US LAWS, STATUTES & CODES ON-LINE

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

1. We require each hunter to carry at all times while hunting a signed, current refuge hunting regulations brochure containing a refuge hunt permit. The hunt permit is invalid until signed by the hunter.

2. Each youth hunter (age 15 and under) must remain within sight and normal voice contact of an adult age 21 or older. Youth hunters must have successfully completed a State-approved hunter education course.

3. We only allow hunting until 12 p.m. (noon) each day during the State waterfowl season.

4. We prohibit hunting on Corps of Engineer dredge spoil sites located on refuge property on Jehossee Island.

5. We prohibit permanent blinds. You must remove portable blinds and decoys (see §27.93 of this chapter) at the end of each day.

6. We only allow use of retrieving dogs while hunting.

7. We allow scouting all year from legal sunrise to legal sunset.

8. Access to the hunt areas is by boat only. We prohibit boat launching on the refuge.

9. We do not require hunter check-in and check out. There is no quota on the number of hunters.

B. Upland Game Hunting. [Reserved]

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

1. Conditions A1 and A2 apply.

2. We only allow hunting on days designated annually by the refuge within the State season. We only allow hunting on designated refuge areas within the Edisto Unit and the Combahee Unit.

3. We only allow archery or muzzleloader hunting, and there is no quota on the number of hunters allowed to participate. During a special quota permit hunt for the mobility impaired, we allow use of centerfire rifles or shotguns.

4. Access into all refuge hunt areas for hunting and scouting is by foot or bicycle. We may open some refuge roads on hunt days.

5. We allow scouting all year from legal sunrise to legal sunset.

6. Hunters may enter the refuge no earlier than 5 a.m. on hunt days and must leave the refuge no later than 1 hour after legal sunset.

7. We do not require hunter check-in and check out. However, you must check all deer taken during any hunt at the designated refuge check station before removal from the refuge. In addition, you must tag all antlerless deer with an antlerless tag provided by the refuge.

8. The refuge daily bag limit is two antlerless deer and one antlered buck that must have at least three antler points on one side. We define a “point” as an antler projection of at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) or more in length.

9. You may take feral hog during refuge deer hunts. There is no size or bag limit on hog.

10. We only allow one portable tree stand per hunter and only during the actual days of each hunt.

11. We prohibit hunting on or within 100 feet (30 m) of all routes marked as roads or trails (see §27.31 of this chapter) on the hunt brochure map.

12. All permanently fixed ground blinds are for the mobility-impaired hunt only.

13. We prohibit crossbows on the archery hunts. We only allow muzzleloading rifles using a single projectile on the muzzleloader hunts. We prohibit buckshot.

14. You may use flagging to mark the site of hunter entry from roads or trails and again at the stand site. You may use clothes pins with reflective tape between these sites to mark the route to the stand. Hunters must label all such markers with their full name and remove them (see §27.93 of this chapter) at the end of the hunt.

15. We require hunters to wear an outer garment visible above the waist that contains a minimum of 500 square inches (3,250 cm² ) of solid, florescent-orange material at all times during the muzzleloader and mobility-impaired hunts.

16. We prohibit the use of organized drives for taking or attempting to take game.

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 in impounded waters contained within dikes and levees in the Beaufort County portion of the refuge annually from April 1 through August 31 during daylight hours. We close fishing during all remaining times within all refuge-impounded waters.

2. We prohibit boat use within refuge-impounded waters. We only allow bank fishing.

3. We only allow hook and line sport fishing utilizing rod and reel or pole.

4. We only open access into refuge areas to fishing by foot or bicycle.

Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge

A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of marsh hens/rails only on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

1. We require a refuge hunt permit.

2. You may possess only approved nontoxic shot.

B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of raccoon on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: We require a refuge hunt permit.

C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: We require a refuge hunt permit.

D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing, crabbing, and shell fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to State regulations and the following condition: Marsh Island, White Banks, and Bird Island are open from September 15 through February 15. We close them the rest of the year to protect nesting birds.

Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

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

1. All hunters must possess and carry a signed refuge General Hunt Permit and a government-issued picture ID.

2. All hunters must complete a Small Game Check Sheet attached to the refuge General Hunt Permit. You must turn each check sheet in daily at one of the small game check sheet drop boxes.

3. We prohibit discharge of weapons (see §27.42 of this chapter) within, into, or across a “No Hunting Zone” or “Closed Area”. We prohibit entering or crossing a “No Hunting Zone” or “Closed Area” to access areas open to hunting. We require consent from refuge personnel to enter a “No Hunting Zone” or “Closed Area” for the purpose of tracking and/or retrieving legally taken game animals.

