Last week the Rules Review Commission (RRC) OBJECTED the NCWRC's rule that allows hunting in the Pisgah, Standing Indian, and Panthertown-Bonas Defeat bear sanctuaries and changed the term "designated bear sanctuaries to "Designated management areas" due to ambiguity.
This is great news!
However, we are not calling it a victory yet. The RRC's ruling delays the NCWRC's rule until they update and resubmit the rule in compliance with the statutory regulations. Depending on what the RRC requests from the NCWRC, we may have a significant reprieve from the rule passing, or it could be updated and resubmitted by next month's May 19th meeting. We reached out to the RRC for clarity but have not heard back from them.
We want to thank everyone that wrote an objection letter. Our collective voices were heard. The RRC has 439 pages of objection letters and comments in opposition to opening the sanctuaries to bear hunting.
The fight isn't over yet. Please stay tuned for future calls to action!