US LAWS, STATUTES & CODES ON-LINE

A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, coot, mourning dove, and sandhill crane on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:

1. On the North Tract (including Salt Creek Wilderness Area and the portion of the refuge located north of U.S. Highway 70) all hunting must be in accordance with State seasons and regulations. On the Middle Tract (the portion of the refuge located between U.S. Highway 70 and U.S. Highway 380), we restrict hunting to goose, duck, sandhill crane, and American coot (no dove) in the designated public hunting area in the southern portion of the Tract that never approaches closer than 100 yards (90 m) to the public auto tour route only; we limit hunting to Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays during the period when the State seasons for that area are open simultaneously for ALL these species; and all hunting must cease at 1 p.m. (local time) on each hunt day. On the South Tract (the portion of the refuge located south of U.S. Highway 380), we only allow hunting during Special Hunts (Youth hunters [17 years of age and younger] and/or Physically Impaired) as per State seasons and regulations.

2. You may only possess approved nontoxic shot while in the field (see §32.2(k)).

3. We prohibit pit or permanent blinds and require daily removal of all waterfowl decoys and all temporary blinds/stands (see §27.93 of this chapter).

4. We only allow unleashed hunting/retrieving dogs on the refuge when hunters are legally present in areas where we allow hunters, only if the dogs are under the immediate control of hunters at all times (see §26.21(b) of this chapter), and only to pursue species legally in season at that time.

5. We do not require refuge or other special hunt permits other than those required by the State (e.g., sandhill crane permits).

B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of pheasant, quail, cottontail, and jack rabbit on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:

1. On the North Tract (including Salt Creek Wilderness Area and the portion of the refuge located north of U.S. Highway 70), all hunting must be in accordance with State seasons and regulations. On the Middle Tract (the portion of the refuge located between U.S. Highway 70 and U.S. Highway 380), we only allow pheasant hunting and restrict hunting to the designated public hunting area in the southern portion of the Tract that never approaches closer than 100 yards (90 m) from the public auto tour route; we limit hunting to Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays during the State season for the Middle Tract; and all hunting must cease at 1 p.m. (local time) on each hunt day. On the South Tract (the portion of the refuge located south of U.S. Highway 380) we only allow public hunting during Special Hunts (Youth hunters [17 years of age and younger] and/or Physically Impaired) as per State seasons and regulations.

2. Conditions A2 and A4 apply.

3. We do not require refuge or other special hunt permits other than those required by the State.

C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of mule deer, white-tailed deer, and feral hog on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:

1. We restrict all hunting to the North Tract (including Salt Creek Wilderness Area and the portion of the refuge located north of U.S. Highway 70) in accordance with State seasons and regulations, with the specification that we only allow hunt and take of feral hog (no bag limit) during deer hunts for that area and only with the weapon legal for deer on that day in that area.

2. Condition B3 applies.

3. We only allow use of portable blinds or stands, and require daily removal of all blinds and stands (see §27.93 of this chapter).

D. Sport Fishing. [Reserved]

Bosque Del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of mourning and white-winged dove and light goose on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:

1. You must possess and carry a refuge permit for hunting of light goose. The permit is available through a lottery drawing, and we must receive applications for the permit by November 30 of each year along with a $6.00 nonrefundable application fee.

2. We allow hunting of light goose on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during a week in January to be determined by refuge staff. We will announce hunt dates by September 1 of the previous year. Hunters must report to the refuge headquarters by 4:45 a.m. each hunt day. Legal hunting hours will run from 1/2 hour before legal sunrise and will not extend past 11:00 a.m. local time.

3. We allow the use of hunting dogs for bird retrieval. You must keep dogs on a leash when not hunting (see §26.21(b) of this chapter).

4. We prohibit hunters and dogs from retrieving dead or wounded birds in closed areas.

5. All State and Federal hunting and fishing regulations regarding methods of take, dates, bag limits, etc., apply to all hunting and fishing on the refuge, in addition to these refuge-specific regulations.

