Ridgefield

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Hunting Regulations 2020–2021 Welcome Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1965 along the Columbia River to “provide wintering habitat for the dusky subspecies of Canada goose.” The 5300-acre refuge contains wetlands, grasslands, riparian corridors, and forests. These habitats provide a home for native species, including wintering waterfowl. Waterfowl hunting is offered on approximately 760 acres in a spaced blind area on the River S Unit. (Refuge Office Closed to Public) Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex 28908 N Main Ridgefield, WA 98642 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 360-887-4106 Ridgefieldhunt@fws.gov http://www.fws.gov/Refuge/Ridgefield September 2020 Safety Any injuries or accidents occurring on the Refuge must be reported immediately to the check station staff or to the Refuge Manager. Please, also promptly report any hazardous conditions requiring attention. Firearms Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on National Wildlife Refuge System lands must comply with all provisions of State and local law. Persons may only use (discharge) firearms in accordance with refuge regulations (50 CFR 27.42 and specific refuge regulations in 50 CFR Part 32.) Vehicles Licensed motor vehicles are permitted only on public use roads and as shown on the map. ATVs and UTVs are prohibited. Accessibility Information Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs and activities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is available to all individuals regardless of physical or mental ability. For more information please contact the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Equal Opportunity, https://www.doi.gov/pmb/eeo/public-civil-rights. Hunting Regulations Hunting regulations are designed to provide safe recreational opportunities through wise use of renewable wildlife resources. Hunting is permitted in accordance with Federal regulations governing public use on National Wildlife Refuges as set forth in Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Hunting will be in accordance with applicable State of Washington regulations subject to the conditions stated below. Access/ Check-in Hunters may only access the Refuge two hours before legal sunrise until two hours after legal sunset or after the last hunter has left the hunt area, whichever is earliest. See calendar for details for hunt days. Only hunting parties with a reservation holder will be permitted to check-in for the morning draw at 1 hour and 45 minutes before legal shooting time. All standby hunting opportunities will begin at 10 am. Upon checkin, the hunter check station attendant will check your hunting license and duck stamp, and supply you with both a fee envelope and a Migratory Bird Harvest Report form. Once check-in is complete, you may proceed to your assigned blind. The Migratory Bird Hunt Report form is stamped as your receipt, and must be carried with you while hunting. Hunters must park in designated parking areas, as identified on the map. Dogs The use of a trained retriever is encouraged but not required to minimize waste of harvested waterfowl. Dogs must be kept on leash in parking lots and while hiking to/from blinds. Pet waste must be removed, as it is unhealthy for wildlife and water quality. This is a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System, a network of lands and waters managed for the benefit of wildlife and people. Harvest Reporting/ Check out All hunters must check out at the hunter check station, complete a Migratory Bird Harvest Report and present all harvested birds for inspection. The check station operator will verify the identification of all harvested birds, as well as compliance with bag limits and other hunting regulations. