Currituck

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Currituck National Wildlife Refuge Hunting Regulations 2020-2021 Welcome Currituck National Wildlife Refuge is located in the northern region of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The 3,674-acre refuge is managed by the staff of Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge office is located one mile from the VA/NC state-line off highway 615 near Knotts Island, North Carolina. Currituck National Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 39 Knotts Island, NC 27950 252/429 3100 http://www.fws.gov/currituck U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1 800/344 WILD July 2020 For more information, call the Refuge Manager at 252/429 3100. This is a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System, a network of lands and waters managed for the benefit of wildlife and people. Currituck National Wildlife Refuge Deer and Feral Pig Hunting Permit 2020-2021 I certify that I have read and understand the refuge hunting regulations in this permit. Printed Name: _____________________________ Signed: _______________________ Date: _________________________ (Cut out and carry with license) General Information Currituck National Wildlife Refuge is open to waterfowl and big game hunting by permit only. Waterfowl hunting permits are issued by the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission. Information can be found in the Commission’s “Permit Hunting Opportunities” publication. • The use of artificial lights (including car headlights) to locate, observe, or take animals is prohibited. Big Game Hunting Information can be found in this brochure or by contacting the refuge office at Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge. • Camping, fires, littering, and target practice are prohibited. General Regulations All general refuge regulations apply, unless specifically addressed in this brochure. Restrictions and designations on the map in this brochure also apply. Public hunting is permitted in accordance with all state laws, county codes, Title 50 - Code of Federal Regulations, and the following Refuge regulations: • Permits are required for all hunting. • All hunters are subject to inspections of permits, licenses, bag limits, hunting equipment, boats, vehicles, and their contents during compliance checks. Violation of any Refuge regulation may result in the cancellation of your hunt permit and prosecution in Federal court. • It is your responsibility to be familiar with all applicable Refuge, State and Federal hunting regulations before hunting on the Refuge. If you have a question concerning any Refuge regulation, please call the Refuge Office. • Hunter access is allowed from one hour before until one hour after legal shooting hours. Waterfowl hunters must be off the Refuge by 5:20 pm. • The use or possession of alcoholic beverages while hunting is prohibited. • Taking or collecting any plant or animal (including reptiles and amphibians) is prohibited, except as specifically authorized by the Refuge Manager. • The use of electronic calls to attract wildlife is prohibited. • Baiting or feeding wildlife and hunting with the aid of bait are prohibited. • Disturbing, molesting or interfering with any person engaged in the pursuit of an authorized activity on the Refuge is prohibited. Use of Dogs It is prohibited to use dogs to pursue, track or retrieve deer and feral pigs. Youth Each youth hunter, age 15 and younger, must remain within sight and normal voice contact of an adult age 21 or older. An adult may directly supervise up to two youth hunters, who must have successfully completed a State-approved hunter safety course and possess and carry proof of certification. Hunters with Disabilities Hunting opportunities are available for disabled hunters. Please call the Refuge Office for information and to make advanced arrangements. Waterfowl Hunting Regulations Access Access is by boat only. A shallow draft boat is highly recommended. Water depths change with the wind tides. Some areas may be only inches deep at low wind tide. Be prepared to pole into some areas. Some blinds may be inaccessible due to low water - if so that hunt may be canceled. Hunting Dates November - January: state waterfowl season. Hunting will be allowed on Fridays and Saturdays only. North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission Application and Draw Hunters may apply for blinds through the North Carolina Wildlife Resources U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Hunting will be allowed on Fridays and Saturdays only during the North Carolina Waterfowl Season. E R All public entry prohibited NO HUNTING ZONE U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE T M EN T OF THE IN TE This area is closed to all hunting (see map) R ARCHERY HUNTING ONLY U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE Special Regulations in Effect-Consult Manager T M R • Hunters are responsible for the proper disposal of all animal parts. T T OF THE IN PA • No dumping of animal parts within 100 feet of roads, wetlands and waterways. EN DE • Use of ATV’s/UTVs and any other unlicensed and unregistered vehicles. M R EN T OF THE IN TE R HUNTER ACCESS ROUTE U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE DE PA T M R Big Game Hunting Regulations Deer and feral pig hunting by shotgun, muzzleloading rifle/shotgun, and bow and arrow (crossbows are prohibited) is permitted on the Refuge on hunting dates listed below and on hunting areas shown Big Game Regulations and Enforcement The following are prohibited: T PA Use of guides is allowed on the Refuge. Guides must have a Special Use Permit issued by Currituck NWR. Guides are only allowed to hunt or carry a gun if they are one of the three permitted hunters. Contact the refuge office for more information. U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE DE Hunting is permitted from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 4:20 pm. Horses Feral horses are present in the area. These horses are short in stature and may resemble deer and pigs in both color and size. Take special care in identifying your target. It is against county ordinance to harass horses or approach them within 50 feet. