The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. on Jan. 13 in Sylva at Southwestern Community College as part of nine public hearings held annually statewide.

The public can ask questions about the new public trout waters proposals or provide comments on a variety of wildlife-related topics. A specific topic to be addressed at the public hearing is 34 proposed changes to the state’s fishing, hunting and trapping regulations. Wildlife Commission biologists will explain the 34 proposed changes. Most of the changes are technicalities, such as renaming a section of stream in the fishing regulations to mirror the creek name listed on U.S. Geological Survey maps or changing the wording used in large game registration to allow for better Internet posting.

Remarks from these hearings will be forwarded to the Commissioners for review before they vote on the changes in March. Approved proposals will take effect during the 2004-2005 hunting, fishing and trapping seasons, which begins on July 1.

Full text of the new proposed regulations can be found at www.ncwildlife.org.