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Hunt Check Station & Reservation Lottery Reservation Lottery (optional) Reservations give hunters first blind picks during the morning check-in but are not required to hunt. Successful reservation applicants are randomly selected by a computer drawing. Reservations are not transferable and are valid until 1 3/4 hours before legal shooting time on the day of the reservation. Reservations lost due to an emergency, weather or safety issue imposed by the CDC/State related closure will not be reissued or refunded. Reservations for the entire season will be generated in one pre-season lottery and must be submitted electronically (Paper applications not accepted) by 3:30 pm on September 17, 2020 along with accompanying payment (postmark not accepted). Only one application per person is allowed. The application is online at: www. fws.gov/refuge/Ridgefield/visit/ waterfowl_hunting.html Changes for 2020-2021 Hunt Season: Due to the Coronavirus pandemic programmatic changes have been made that must be followed to maintain hunter, staff and community safety. See below for further details. General: Species open to hunting – duck, goose, and coot only (see calendar for details) Hunters are responsible for knowing all applicable WA State & Refuge Regulations for hunting and providing all necessary documents and daily recreation fees upon check-in. Morning Blind Selection for Reservation holders only: Only hunting parties with a reservation holder will be permitted to check-in for the morning draw. All hunters must be present and signed in at the check station no later than 1 hour 45 minutes before legal shooting time. Those arriving after this time forfeit their chance to participate in the morning blind selection. After signing in, you must wait in your car. You will be called by an AM radio for your blind selection. Only one party at a time (< 3 individuals) will be allowed under the awning at a time. 10 am Blind Selection for Standby Hunters: All standby hunting opportunities will begin at 10 am. Any standby hunters present at 10 am must sign in. Each standby party will be issued a number coinciding to a ping pong ball entered into a lottery. To keep the lottery odds fair, these self-identified parties are binding through blind selection. Once each party has been assigned a ping pong ball number, all parties must return to their vehicle. The check station operator will conduct the ping pong ball lottery in the check station. You will be called by an AM radio for your blind selection. Only one party at a time (< 3 individuals) will be allowed under the awning at a time. After filling out the form electronically, make sure to note the number of picks you will need to make payment for and then press ‘submit’. Your application is not complete until payment is received. At that time, you will receive a confirmation email. Note: Blinds will only be occupied once per day. This creates a vacancy between hunting parties of >24 hours to accommodate the virus to denature in the environment If any blinds remain unselected after the 10 am blind assignment, hunters arriving after 10 am will be allowed to select from them on a first-come, first served basis until all blinds have been assigned for the day. Hunters switching blinds will be subject to either the 10:00 am lottery or any current waiting list for unselected blinds and must follow check out procedures before entering a new blind. Applications fees are $1.00 per date selected (up to the maximum of 30 days) payable via cash, check, or money order (made payable to USFWS) with the name(s) of the hunters your payment is to be applied to. Recreation Fees: Hunter daily recreation fees and both Hunt Season passes and Duck Stamps are available for purchase using an envelope provided by the attendant. Self-depositing in fee tube. Exact change (cash) is required. No change will be provided. Checks and money orders are also accepted and can be made payable to USFWS. Mail: Ridgefield NWR Hunt, PO Box 457 Ridgefield, WA 98642 Drop Off: (self-service only) 28908 NW Main Ave. Ridgefield, WA, 98642 AM Radio System: The Refuge will be using a short range AM radio system at the check station for the morning orientation and announcements. After signing in (1 hour 45 minutes before legal shooting time for reservation parties and 10 am for standby parties), remain in your car until your party is called to the check station for blind selection. Only one party at a time (< 3 individuals) will be allowed under the awning at a time. The frequency of the AM radio system will be posted on the Refuge’s website and on signs entering the hunt area. