Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 14 UCW MARCH 10-16, 2021 MINDY WHARTON, Public Relations Manager, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commis- sion. Comments? Editor@upandcomingweek- ly.com. 910-484-6200. The Tar Heel State is known for its dense forests and beautiful, rugged landscape in many areas. Its hunting seasons provide bounties for hunters close to the Appalachian Mountains and further east. If you're hunting in North Carolina, expect to find seasons for a variety of game throughout the year. Wild turkey season (male or bearded turkey only) begins in April. Youth Season is April 3-9 and the Spring General Season in April 10–May 8. A young person's first hunting trip can be an incredible experience, sparking a lifelong love and appreciation for nature and wildlife. Parents who grew up hunting likely remember their first hun- ting trip and want to recreate that experience for their own children. As memorable as a first hunting trip can be, parents of current youngsters might not recall all the pre-trip preparation their own folks did to make that first hunting experience so memorable. Such preparation can ensure today's youngsters enjoy the same magical experience their parents did when going hunting for the first time. Make sure kids are ready. Kids' maturity levels merit consideration before taking them hunting for the first time. Children may experience a range of emotions on their first hunting trips. Such emoti- ons can include excitement, nervousness, sadness, and/or guilt. Parents should assess their children's maturi- ty levels prior to announcing a trip to make sure they're ready for that emotional roller coaster. Kids mature at their own pace, so assess each child individually, resisting the temptation to assume one child is ready at a given age because an older sibling was ready at the same age. The American Forest Foundation recommends parents first take their youngsters along as hun- ting apprentices, which allows them to participate in the rituals of the hunt while their parents can gauge how mature they are to handle the hunt itself. Make sure kids can handle their guns. Wide Open Spaces, a website devoted to providing up- to-date information for hunters, fishermen and outdoor enthusiasts, notes the importance of kids knowing how to use their guns before they go hunting for the first time. Kids should know how to load and unload, check the chamber and turn the safety on and off. Kids should be confident with their guns, feeling comfortable enough to pull their firearms to their shoulders, get the gun's sights on the animal and pull the trigger. Temper youngsters' expectations. Hunting is a rewarding hobby, but also one that requires a lot of work. Weather also can be unpleasant during hun- ting season, and that can quickly spoil youngsters' impressions of hunting. Temper kids' expectations in advance of a hunting trip so they know it won't necessarily be all fun. In addition, let children know many hunting trips end without a kill. Focus on the fun factor. The AFF notes that sur- veys indicate that young hunters are more excited to have fun and enjoy quality outdoor time than they are by the prospect of bagging and taking home a trophy animal. Parents should focus on the fun and the beauty of nature when taking youngs- ters hunting to ensure kids have as good a time as possible. For more information on North Carolina hunting regulations, licenses and other details for a safe and legal hunting trip, be sure to visit the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission website at w w w.ncwildlife.org/ How to prepare children for their first hunting trip a STAFF REPORT Some pre-trip preparation on the part of parents can make first hunting trips successful. Find a bear den, leave it alone by MINDY WHARTON Biologists at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission are reminding North Carolinians that if they find a bear den to leave it alone. Black bears are very resourceful in finding pla- ces to shelter late December through April as cold weather lingers and cubs are born. Dens may be found in rock cavities, brush piles, tree cavities, excavations under fallen trees, ground nests, under decks and in crawlspaces. As a result, you may stumble upon a bear den anytime time you are outdoors, whether hiking, working in your yard, cutting firewood or enjoying outdoor activities. This month, a momma bear and her cubs were confirmed in a den on one of the Wildlife Commission's game lands. "A hiker came upon a log pile pushed up to clear a field and the squeaking sounds of cubs," described Danny Ray, a wildlife biologist with the Commission. "The hiker left the area immediately and called me. Thanks to his correct response, the bear family was not disturbed and remained pea- cefully in the den." If you find a den, either on your property or on public property, do not panic. Colleen Olfenbuttel, the Commission's black bear & furbearer biologist, advises to leave the area quickly and quietly and to not disturb the den for the rest of the winter season. If the den is under your deck, shed, or crawlspace, leave the area and call the NC Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401 or contact your district wildlife biologist. To reach Cumberland County's representative in District 4, call 910-874-2725 for further guidance. In almost all cases, homeowners can safely co-exist with the bear until it leaves the den in the spring. If you inadvertently f lush a female bear from her den, do not approach the area. Keep any dogs on a leash and leave immediately. The female will return to the den if you leave it alone, even if she does not return right away. Do not go back to the den area, as additional disturbance may cause the bear to leave permanently. As spring arrives, black bears will emerge from their dens and become more active. Sometimes humans will come across cubs that are alone, waiting for their mothers to return from foraging and exploring. It's best to assume these bears are not orphaned. However, if you suspect a cub has been orphaned, do not handle or pick it up, feed it, or worse yet, remove it. The best thing to do is leave the cub alone, note the location and contact the N.C. Wildlife Helpline or your district wildlife biologist. Since 1947, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has been dedicated to the conserva- tion and sustainability of the state's fish and wild- life resources through research, scientific manage- ment, wise use and public input. The Commission is the state regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws and provides programs and opportu- nities for wildlife-related educational, recreational and sporting activities. Get N.C. Wildlife Update with news including season dates, bag limits, legislative updates and more delivered free to your inbox from the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Due to COVID-19, we encourage the public to visit w w w.ncwildlife.org to purchase fishing, trap- ping and hunting licenses and to renew a vessel registration. Editor's note: Bear hunting season in Cumberland County ended in January. FEATURES Bear cubs rest behind a mother bear in a den discovered recently by a hiker. Photo by Colleen Olfenbuttel, N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.