McFaddin

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Waterfowl Hunting Regulations 2020-2021 Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge Waterfowl Hunting Authorization 2020-2021 Waterfowl hunting has a deep history and tradition on Texas Point NWR. Most hunting opportunities are in wetlands along bayous that cut through ancient floodplains which create coastal marshes and prairies. These habitats are home to an abundance of wildlife including migratory waterfowl. We recommend against going into the marsh alone until you are thoroughly familiar with the hazards. Some of the marsh is dangerously boggy and home to alligators, venomous snakes, mosquitoes and fire ants. Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge Waterfowl Hunting Authorization 2020-2021 When signed and in your possession, this will serve as your general authorization for all refuge hunts for this season. It acknowledges your understanding of the refuge regulations contained in this brochure. Signature of Hunter Date Authorizations are required for all hunters. This authorization is valid only when signed above and must be carried with you at all times while on the refuge. Authorizations are not transferable. The Texas Point NWR hunting unit is made up of one large hunting unit with two main hunter access points; the Cattle-walk and the Texas Bayou boat ramp. The hunting unit is open on varied days of the week; see specific details below for information on open hunting days and locations of hunter access points. All hunting units are CLOSED on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. We ask that hunters be good sportsmen and respect the rights of other hunters afield. Sky-blasting flares game, leaves cripples and disrupts other hunters. Allowing birds to decoy increases your hunting success. Hunting of ducks, geese and coots on Texas Point NWR is ONLY permitted in accordance with all federal, state and local laws; in addition to, signs designating open hunting areas and refuge specific hunting regulations outlined in this hunting brochure below. Open for Hunting: Special Teal Season 7 days a week. Regular Waterfowl season dates: open Saturday, Monday and Wednesday. Closed for Hunting: Regular Waterfowl season dates: closed on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Closed during the Light Goose Conservation Order and Early Canada Goose season. • Access is by foot and boat. Walk-in access is located at the cattle-walk, located off of Hwy 87, west of Sabine Pass. Boat access through Texas Bayou and ramps are located off of Dowling Street and 1st Avenue in Sabine Pass just South of the Coast Guard Station. • All hunters entering a hunting unit must be legally licensed to hunt waterfowl. • Scouting will only be allowed from sunrise to sunset during October 23-29, 2020, prior to the state Youth Waterfowl Hunt on October 31, 2020. • Hunters are prohibited from entering hunting units prior to 4:00 A.M. and no later than ½ hour before legal shooting time. Hunting starts at legal shooting time and closes at 12:00 P.M. Hunters must be off the refuge by 12:30 P.M. • Hunters age 17 and younger must be under the direct supervision of an adult age 18 or older. • To participate in the state designated Youth Waterfowl Hunt, hunters must be 16 years of age or younger and under the direct supervision of an adult age 18 or older. Adults are prohibited from hunting during the Youth Waterfowl Hunt. • Hunting parties must remain a minimum of 200 yards from other hunting parties and spaced ponds. Individual hunters within a party must remain within 50 feet from other hunters. • Permitted hunters must unload and encase shotguns while traveling in vehicles and boats on the refuge. Possession of firearms is in accordance with federal and state laws. Discharge of a firearm for purposes other than hunting is prohibited. • Hunters must ONLY use or possess shotgun shells containing approved non-toxic shot, (Use or possession of lead shot is prohibited). • Hunters may only possess 50 approved nontoxic shotgun shells while hunting; this includes shotgun shells within vehicles. • Vehicle travel is permitted on designated roads and parking areas only. Do not block roads, gates, trails, boat ramps or any other facility at any time. Hunting from a roadway is prohibited. • Operation of motorized boats on or through emergent wetland vegetation and mudflats is prohibited. • All boat motors greater than 25 HP are prohibited in the hunting units. • Motorized boats powered by air-cooled or radiator-cooled engines are restricted to utilizing a propeller 9 inches in diameter or less. • Airboats, marsh buggies, ATV’s / UTV’s and personal watercrafts are prohibited. • Use, possession or being under the influence of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs is prohibited. Use or possession of drug paraphernalia is prohibited. • Campfires, charcoal and wood grills are prohibited. (Gas grills may be utilized). • Construction, use or occupancy of permanent hunting blinds is prohibited. Portable blinds or native vegetation are permitted and must be removed from the refuge daily. Cutting, use of or introduction of Phragmites (Giant cane) onto the refuge is prohibited; use or introduction of invasive plants is prohibited and should NOT be used for blind building. • Use of plastic flagging, reflectors or reflective tape is prohibited on the refuge. *Failure to abide by or excessive violations of these refuge specific hunting regulations, federal regulations or state laws may result in revocation of your hunting privileges on Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge by the refuge manager. *The regulations listed above are a supplement to the general regulations set forth in Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations which govern all activities on National Wildlife Refuges. Signs and Boundaries The signs below apply to the areas behind the signs. Please respect all refuge signs whenever you see them as you travel throughout the refuge. NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY PROHIBITED National Wildlife Refuge. This sign marks the boundary of the refuge. Consult refuge management for authorized activities. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE AREA CLOSED To pursuing, hunting, capturing, taking or killing of migratory birds. By order of the SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations. Section 32.4 NO HUNTING ZONE • Use of retriever dogs is encouraged however, when not engaged in authorized hunting activities all dogs must be under the control of their handlers at all times or on a leash. PUBLIC HUNTING AREA • All refuge lands must be kept clean during the period of use or occupancy. You must keep all refuse, trash and other litter contained in bags or other suitable containers and not left scattered on the ground or in the water at any time. All personal property, refuse, trash, litter, SPENT SHELLS, marsh chairs and other equipment must be removed from the refuge daily. WATERFOWL HUNTING ONLY Area Closed. Certain areas of the refuge are closed to visitors for management purposes. Unauthorized entry beyond this sign is prohibited. No Hunting Zone. This sign marks the boundary of no hunting areas on the refuge. All hunting is prohibited beyond this sign. Public Hunting Area. This sign marks the boundaries of the waterfowl hunting areas. Limited public hunting under Federal and State laws. Consult Manager for current regulations. Special Regulations In Effect–Consult Manager Waterfowl Hunting Only. This sign marks the boundaries of the waterfowl hunting areas. Hunting on all National Wildlife Refuges is a privilege, please respect it. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Beaumont 73 61 0 25 o Sabine Pass Boat Launch ine Sabine Pass 50 Miles Boat Ramp Sab Freeport a lf Gu an 288 Refuge Boundary o o xic e of M isi as 87 Private Property u Lo x Te McFaddin NWR Anahuac NWR Galveston o. nC Texas Point NWR 87 45 rso N Hunting Zone . Co 562 ffe Je 1985 87 124 For inquiries about refuge programs and activities, contact the refuge manager at: Refuge Manager McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 358 Sabine Pass, TX 77655 409/971-2909 No Hunting Zone n ro me Ca 10 e La ke Port Arthur 10 Houston For More Information Contact Sabin N W Walk-In Entrance E 87 ate xim pro o S Ap Mud Lake ry da un Bo Bayou Texas alk tlew Cat ss Pa Pole Lake Knight Lake 87 Private Property Texas Point Gulf of Mexico August 2020