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Hunt Season Calendar & Recreation Fees Hunter Recreation Fees Note: Exact change (cash) is required for daily recreation fees, duck stamps and season passes. No change provided. Checks and money orders are also accepted and can be made payable to USFWS. Daily Fee: A charge of $10.00 per blind if hunting alone or $8.00 per person (maximum blind capacity is 3), must be deposited into the fee tube at the check station. Golden Age/Senior Pass/Access Pass: Holders of these inter-agency federal passes are entitled to a 50% discount off the hunter recreation fee. This includes both the daily fee as well as the season pass. These passes are not available for sale by the Refuge this year but can be obtained online at USGS. Season Rec Fee Payment: You may pay for the season vs. a daily fee for $100.00 ($50.00 with a Senior/Access Pass discount). To pay this flat rate fee for the season, send payment to refuge office (closed to public) to PO BOX 457, Ridgefield, WA, 98642) with name of hunter to apply it to. To purchase at the check station, please let the attendant know you would like to pay for the season when selecting your blind. The attendant will dispense an envelope to provide payment in, to be deposited in the fee tube. Payment is not transferable. Youth Hunters - Hunters (under 16) are exempt from paying the daily fee but must be accompanied by a supervising adult at all times, to which recreation fees apply. On the Youth Hunt*, only reservations for youth (under 16) will be issued. General hunting will resume at noon with a lottery to assign any blinds that remain available. Ridgefield NWR is within Washington’s Goose Management Area 2 and is closed to dusky Canada goose harvest. The refuge will enact an emergency goose season closure if the dusky Canada goose harvest reaches a refuge adopted quota, with duck hunting resuming. The hunt area may close due to emergency, weather or safety issues imposed by the CDC/State. Month/ Week Tuesday Thursday OCTOBER 2020 Week 1 October Week 2 October Week 3 NOVEMBER Week 4 November Week 5 November Week 6 November Week 7 DECEMBER Week 8 December Week 9 December Week 10 December Week 11 Saturday 17 Duck/Goose 20 Duck/Goose 22 Duck/Goose 24 Duck/Goose 27 Goose only 29 Duck/Goose 03 Duck 05 Duck 31 YOUTH HUNT* Duck/Goose 07 Duck 10 Duck 12 Duck 14 Duck 17 Duck 19 Duck 21 Duck 24 Duck 01 Duck/Goose 26 NO HUNT 28 Duck/Goose Holiday Closure 03 Duck/Goose 05 Duck/Goose 08 Duck/Goose 10 Duck/Goose 12 Duck/Goose 15 Duck/Goose 17 Duck/Goose 19 Duck/Goose 22 Duck/Goose 26 Duck/Goose December/ Jan Week 12 29 Duck/Goose JANUARY 2021 05 Duck/Goose 24 CLOSES 2PM Duck/Goose 31 CLOSES 2PM Duck/Goose 07 Duck/Goose 12 Duck/Goose 14 Duck/Goose 16 Duck/Goose 19 Duck 21 Duck 23 Duck 26 Duck 28 Duck 30 Duck Week 13 January Week 14 January Week 15 January Week 16 FEBRUARY (SPECIAL HUNT) **Special Hunt Day for Veterans, Active Military and Youth (under 16) only (Feb. 6) 02 Duck/Goose 09 Duck/Goose 06 SPECIAL HUNT ** Duck/ Goose Spaced Blind Waterfowl Hunt Area Lots E 4 - Slo ug h lor he Lot A • Use of electronic or photographic trail monitoring devices Bull Lake • Marking or flagging any tree or other Refuge feature with reflectors, paint, or other substance 8 N. East Lake 12 15 10 Middle Lake Deep Lake • Access to the Refuge from private property 9 Boardwalk S. East Lake 11 South Lake 16 ay W ne a g n i t un Kiwa Lot • Hunting is prohibited within 200 yards of any public use facility. Are 13A 14 Lot C 1a One Wa y Ba c West Lake Teal Marsh 2000 FEET 600 METERS N. Quigley Lake Riv er 1 Lot B O 200 3 ad Ro Tree Lake 5 S. Mantrap Lake ke t 7* 7* • Searching for or removal of any natural items such as antlers, skulls, plants, historic, and archaeological features, are protected by Federal law s ur llh Hi 150 • Camping and Fires t r ee 0 H no N Sora Marsh Note: Routes to some of the blinds may have changed from previous years. Prohibited Activities • By law, recreational activities on national wildlife refuges are prohibited unless expressly permitted. • Possession of alcoholic beverages La Millet Lake 2 N. Tree Lake 13 1000 501 St N. Mantrap Lake 6 * Blind 7 hunters may select from the box blind or the pit blind. Pintail Marsh 500 Pioneer Street S. 9 t h Plantain Pond (Blinds 1A & 8; All Restrooms) 0 N Main Ave. Map Legend Dike Hunter Vehicle Access Road Hunt Blind Access Hiking 14 Box Blind (Blind #14) 4 Pit Blind (Blind #4) Hunter Parking Lot Checkstation Non-Hunting Area Portable Restroom Auto Tour Route Accessible Facilities Refuge Office: 28908 NW Main Ave. Ridgefield, WA 17 Olympia Lot D 82 WASHINGTON 5 18 Co lum Astoria b ia 19 Yakima 12 South Big Lake Longview Woodland e Riv Vancouver Portland 97 84 r OREGON