US LAWS, STATUTES & CODES ON-LINE

A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. [Reserved]

B. Upland Game Hunting. [Reserved]

C. Big Game Hunting. [Reserved]

D. Sport Fishing. Anglers may surf fish in the Atlantic Ocean from the refuge shoreline in accordance with state regulations.

Elizabeth A. Morton 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 only on the beach and in areas not designated as closed.

2. Fishing is permitted only during daylight hours.

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge

A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, rail, coot, gallinule, snipe, and woodcock on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:

1. For hunting of goose, duck, and coot (only allowed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays):

i. We require refuge waterfowl hunting permits. We allocate permits by random drawing at the Waterfowl Hunter Check Station on Route 77 on hunt days, except that we conduct a mail-in lottery for permits issued for opening day and the first two Saturdays of the regular waterfowl season. Permits allow up to three hunters to hunt. We charge a daily fee. A hunt stand is available for physically challenged hunters possessing a Golden Access Passport. We will allocate the hunt stand in a separate random draw for opening day and by first-come, first-served basis for other hunt days. The permit will allow one helper who may also hunt.

ii. You must possess and carry a valid New York State Waterfowl Education Certificate of Qualification.

iii. You must provide and use a minimum of six decoys.

iv. We only allow hunting from 1/2 hour before legal sunrise to 12 p.m. (noon). All hunters must check out no later than 1 p.m. by returning the Harvest Report portion of your permit to the Waterfowl Hunter Check Station.

v. You may only possess approved nontoxic shotshells (see §32.2(k)) in the field in quantities of 20 or less.

vi. You must hunt within 100 feet (30 m) of your designated stand unless actively pursuing crippled birds.

2. For hunting of rail, gallinule, snipe, and woodcock:

i. We require refuge daily small-game hunt permits and reports. You may obtain these self-issued permits at several kiosks located around the refuge. The hunter must complete and sign Part “A” and possess and carry Part “B” while hunting, then complete and return Part “B” to one of the kiosks at the end of the hunt day.

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

iii. We only allow hunting east of Sour Springs Road.

3. We allow youths ages 12 to 17 to hunt goose and duck on the first Sunday of the regular waterfowl season subject to the following conditions:

i. Each youth hunter must preregister at the refuge office.

ii. Each youth hunter must participate in the prehunt orientation and education program.

iii. Each youth must hunt with a preapproved, nonhunting adult (see refuge manager for details), who must be properly licensed to participate in the program.

iv. Conditions 1iv, 1v, and 1vi above apply.

B. Hunting of Upland Game. We allow hunting of ruffed grouse, gray squirrel, cottontail rabbit, pheasant, coyote, fox, raccoon, skunk, and opossum on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:

1. We require refuge daily small-game hunt permits and reports. You may obtain these self-issued permits at several kiosks located around the refuge. You must complete and sign Part A and possess and carry Part B while hunting, then complete and return Part B to one of the kiosks at the end of the hunt day.

2. We only allow hunting from legal sunrise to legal sunset. We prohibit night hunting.

3. We allow hunting only between October 1 and the last day of February.

4. You must only possess approved nontoxic shot (see §32.2(k)) while in the field if hunting with a shotgun.

5. You must wear in a visible manner on head, chest, and back a minimum of 400 square inches (2,600 cm² ) of solid-colored, hunter-orange clothing or material during any firearms deer season.

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

1. White-tailed deer:

i. We require refuge daily deer hunt permits and reports. These self-issued permits are available at several kiosks located around the refuge. You must complete and sign Part A and possess and carry Part B while hunting, then complete and return Part B to one of the kiosks at the end of the hunt day.

ii. All hunters must wear in a visible manner on head, chest, and back a minimum of 400 square inches (2,600 cm² ) of solid-colored, hunter-orange clothing or material during any firearms deer season.

iii. If you use portable tree stands, blinds, and decoys, you must remove all equipment (see §27.93 of this chapter) from the refuge at the end of the day.

2. Turkey (only allowed during the spring season):

i. We require refuge spring turkey hunting permits. We select permittees, except youth permittees as designated below, from a mail-in, random drawing for available permits. We charge a nonrefundable application processing fee.

ii. Only youth hunters ages 12 to 17, accompanied by a properly licensed, preapproved nonhunting adult (see refuge manager for details), may hunt at the refuge on the first Sunday of the season. All youth hunters must register at the refuge headquarters and attend a mandatory orientation.

iii. You may use portable blinds and decoys, but you must remove all equipment (see §27.93 of this chapter) at the conclusion of each day.

iv. You may only scout during the 7 days immediately preceding the season. You must possess and carry your permit when scouting. We prohibit calling or possessing a call of any kind while scouting.