6. We prohibit canoeing, boating, or floating through the refuge on the Rio Grande.

7. We prohibit hunting any species on the Rio Grande within the refuge.

8. We prohibit falconry on the refuge.

B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of quail and cottontail rabbit on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:

1. We only allow shotguns and bows and arrows.

2. Conditions A5 through A8 apply.

3. We allow cottontail rabbit hunting between December 1 and the last day of February.

C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of mule deer and oryx on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:

1. Refer to the refuge map for designated areas.

2. Hunting on the eastside of the Rio Grande is by foot or horseback only.

3. We allow oryx hunting from the east bank of the Rio Grande and east to the refuge boundary. We will allow hunters possessing a valid State special off-range permit to hunt oryx on the refuge during the concurrent State deer season. We also may establish special hunt dates each year for oryx. Contact the refuge manager for special dates.

4. Conditions A5 through A8 apply.

D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:

1. We allow fishing on all canals within the refuge boundaries (Interior Drain, Riverside Canal, and Low Flow Conveyance Channel), and unit 25AS either from the boardwalk or from shore.

2. We allow fishing from April 1 through September 30.

3. We allow fishing from 1 hour before legal sunrise until 1 hour after legal sunset.

4. We prohibit trotlines, bows and arrows, boats or other floatation devices, seining, dip netting, traps, using bait taken from the refuge, taking of turtle (see §27.21 of this chapter), littering, and all other activities not expressly allowed.

5. Access to the canals is via the tour loop. We prohibit fishing in closed areas of the refuge, with the exception of the Low Flow Conveyance Channel.

6. We allow frogging for bullfrog on the refuge from June 1 through August 15 in areas that are open to fishing. We only allow frogging from 1 hour before legal sunrise to 1 hour after legal sunset. Interested persons must obtain a free Special Use Permit at the refuge visitor center.

7. All State and Federal fishing regulations regarding methods of take, dates, creel limits, etc., apply to all fishing on the refuge, in addition to these refuge-specific regulations.

8. We prohibit fishing for any species on the Rio Grande within the refuge.

9. Condition A6 applies.

Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge

A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of mourning dove and Canada goose on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:

1. You must possess and carry a refuge permit and pay a fee.

2. You may only possess approved nontoxic shot while in the field (see §32.2(k)).

3. Youth hunters age 17 and under must hunt under the supervision of an adult age 21 or older.

4. We prohibit hunters and dogs from entering closed areas to retrieve birds.

5. We only allow Canada goose hunting on designated day(s) of the week as identified on the permit.

6. Shooting hours for Canada goose are from 1/2 hour before legal sunrise to 1 p.m. local time.

7. The bag limit for Canada goose is two.

8. For Canada goose hunting, you may only possess approved nontoxic shells (see §32.2(k)) while in the field in quantities of six or less.

B. Upland Game Hunting. [Reserved]

C. Big Game Hunting. [Reserved]

D. Sport Fishing. [Reserved]

Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge

A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. [Reserved]

B. Upland Game Hunting. [Reserved]

C. Big Game Hunting. [Reserved]

D. Sport Fishing. Fishing is permitted on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

1. Fishing is permitted from noon March 1 through October 31.

2. Fishing is permitted only in Lakes 13 and 14.

3. Boats are permitted on Lakes 13 and 14 only during the fishing season.

4. Fishing is not permitted within 150 feet of headgates.

San Andres National Wildlife Refuge

A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. [Reserved]

B. Upland Game Hunting. [Reserved]

C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of oryx or gemsbok (Oryx gazella) on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

1. We require hunters to check in and out of the hunt area.

2. We require hunters to attend unexploded ordnance (UXO) training prior to entering the hunt area.

3. We require State permits and payment of a hunt fee.

D. Sport Fishing. [Reserved]

Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge

A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. Hunting of mourning and white-winged doves, geese, ducks and coots is permitted on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

1. Hunters or dogs may not enter closed areas to retrieve birds.

2. Permanent blinds are not permitted.

B. Upland Game Hunting. [Reserved]

C. Big Game Hunting. [Reserved]

D. Sport Fishing. [Reserved]