4. Each youth hunter (age 16 or younger) must remain within sight and normal voice contact and under supervision of an adult age 21 or older with a valid license and applicable permit. Each adult may supervise no more than two youth hunters. Each youth hunter must possess and carry evidence of successful completion of a State-approved hunter education course.

5. We prohibit loaded firearms (see §27.42 of this chapter) within 100 feet (30 m) of maintained refuge roads or within 500 feet (150 m) of the paved visitor's drive. We prohibit discharge of any weapon on or across any part of the refuge road system. We define a “loaded firearm” as a firearm with shells in the magazine or chamber, or, for muzzleloaders, a gun with the percussion caps put in place.

6. Hunters must possess shotguns with shot no larger than No. 5.

7. Legal shooting hours for September dove hunts are 12 p.m. (noon) to 6:30 p.m.

8. We prohibit discharge of weapons for any purpose other than to take or attempt to take legal game animals during established hunting seasons.

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

1. Conditions A1 through A5 and A8 apply.

2. We require dogs for hunting raccoon and opossum. All dogs must wear a collar displaying the owner's name, address, and phone number.

3. Upland game hunters may possess shotguns with shot no larger than No. 4 or .22 caliber rimfire rifles or primitive muzzleloading rifles of .40 caliber or smaller. We prohibit possession of buckshot or slugs.

4. Upland game hunters using archery equipment must use small game tips on the arrows.

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

1. All hunters must possess and carry a signed refuge General Hunt Permit and a government-issued picture ID; however, in addition, turkey hunters must have a Refuge Quota Turkey Hunt Permit. Refuge Quota Turkey Hunt Permits are nontransferable.

2. You must promptly check all deer and hog killed on the refuge during modern gun hunts at the Refuge Check Station on the day of the kill prior to removal from the refuge. You must promptly check all antlerless deer killed on the refuge during the primitive weapons and archery hunts at the refuge office on the day of the kill prior to removal from the refuge. You must self-check all antlered bucks and hogs at the Refuge Check Station during the primitive weapons and archery hunts. In addition, you must have all antlerless deer tagged by refuge staff prior to removal from the refuge. You must promptly check and tag all turkey killed on the refuge during the Refuge Quota Turkey Hunt at the refuge office on the day of the kill prior to removal from the refuge.

3. Conditions A3 through A5 apply.

4. During big game deer hunts, we prohibit hunters from entering the refuge before 4 a.m., and they must leave the refuge no later than 2 hours after legal sunset. We will lock gates 2 hours after legal sunset on the last day of each hunt.

5. During refuge firearms deer hunts all participants must wear at least 500 square inches (3,250 cm² ) of unbroken, flourescent-orange material above the waistline as an outer garment visible while hunting and while en route to and from hunting areas.

6. During the primitive weapons hunt, you may use bow and arrow, muzzleloading shotguns (20 gauge or larger), or muzzleloading rifles (.40 caliber or larger). We prohibit revolving rifles or black-powder handguns.

7. During the modern gun hunts, you may use shotguns, rifles (centerfire and larger than .22 caliber), handguns (.357 caliber or larger and barrel length no less than 6 inches [15 cm]), or any weapon allowed during the primitive weapons hunt. We prohibit military, hard-jacketed bullets, and .22 caliber rimfire rifles during the modern gun hunts.

8. We prohibit driving deer. We define a “drive” as an organized hunting technique involving two or more individuals attempting to drive game animals from cover or habitat for the purpose of shooting, killing, or moving such animals toward other hunters.

9. You must identify deer stands used on the refuge with the hunter's name, address, and phone number.

10. We prohibit the use of dogs for any big game hunting.

11. We prohibit the use of flagging or reflective tape, paint, tacks, or other trail markers. You may use painted clothes pins or clothes pins with reflective tape or tacks attached, but you must remove them (see §27.93 of this chapter) at the end of each hunt.

12. Youth hunts are for hunters ages 10 through 15 only. We prohibit adults from discharging firearms during youth deer and turkey hunts.

13. The bag limit during each deer hunt is the State limit plus two antlerless deer and unlimited hogs.

14. We require you to field-dress or remove the deer whole prior to transportation in a vehicle or removing them from the refuge.

15. We prohibit the use of ATVs, except by mobility-impaired hunters with a Special Use Permit during big game hunts. Mobility-impaired hunters must have a State Disabled Hunting license, be confined to a wheelchair, need mechanical aids to walk, or have complete single-or double-leg amputation.

16. We prohibit turkey hunters from calling a turkey for another hunter unless both hunters have Refuge Quota Turkey Hunt Permits.

17. We prohibit turkey hunting in the area defined as east of Hwy. 145, south of Rt. 9, and north of Hwy. 1.

18. Turkey hunts end each day at 1 p.m., and you must unload, case, or dismantle all weapons (see §27.42 of this chapter) after 1 p.m.