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

1. You may only fish or frog from legal sunrise to legal sunset.

2. We allow fishing or frogging in Oak Orchard Creek east of Route 63 and on other designated areas of the refuge year-round during the State season.

3. We only allow ice fishing on Ringneck Marsh from December 15 through the last day of February.

4. We allow frogging in areas open for public fishing. We prohibit guns or archery equipment to kill or capture frog.

5. We prohibit wading or the use of boats or other flotation devices, with the exception that you may use nonmotorized boats on Oak Orchard Creek east of Route 63.

6. We require that anglers remove boats, structures, or other equipment (see §27.93 of this chapter) from the refuge after the completion of the day's fishing activities.

7. We allow fishing and frogging from Schoolhouse Marsh dike and Center Marsh dike from July 15 to September 30.

Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

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

1. We require daily refuge permits (you must possess and carry)/reservations.

2. We only allow hunting on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays during the established refuge season set within the State western zone season.

3. We take telephone reservations from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays for the next hunt day (except for opening day).

4. We take opening day reservations between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. on the day immediately before the season opener.

5. The reservation telephone number is 315–568–4136.

6. All telephone reservations are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

7. Persons with a reservation may bring one companion.

8. Hunters reserve the parking area of their choice when making their reservations.

9. All hunters with reservations and their companions must check-in at the Route 89 Hunter Check Station at least 1 hour before legal shooting time or forfeit their reservation.

10. Forfeited reservations become available on a first-come, first-served basis to standby hunters at the Route 89 Hunter Check Station.

11. We require $10.00 per reservation fee. Hunters with either Golden Age or Access Passports receive a 50 percent discount.

12. We require motorless boats to hunt and limit hunters to one boat per reservation.

13. We select hunting sites in a free-roam system.

14. You may only possess approved nontoxic shells (see §32.2(k)) while in the field in quantities of 15 or less.

15. We prohibit shooting from the dike.

16. Hunting ends at 12 p.m. (noon), and all hunters must check out by 1 p.m.

17. We require successful completion of the New York State Waterfowl Identification Course, the Montezuma Nonresident Waterfowl Identification Course, or a suitable nonresident State Waterfowl Identification Course to hunt the refuge.

B. Upland Game Hunting. [Reserved]

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

1. We only allow hunting of white-tailed deer on designated portions of the refuge by archery, firearms (see §27.42 of this chapter), or muzzleloaders during established refuge seasons set within the general State white-tailed deer season.

2. We prohibit Sunday hunting.

3. Each hunter must possess, carry, and return at day's end a valid daily hunt permit card.

4. Daily hunt permits are available at the Route 89 Hunter Check Station on a first-come, first-served basis, issued by refuge personnel or available on a self-service basis.

5. We make available 150 firearms hunt permit cards each day on a first-come, first-served basis.

6. Hunters must fill out Part A of the daily hunt permit card at check-in and leave it with refuge personnel or deposit it in the Part A box at the Route 89 Hunter Check Station.

7. The hunter must carry Part B of the daily hunt permit card while hunting the refuge.

8. The hunter must complete Part B and deposit it in the Part B box at the Route 89 Hunter Check Station by the end of the hunt day.

9. Successful opening day archery hunters must bring their deer to the Route 89 Hunter Check Station.

10. Successful firearms hunters must bring their deer to the Route 89 Hunter Check Station on the days we staff it.

11. Firearms hunters must wear in a visible manner on the head, chest, and back a minimum of 400 square inches (2,600 cm² ) of solid-blaze orange.

12. We only allow shotguns and muzzleloaders during the firearms (see §27.42 of this chapter) season. We prohibit handguns.

13. Hunters must have all guns unloaded (see §27.42 of this chapter) between legal sunset and legal sunrise.

14. Hunters must disassemble, lock, or case all bows after legal sunset and before legal sunrise.

15. We prohibit advance scouting.

16. We prohibit boats and canoes on refuge pools. We prohibit hunting on the open water portions of the refuge pools.

17. We prohibit ATVs (see §27.31(f) of this chapter).

18. Hunters may only use portable tree stands and must remove them (see §27.93 of this chapter) from the refuge each day.

19. We prohibit screw-in tree steps (see §32.2(i)).

20. We allow firearms hunters to be on the refuge during the period that begins 1 hour before legal sunrise and ends 1 hour after legal sunset.

21. We allow archery hunters to be on the refuge during the period that begins 1 hour before legal sunrise (except for opening day) and ends 1 hour after legal sunset.

22. On opening day, we allow archery hunters on the refuge during the period that begins 2 hours before legal sunrise and ends 1 hour after legal sunset.

