EDENTON – The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will conduct a public hearing in Edenton on Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. to take comments on proposed changes to 39 agency regulations related to wildlife management, fisheries and game lands for the 2017-18 seasons.

The public hearing will be held at the Chowan County Public Safety Center, located at 305 W. Freemason St. in Edenton.

Three proposed regulations would redefine youth as anyone under 18 years old and allow them to participate during the youth either-sex deer hunts (H2), Youth Deer Hunting Day (H2), Spring Youth-only Wild Turkey Season (H2), Youth-only Delayed Harvest Trout Water Season (F9), and any youth hunts on game lands (G2). Under these proposals, licensing requirements would not change.

The fishing-related proposed regulations include:

Modifying the regulation for black bass in Lake Mattamuskeet and associated canals in Hyde County by increasing the minimum size limit of 14 inches to 16 inches and allowing only one fish greater than 20 inches to be possessed (F10). The daily creel limit will remain at five fish. The proposed change is intended to increase the number of larger and older largemouth bass in Lake Mattamuskeet.

Modifying the regulation for crappie in Lake Mattamuskeet and associated canals in Hyde County by increasing the minimum size limit of eight inches to 10 inches (F12). The daily creel limit will remain 20 fish. Annual assessments of black crappie population characteristics in Lake Mattamuskeet continue to indicate that fast-growing, one-year-old fish are reaching the current minimum size limit of eight inches and are available to harvest. Increasing the minimum size limit to 10 inches will allow these fast-growing fish an additional year of spawning.

More information on all of the proposed regulations to the agency’s wildlife management, game lands, fishing and other agency regulations for the 2017-18 seasons can be found online.

The comment period for the proposed regulation will run through February 1, 2017. Comments on the proposed changes may be submitted online, at the public hearing, emailed to regulations@ncwildlife.org or mailed to:

Rules Coordinator

N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission

1701 Mail Service Center

Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1701

After collecting and considering all public comments, the 19 wildlife commissioners will meet on Feb. 16 to decide whether to adopt the proposals. Approved proposals will take effect Aug. 1, 2017.