NC Sunday hunt ban lift protects morning church times

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — House and Senate negotiators have reached a compromise that would allow Sunday hunting using firearms on private property in North Carolina.

The full House got behind the measure Thursday, approving it 88-26. The full Senate will consider the bill next week.

The compromise prohibits such hunting from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. when traditional church services are held.  Other restrictions in both versions of the bill remained intact.

Hunting with guns could only be allowed on private property and at least 500 yards away from a church or a house not on the property. Wake and Mecklenburg counties would be immediately exempt and other counties could opt out of Sunday hunting in 2017.

Gov. Pat McCrory would be asked to sign the final bill into law.

(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)