D. Sport Fishing. Anglers may only access the New York State Barge Canal System Waters at two sites on the refuge: The Seneca River Fishing Access Site and the May's Point Fishing Area. Anglers may either bank fish or boat fish in accordance with State regulations.

Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge

A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. [Reserved]

B. Upland Game Hunting. [Reserved]

C. Big Game Hunting. [Reserved]

D. Sport Fishing. Anglers may fish in refuge-controlled waters of Oyster Bay. Anglers may also fish from designated areas on the refuge shoreline at Mill Pond during daylight hours. All fishing within the refuge is in accordance with state regulations.

Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge

A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. [Reserved]

B. Upland Game Hunting. [Reserved]

C. Big Game Hunting. [Reserved]

D. Sport Fishing. Anglers may fish in refuge-controlled waters of Great South Bay from boats only. All fishing is in accordance with state regulations.

Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge

A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. [Reserved]

B. Upland Game Hunting. [Reserved]

C. Big Game Hunting. [Reserved]

D. Sport Fishing. Anglers may fish in Huntington Bay from the refuge shoreline when the refuge is open to visitors. All fishing is in accordance with state regulations.

Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge

A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. [Reserved]

B. Upland Game Hunting. [Reserved]

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

1. We allow archery and shotgun hunting of white-tailed deer within portions of the refuge on specific days between October 1 and January 31.

2. We require refuge permits. We limit the number of deer hunters allowed to hunt on the refuge. We will issue permits by random selection.

3. You must take the specified number of antlerless deer as noted in the refuge hunting regulations before taking an antlered deer.

4. You must possess and carry all applicable and valid hunting licenses, permits, stamps, and a photographic identification while hunting on the refuge.

5. You must possess proof of completion of the refuge-specific orientation program upon check-in at the designated refuge hunting location.

6. You must limit driving to designated access roads and park only in designated areas (see §27.31 of this chapter). We prohibit use of motorized vehicles on the refuge to retrieve white-tailed deer.

7. You must display refuge parking permits face-up on the vehicle dashboard while hunting.

8. We allow hunters to enter the refuge 1 hour before legal hunting hours. Hunters must leave the refuge no later than 1 hour after legal sunset.

9. We prohibit the use of dogs to hunt or pursue game. We prohibit driving deer by any means on the refuge. We prohibit the use of decoys to hunt deer on the refuge.

10. We prohibit carrying a loaded weapon and/or discharge of a firearm within the designated 500-foot (150m) “No Hunt Buffer”, vehicles, or parking areas (see §27.42(b) of this chapter).

11. We prohibit shooting directly into or towards the 500-foot (150m) “No Hunt Buffer”.

12. We prohibit the killing or crippling of any deer without the hunter making reasonable effort to retrieve the deer and retain it in his/her actual custody.

13. Hunters assigned to Unit 5 must hunt from portable tree stands and must direct aim away from a public road and/or dwelling.

14. You must have only shotgun shells loaded with slugs during the firearms season.

15. You must wear a minimum of 400 square inches (2,600 cm² ) of solid-orange clothing, visible on head, chest, and back during the firearms season. Camouflage orange does not qualify.

16. We prohibit construction or use of permanent structures while hunting. We prohibit driving a nail, spike, screw or other metal object into any tree or hunting from any tree on the refuge in which a nail, spike, screw or other object has been driven (see §32.2(i)).

17. You may use temporary or portable tree stands while hunting deer. You must remove all stands or any blinds by legal sunset (see §§27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter). We require all tree stands to have the name and address of the owner clearly printed on the stand.

18. You must report all accidents and injuries to refuge personnel as soon as possible and by no later than your departure from the refuge.

19. Failure to comply with Federal, State, and/or refuge regulations will lead to dismissal from the refuge and elimination of participation in future hunts.

20. You must abide all rules and regulations listed on the hunting permit.

21. We prohibit the use of any bait, salt, or enticement (see §32.2(h)).

22. A nonhunting adult (see the refuge manager for details) with a valid State hunting license must accompany junior hunters.

23. We prohibit the marking of any tree, trail, or other refuge feature with flagging, paint, reflective material or any other substance.

24. You may scout hunting areas on the refuge only during designated times and days. We prohibit the use of dogs during scouting.

25. We prohibit the use of electronic calls during any hunting season.

26. We prohibit the trimming or cutting of branches larger than the diameter of a quarter (see §27.61 of this chapter).

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

1. Shore and boat fishing is permitted on that portion of the Carmans River between Sunrise and Montauk Highways.

2. Only boat fishing is permitted from Montauk Highway south to the mouth of the Carmans River.

3. Fishing is permitted only during daylight hours.

4. Spearfishing and taking of baitfish and frogs is not permitted.