On May 2, 1972, President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation designating the fourth Saturday in September as National Hunting and Fishing Day. This year, N.C. native and racing legend Richard Childress is the honorary chairman of National Hunting and Fishing Day, joining two other Old North State sports legends — Arnold Palmer (1985) and Hertford native Jim “Catfish” Hunter (1976) — who have served in the same capacity.
This Saturday is also Youth Deer Hunting Day in N.C. The N.C. Wildlife Resources established the day to increase interest in deer hunting among youth, potentially increase their success at hunting, and highlight the need to engage youth in hunting.
On this day, youth 17 and younger may use any legal weapon to hunt deer of either sex and are not required to be accompanied by an adult if they have completed a hunter education course. The Youth Deer Hunting Day provisions apply to both private and public lands.
Hunters age 18 and older with a valid hunting license may use only the weapon that is legal for the type of season open in their county on this day. All hunters must wear blaze orange on Sept. 23, even if the hunter is using archery equipment. The use of dogs for deer hunting is allowed during Youth Hunting Day in areas where it is lawful. During the remainder of hunting seasons, youth 17 and younger are required to use the legal weapon for the open season in the area where they are hunting.
Hunters can report their big game harvests either by phone at 800-I-GOT-ONE (800-446-8663), online at “Report a Harvest” or at a participating Wildlife Service Agent location. Beginning with this deer season, the commission no longer offers big game harvest reporting through Wildlife Cooperator Agents using paper record sheets.
