High Rock

[upwardcalling_7]

Hey everyone. New to NC so I've been doing some scouting. The subject line probably has you rolling your eyes based on everything that I've read about high rock and the attention it gets. However my question is related more to unwritten rules. I've hunted on Lake Catahoula in LA and it's one of those lakes with a ton of unwritten rules. It's a public lake that's actually not so "public" unless you have an in. I was wondering how High Rock is when it comes to being "public" I've seen a couple of permanent duck blinds on the lake and that led me to question what I was about to get myself into.

Any additional info In regards to the unwritten rules or the people would be great. Thanks.

[upwardcalling_7]

If someone wants to shoot me a PM that'd be fine too. Just wanna know what I'm getting myself into before it happens.

[EastBound&Down]

Not familiar with the lake, but if the blind is built on public waters, then it's a public blind. The person who built the blind would probably disagree and think that they have special rights to the area, but that's BS. If the blind becomes a problem a lightening storm usually comes along and remedies the problem.

[HydeMarsh]

Hi, Below is the state law that gives you the right to hunt on High Rock. I keep a copy of this document in my boat so that I can present it to any law enforcement officer . Riparian rights in NC do not include any provisions that gives shore line property exclusivity for hunting and fishing in waters adjacent to their property.

North Carolina General Statutes: North Carolina’s Public Trust Doctrine (NC PTD):
N.C.G.S. § 1-45.1. ----------------. As used in this section, "public trust rights" means those
rights held in trust by the State for the use and benefit of the people of the State in
common. They are established by common law as interpreted by the courts of this State.
They include, but are not limited to, the right to navigate, swim, hunt, fish, and enjoy all
recreational activities in the watercourses of the State and the right to freely use and enjoy the State's ocean and estuarine beaches and public access to the beaches.
It has consistently been the law of this jurisdiction that lands and waters held by the
sovereign in trust for the public cannot be conveyed by the State so as to deprive the
public of its rights therein, except for legislatively authorized public purposes furthering the trust.

[CountryRN]

Hi, Below is the state law that gives you the right to hunt on High Rock. I keep a copy of this document in my boat so that I can present it to any law enforcement officer . Riparian rights in NC do not include any provisions that gives shore line property exclusivity for hunting and fishing in waters adjacent to their property.

North Carolina General Statutes: North Carolina’s Public Trust Doctrine (NC PTD):
N.C.G.S. § 1-45.1. ----------------. As used in this section, "public trust rights" means those
rights held in trust by the State for the use and benefit of the people of the State in
common. They are established by common law as interpreted by the courts of this State.
They include, but are not limited to, the right to navigate, swim, hunt, fish, and enjoy all
recreational activities in the watercourses of the State and the right to freely use and enjoy the State's ocean and estuarine beaches and public access to the beaches.
It has consistently been the law of this jurisdiction that lands and waters held by the
sovereign in trust for the public cannot be conveyed by the State so as to deprive the
public of its rights therein, except for legislatively authorized public purposes furthering the trust.

Would be nice if this held true at the North end of our great state's coastal areas.

[HydeMarsh]

Returning this to reality will take a court case, we have tried the State legislature, the Governor and the Attorney General (who has the obligation to defend our public trust rights) all to no avail. One is coming.