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Plans for Sunday hunting are in the works

POLK COUNTY—Sunday hunting on public game lands could be a reality for people in North Carolina in 2021.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is working on plans to allow hunting on Sunday with the goal for it to be implemented by 2021.

The WRC has been holding meetings this month.

The move comes after a survey of game land users was conducted by an outside organization last year that received more than 30,000 responses. The WRC also held 8 public meetings across the state regarding Sunday hunting.

The survey concluded that 74 percent of hunters support or at least somewhat support Sunday hunting. Non-hunters were less supportive of opening up public game lands on Sundays.

North Carolina opened Sunday hunting with archery equipment in 2010 for private land, then in 2015 a ban was lifted on Sunday hunting on private land for firearms.

WRC officials said they will review comments over the next several months. In October, the WRC will decide whether or not to propose a rule change to the WRC commissioners. If approved, there will be public comments in January before a final vote in February. If the rule change is approved by the WRC commissioners Sunday hunting on some public game lands could open by August 2021.