North Carolina may soon join 39 other states that allow hunting with firearms on Sundays. House Bill 640, the “Outdoor Heritage Act,” passed the General Assembly Wednesday after a compromise was reached between those favoring unrestricted Sunday hunting and those opposing it for religious reasons, and is now headed to Gov. Pat McCrory’s desk.
The revised bill, which forbids firearm hunting between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., also includes Sunday-only prohibitions on migratory bird hunting and the use of dogs to hunt deer. The two most populous counties, Wake and Mecklenburg, are excluded, and the measure would permit other counties to pass local ordinances opting out of Sunday hunting.
NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox noted that, despite the final wording, the measure represents a “positive step” that will allow more Old North State hunters to enjoy our outdoor traditions, adding that the “misguided restriction[s]” could be addressed in a future legislative session.
