CRAIG HOLT N.C. Sportsmen will get a chance to express their opinions about proposed changers in N.C.'s fishing, hunting and trapping laws during January's public hearings.

The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has scheduled its annual series of nine public hearings to allow citizens to comment on dozens of proposed changes to the state’s hunting and fishing rules.

Some of the proposals apply only to one county or region, while others apply statewide.

After hearing public comments and reviewing written comments, the 19 members of the WRC will meet in March and vote on adoption of the proposed rules.
For full text of the proposed regulations changes, visit the WRC web site, www.ncwildlife.org, and click on the 2009 Proposed Regulations and Public Hearings Schedule link located on the home page.
Submit comments by:
• Attending a public hearing;
• Mailing comments to 1701 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1701;
• Visiting the WRC web site, www.ncwildlife.org.

The first week in December, a “Submit Comments” link will be posted on the WRC home page.
All hearings start at 7 p.m.

Here’s a schedule for the 2009 hearings:
 
Jan. 5
District  4, Dublin,  Bladen Community College

Jan. 7
District 5, Graham, Graham High School Auditorium

Jan. 8
District 6, Norwood, South Stanly High School

Jan. 13
District 8,  Morganton,  Municipal Auditorium

Jan. 14
District  9, Sylva,  Southwestern Community College

Jan. 15
District  7, Boonville,  Starmount High School

Jan. 20
District 1, Edenton,  Swain Auditorium

Jan. 21
District 2, New Bern,  Courthouse

Jan. 22
District 3, Rocky Mount,  Nash Community College

Jan. 28
District 3, Raleigh, WRC Headquarters, NCSU’s Centennial Campus (this hearing will be held at the Wildlife Resources Commission headquarters, 1751 Varsity Dr., Raleigh, to receive public comment on proposed regulation changes to depredation permits, non-game permits, controlled- shooting preserves and emergency powers of the Executive Director.