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE R All deer taken must be checked-in according to North Carolina State Hunting Regulations. UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY PROHIBITED PA Hunt from assigned blind locations only. Handicapped hunters may hunt from their boat at the blind site. Signs Protect Visitors and Resources Millions of people visit national wildlife refuges each year. The impact of human activity, if not regulated, can degrade these wildlands. Signs control recreational activities while protecting natural resources on the refuge. Please respect the following signs. This sign delineates the NATIONAL refuge boundary. Entry WILDLIFE REFUGE is permitted only for authorized uses (hunting, fishing, sightseeing, etc.) in accordance with refuge regulations. AREA This area is closed to all BEYOND entry. No hunting, fishing or THIS SIGN sightseeing is permitted. No CLOSED roads or trails are open to the public (see map). DE Valid hunt permit issued by NCWRC or Currituck NWR is required. All state regulations for big game hunting shall apply. Only portable deer stands are permitted. All deer and feral pigs must be killed before removing them from the Refuge. R Feral Pig Only: March 1 - 31, 2021 • Leaving a portable stand overnight. IO Deer and Feral Pig: October 1 - 31, 2020 • Marking trees or vegetation with blazes, flagging, or other marking devices. R Hunting Dates (Monday through Saturday) • Use of nails, bolts, or screws to attach portable stands to trees. Use of nail-, bolt-, or screw-type steps. IO No more than three hunters per blind. Access Hunting areas may be accessed by foot, boat, and vehicle only. Vehicles are restricted to county roads and Refuge designated access routes. Parking is permitted in designated Refuge parking areas. Refuge is closed to all other activities. • Hunting outside of designated areas shown on the map. R Waterfowl Regulations and Enforcement Harvest Data Cards will be issued to all hunters. These cards must be returned to designated drop boxes or the refuge office. Failure to return the cards may impact future hunting opportunities. The cutout portion on this form, once signed, is your permit. • Shooting from a vehicle or shooting on or across roads or roadways. IO NOTE: There will not be a check-in or standby hunt on December 25th. Hunters with a valid State issued permit on December 25, 2020 may proceed directly to your assigned blind. Permit Application A Permit Application is no longer required to obtain a permit to hunt deer or feral pigs at Currituck National Wildlife Refuge. Permits are located at https://www.fws.gov/southeast/ readingroom/?search=Currituck+hunt • Driving vehicles off of county roads and hunter access routes. R Check-in and Standby Draw All hunters holding a NCWRC Waterfowl Hunt Permit for Currituck NWR must check-in at the Knotts Island Market no later than 5:15 am the morning of the hunt. Failure to check-in will result in the assigned blind being assigned to another hunter. A standby drawing will be held at 5:15 am at the Knotts Island Market. Standby applications must be completed before the drawing begins. on the map. A valid North Carolina hunting license and Refuge hunting permit shall be carried while hunting. No reservations are required and hunters may select sites and hunt anywhere within the designated hunting areas. IO Commission (NCWRC) at any Wildlife Service Agent (License Agents). The blinds on Currituck NWR are listed in the Waterfowl - Coastal section of the NCWRC’s Permit Hunting Opportunities publication. EN T OF THE IN TE R This sign means that you can only hunt with bow and arrow in the marked areas. This sign designates specific routes to get to hunter parking areas. Currituck National Wildlife Refuge Hunting Maps 2020-2021 Waterfowl Hunt Currituck National Wildlife Refuge 2019-2020 Big Game Hunt Currituck Marsh Unit Finger Point 24 False Cape State Park, VA VA NC NW Pond Long Pond Unit (USFWS) 23 Set Net Creek Brumley Landing Station Landing Marsh Unit (USFWS) Knotts Island Bay Beac 20 h Sandy Haul Knotts Island, NC 21 Swan South Marsh Unit Boat Access Only North Herring Cove Mackay Island Wishes National Hammock Wildlife Refuge Beach Carova Oyster Cove Swan Island Unit (USFWS) Swan Beach 18 Rack Creek Currituck Sound Ocean New Found Creek Beach 17 Monkey Island Unit (USFWS) Monkey Island (USFWS) The Nature Conservancy NC National Estuarine Research Reserve Mary’s Island (USFWS) Corolla, NC Legend No Hunting Area Waterfowl Blinds - GPS Coordinates NAD 83 Northwest Pond N 36˚ 31.52.9' W 75*˚ 53 34.0' Set Net Creek N 36˚* 31' 04.3' W 75*˚ 53' 35.6' Wishes Hammock N 36*˚ 31' 11.3' W 75*˚ 52' 55.6' Rack Creek N 36*˚ 26' 07.7' W 75*˚ 51' 04.1' Oyster Cove N 36*˚ 31' 18.8' W 75*˚ 53' 57.2' Herring Cove N 36*˚ 31' 02.5' W 75˚* 53' 20.8' Sandy Haul New Found Creek N 36˚* 26' 04.0' W 75*˚ 51' 21.2' N 36*˚ 26' 43.3' W 75* 51' 55.0' Finger Point N 36˚ 32' 28.4 W 75˚ 53' 04.9 Big Game Hunting Only (All weapons) Big Game Hunting Only (Archery only) Waterfowl Hunting Only Waterfowl and Big Game Hunting (Archery Only for Big Game) County Property State regulations apply Currituck County- Property Roads Private Roads Fence Hunter Parking Area