Committees and Assignments

Mark Craig, Chairman and Landon Zimmer, Vice-Chairman are ex officio members of every committee.

Big Game

The Big Game Committee provides guidance, oversight, policy recommendations, and regulation review on all issues related to deer, elk, and black bear. The Committee provides recommendations to staff for public forums on big game species, hunting methods, and surveys to develop rules that meet both management needs and constituent expectations. The Committee also provides recommendations on proposed rules to the full Commission.

Staff Contact: Brad Howard, 919-707-0054

  • David Hoyle, Chair
  • Wes Seegers, Vice Chair
  • Steve Windham
  • Tom Berry
  • John Coley
  • Monty Crump

Small Game

The Small Game Committee provides guidance, oversight, policy recommendations, and regulation review on all issues related to small game. The Committee also provides recommendations on proposed rules and for recipients of the Lawrence G. Diedrick Small Game Awards to the full Commission.

Staff Contact: Brad Howard, 919-707-0054

  • Jim Ruffin, Chair
  • Steve Windham, Vice Chair
  • John Stone
  • Tom Berry
  • Ray Clifton
  • Tom Haislip

Migratory Birds & Waterfowl

The Migratory Birds and Waterfowl Committee provides guidance, oversight, policy recommendations, and regulation review on all issues related to migratory game birds and waterfowl. The Committee also reviews public comments from the survey on the annual migratory game bird hunting seasons, within the federal frameworks, provides recommendations on annual seasons and bag limits to the full Commission, and reviews Zoning and Split options for waterfowl seasons every five years and makes recommendations to the full Commission.

Staff Contact: Brad Howard, 919-707-0054

  • John Coley, Chair
  • Wes Seegers, Vice Chair
  • Mike Alford
  • John Alexander
  • Justin Boyd
  • Joe Budd

Education and Communication

The Education and Communication Committee provides oversight and guidance on R3, education centers, hunter education, archery/NASP, shooting ranges, and Wildlife in North Carolina. The Committee ensures all WRC outreach efforts facilitate engagement-related initiatives on a statewide scale, that the agency promotes to a diverse constituency and that programs and evaluation efforts align with the agency’s legislative purpose.

Staff Contact: Travis Casper, 919-707-0337

  • Tom Haislip, Chair
  • Jim Ruffin, Vice Chair
  • John Stone
  • Reid Smith
  • J.C. Cole
  • Justin Boyd

Fisheries

The Fisheries Committee provides guidance, oversight, policy recommendations, and regulation review on all issues related to inland fisheries. The Committee provides recommendations on proposed rules to the full Commission and over-sight for interjurisdictional fisheries managed in conjunction with NC Marine Fisheries Commission, NC Division of Marine Fisheries, and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Staff Contact: Corey Oakley, 919-707-0221

  • John Stone, Chair
  • Monty Crump, Vice Chair
  • Hayden Rogers
  • Brad Stanback
  • Tommy Fonville
  • John Alexander

Finance, Audit and Compliance

The Finance, Audit and Compliance Committee provides guidance, oversight, policy recommendations, and financial review on all issues related to Wildlife Resources Commission’s Endowment Fund and oversees the internal audit function, which includes collaboration with the internal auditor and WRC management in the areas of risk management and development of the annual internal audit plan. The Committee also reviews and makes recommendations to the full Commission on allocation of Expendable Investment Income of the Endowment Fund, investment strategy for the Endowment Fund,and other financial matters.

Staff Contact: Jason Cottle, CFO, 919-707-0081

  • Monty Crump, Chair
  • Brad Stanback, Vice Chair
  • Jim Ruffin
  • John Coley
  • Mike Alford
  • David Hoyle

Land Acquisitions and Property

The Land Acquisition and Property (LAP) Committee provides guidance, oversight, policy recommendations, and regulation review on all issues related to the acquisition of land and other Commission property matters. The Committee provides the initial, Phase I, approval and makes recommendations to the full Commission for final approval, Phase II, in the land acquisition process. The Committee also reviews other property requests, such as easements, and rules relating to Commission property and makes recommendations to the full Commission for consideration.

Staff Contact: Daron Barnes, 919-707-0269

  • Tom Barry, Chair
  • Brad Stanback, Vice Chair
  • Ray Clifton
  • Jim Ruffin
  • Joe Budd
  • Mike Alford

Habitat, Nongame, Endangered Species

The Habitat, Nongame, and Endangered Species (HNGES) Committee provides guidance, oversight, policy recommendations, and regulation review on all issues related to nongame fish and wildlife. The Committee approves the stocking of listed species and makes recommendations to the full Commission on revisions to the North Carolina Wildlife Action Plan and the State Protected Animal Lists. The Committee also serves as the link between the Commission and the Nongame Wildlife Advisory Committee and recommends recipients of the Thomas L. Quay Wildlife Diversity Award.

Staff Contact: Sara Schweitzer, 919-707-0069

  • Brad Stanback, Chair
  • Joe Budd, Vice Chair
  • Tommy Fonville
  • Hayden Rogers
  • Reid Smith
  • John Alexander

Rules

The Rules Committee provides oversight and guidance on the rulemaking process, and review and input on all Agency rules, excluding water safety. The Committee ensures regulatory impacts to constituents are thoroughly considered throughout the rulemaking process by providing input on stakeholder engagement plans; ensures rule proposals are clearly written, explained, and necessary; reviews all public comments on proposed rules; and recommends any necessary changes to rules before they proceed to the full Commission for vote.

Staff Contact: Carrie Ruhlman, 919-707-0011

  • Wes Seegars, Chair
  • David Hoyle, Vice Chair
  • Steve Windham
  • John Stone
  • Tommy Fonville
  • J.C. Cole

Boating Safety

The Boating Safety Committee provides guidance, oversight, and policy recommendations on all issues related to Chapter 75A, Boating and Water Safety. The Committee also reviews and makes recommendations to the full Commission on water safety regulations, abandoned and derelict vessels, and other matters of statewide interest in the public trust waters of the State.

Staff Contact: Maj. Chad Arnold, 919-707-0033

  • J.C. Cole, Chair
  • Ray Clifton, Vice Chair
  • Reid Smith
  • Hayden Rogers
  • Justin Boyd
  • Tom Haislip

Wild Turkey

The Wild Turkey Committee provides guidance, oversight, policy recommendations, and regulation review on all issues related to wild turkey. The Committee provides recommendations to staff for public forums on hunting methods and surveys to develop rules that meet both management needs and constituent expectations. The Committee also provides recommendations on proposed rules to the full Commission.

Staff Contact: Brad Howard, 919-707-0054

  • Steve Windham, Chair
  • Joe Budd, Vice Chair
  • Tom Berry
  • Tommy Fonville
  • John Alexander
  • Reid Smith

Executive

The Executive Committee provides guidance and oversight to the Executive Director as well as annual performance reviews of the Executive Director. The Committee is also charged with the employment search of the Executive Director position. The committee shall act as appropriate when necessary on behalf of the Commission on matters that arise outside the normal course of action of standing committees. Any and all such actions shall be reported to the full commission for review and or concurrence if required.

Staff Contact: Kyle Briggs, 919-707-0016

  • Mark Craig, Chair
  • Landon Zimmer, Vice Chair
  • Monty Crump, Past Chair
  • Wes Seegars, Gov. Appointee
  • John Coley, House Appointee
  • Tom Berry, Senate Appointee

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