Starting today, Monday, October 19, it is against state rules to feed black bears in Buncombe County, North Carolina, whether you mean to or not. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s emergency rule takes effect this morning, and the agency will hold a public hearing Wednesday evening in Asheville on a longer-lasting version.
Hunters in the mountains will want to know one thing right away: lawful hunting bait is exempt, with a catch.
Why the state stepped in
The Commission’s numbers explain the urgency. From May 1 through September 30, the agency logged 836 black bear interaction reports in Buncombe County alone, about 43 percent of all reports statewide. Those included 71 reports of bears getting into homes, five pets killed, and two residents hurt, one of whom needed hospital care after a bear came into the house.
The agency says 64 percent of all forced entries by bears since 2023 happened in just the last five months. WLOS reported that roughly 72 percent of forced home entries statewide over three years were in Buncombe County.
Asheville and Buncombe County already ban bear feeding locally, but state wildlife officers could not enforce those ordinances. The Commission’s board adopted the emergency rule on October 1 to close that gap.
What the rule does, and the hunting exemption
The rule, 15A NCAC 10A .1503, bans feeding black bears and leaving out food that draws them, which can include unsecured trash and outdoor pet food. It carries criminal consequences, though the agency has not published a fine amount. Officers can issue a warning or a citation. Major Chad Arnold of the agency’s law enforcement division said, “The goal is not punishment, but prevention.”
Two exemptions matter most:
- Lawful hunting bait. Placing legal bait while hunting any game animal is exempt.
- Birds, pets and livestock. Normal feeding of these is exempt.
The catch: both exemptions fall away if the activity creates a risk of injury or death to people or domestic animals, or causes property damage. In plain terms, a bait site that pulls bears into a neighborhood could still bring a citation.
How to be heard
The emergency rule is short-term. The Commission is running a matching temporary rule through public comment:
- Public hearing: Wednesday, October 21, 6 p.m., Ferguson Auditorium, Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, 19 Tech Drive, Asheville.
- Comment deadline: November 6, 2026, by the agency’s online form, by email to regulations@ncwildlife.gov (include your name, county and state), or by mail to the Rulemaking Coordinator, 1701 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1701.
- Final vote: The board is expected to consider adoption at its December 2026 meeting.
What GUN Crusade readers can do
Whether you hunt bears or simply live among them, good habits protect both people and bears. Secure trash and feed, bring pet food indoors, and if you bait legally, keep bait sites well away from homes and roads. A bear that learns to associate people with food often ends up being put down; WLOS quoted an agency biologist saying the state may have to take that step if a bear becomes a safety threat.
Report bear problems to the N.C. Wildlife Helpline at 866-318-2401, and call 911 if a bear enters a home or threatens someone.
This article is news, not legal advice. Read the full rule text on the NCWRC website before you bait or hunt in Buncombe County.
