8-27-90, § 1; Ord. No. 2009-03, § 1, 3-9-09) Editor's note— Sections 1—3 of an ordinance adopted Mar. 26, 1990, not specifically amendatory of this Code, have been codified as § 11-1 at the discretion of the editor.  

China Grove Sec. 10-23. - Urban archery deer hunting. Hunting for deer is authorized in the town limits of China Grove in accordance with the provisions of the Extended Urban Archery Deer Season Act as follows: (1) Hunters shall follow all state and local laws, rules and ordinances when hunting deer within the town limits. (2) Hunters must have in their possession a valid North Carolina Hunting Licenses showing completion of a hunting safety course. (3) Hunters are prohibited from using firearms to hunt. Only archery is permitted. (4) Only hunting on private property is allowed. Hunters must have written permission in their possession dated within one year from landowners to hunt on their property or must own the property themselves. (5) No hunting is allowed on town property or on, from or across the right-of-way of any road. (6) Hunters must hunt from an elevated platform of at least ten feet above ground. (7) Hunting is only allowed on a tract or parcel of land which is greater than one acre. (8) A violation of any of the provisions of this section shall subject the offender to any of the penalties contained in section 1-6 of the general provision of the Town of China Grove Code of Ordinances. (Ord. of 1-3-2012(1))   

Concord Sec 42-5 staring with sub paragraph 9 9. a person hunting only by bow-and-arrow or crossbow on his own property, or with the property owner, or on another's property in their absence if he has on his person a valid North Carolina hunting license (or who qualifies for an exemption from licensing by the state wildlife commission) and written permission from the property owner or the property owner's authorized agent or manager; and: a. There is a valid hunting season in effect for which the hunting license applies at the time the crossbow or bow-and-arrow is discharged; b. The bow-and-arrow or crossbow is not discharged within 250 feet of a dwelling house, school, church, or any other occupied building, street or road, park or recreation area or other type of public gathering place; c. The parcel or tract of land which the hunter owns or has permission to hunt upon is equal to or greater than 2.0 acres in area; and Page 2 d. The crossbow or bow-and-arrow is discharged only from an elevated platform or stand located at least ten feet above the level of the surrounding grade or the target, whichever is less; e. The person operating the bow or crossbow exhibits reasonable regard for the safety and property of other persons;