A bill has been introduced in the North Carolina General Assembly that declares hunting a “fundamental right of people, and shall be forever preserved for the people.”

The hunter’s rights bill is a response to anti-hunting groups that have attempted to curtail hunting in other states through lawsuits. The language in the bill would give hunting groups a solid defense against such a lawsuit in North Carolina.

The bill defines wildlife as property having no rights of their own. The premise of some anti-hunting lawsuits was that wildlife had rights and were being violated. The bill would remove any auspices of wildlife having independent rights, stating “No statute, local ordinance, rule, or regulation shall have as its philosophical basis the concept that animals are entitled to the legal justice to which persons are entitled, or that animals have the rights of persons under the law.”

The bill protects the use of hunting dogs and makes it illegal for anyone to interfere with or distract a hunting dog that is on the hunt. It would also make it illegal for anyone to purposely warn wildlife of a hunter in the area.

The bill also mandates the North Carolina Wildlife Commission’s primary role as facilitating hunting, managing and protecting natural resources for the purpose of allowing for the continued taking of game.

It was introduced by Sen. Doug Berger (D-Youngsville) and Sen. David Hoyle (D-Gastonia).