19. During turkey hunts we only allow one weapon per hunter.

20. The bag limit for the entire hunt is two bearded turkey.

21. We prohibit discharge of weapons (see §27.42(a) of this chapter) for any purpose other than to take or attempt to take legal game animals during established hunting seasons.

D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing on all areas of the refuge, except Martins Lake and those areas closed for management purposes, in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:

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

2. We allow nonmotorized boats and boats with electric motors. We allow boats with permanently mounted gas motors as long as you lock the propeller out of the water. You must hand load and unload boats except at designated boat ramps. We prohibit skidding boats up or down dams or on water control structures. We provide boat ramps at Pool D, Pool L, Honkers Lake, and Mays Lake.

3. We allow bank fishing on all designated waters.

4. We prohibit bow fishing, fish baskets, nets, set hooks, trotlines, or snagging devices.

5. We prohibit snagging of fish by pulling or jerking any device equipped with one or more hooks through the water for the purpose of impaling fish.

6. We prohibit swimming or wading in any areas of the refuge.

Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge

A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. [Reserved]

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. You must have a signed refuge permit on your person at all times. We require payment of a fee for the quota gun hunt. You may obtain information about the quota hunt drawing at the refuge headquarters in Savannah, Georgia.

2. Hunters must check-in at the designated check station between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. and park in the designated area prior to hunting. We require personal identification at check-in.

3. Any movement within the refuge must be by foot or bicycle. We limit entry and exit points for authorized motor vehicles to designated check stations or other specified areas (see §27.31 of this chapter). We prohibit entry by boat, and we prohibit hunters to leave by boat to reach other parts of the island.

4. We require hunters to wear an outer garment that contains a minimum of 500 square inches (3,250 cm² ) of hunter-orange material above the waistline.

5. We prohibit participating in organized drives for deer.

6. Each hunter may place one stand on the refuge during the week (Monday through Friday only) preceding the hunt. You must remove all stands (see §27.93 of this chapter) at the end of the hunt.

7. We prohibit camping on the refuge.

8. We only allow shotguns, 20 gauge or larger, with slugs.

9. If you are a hunter on the refuge, you must be in your stand from 1/2 hour before legal sunrise until 9 a.m. and from 2 hours before legal sunset until legal sunset.

10. We prohibit hunting closer than 100 yards (90 m) to U.S. Highway 278 or the check station area, or closer than 200 yards (180 m) to the residence area.

11. We prohibit flagging, blazing, or using other trail-marking devices to locate stands or for any other purpose.

12. Refuge personnel must check deer harvested during a scheduled hunt before hunters leave the refuge.

13. You may take five deer (no more than four antlerless).

14. We close the refuge to the public on hunt days.

15. Hunters age 15 and younger must possess and carry a valid hunter education card in order to hunt.

16. Youth hunters age 15 and younger must remain within sight and normal voice contact of an adult age 21 or older, possessing a license. One adult may supervise no more than one youth hunter.

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

1. Fishing is permitted year-round.

2. Fishing is only permitted from boats, into the estuarine waters adjacent to the refuge.

Santee National Wildlife Refuge

A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of mourning doves on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: We require a refuge permit.

B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: We require a refuge permit.

C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: We require a refuge permit.

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

1. Fishing is permitted on inland ponds only from sunrise to sunset or as posted.

2. Fishing is permitted in Cantey Bay, Black Bottom, Savannah Branch and refuge ponds and impoundments from March 1 through October 31.

Savannah National Wildlife Refuge

A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of duck and coot on designated areas north of South Carolina Highway 170 of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:

1. You must possess and carry a signed refuge permit at all times while hunting on the refuge. Permits and general hunting information are available at the refuge headquarters in Savanna, Georgia.

2. We only allow temporary blinds. You must remove decoys and other personal property (see §27.93 of this chapter) from the refuge daily.

3. We prohibit hunting within 100 yards (90 m) of South Carolina Highway 170.

B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of squirrel November 1 through November 30 on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:

1. You must possess and carry a signed refuge permit at all times while hunting on the refuge. Permits and hunt information are available at the refuge headquarters in Savannah, Georgia.

2. We only allow .22 caliber rimfire rifles or shotguns with #2 shot or smaller for squirrel hunting.

3. We prohibit handguns.

4. We prohibit dogs.

5. You may take feral hog with weapons legal for this hunt (no bag limit).

6. We require a big game license.

7. We require hunters to wear a visible outer garment that contains a minimum of 500 square inches (3,250 cm² ) of hunter-orange material above the waistline (except during the archery-only deer hunt, the turkey hunt, and the waterfowl hunt.

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

1. Hunters must possess and carry a signed refuge permit at all times. We require payment of a fee for the wheelchair-dependent hunters' quota gun hunt for deer. Permits, quota hunt applications, and information about the quota hunt drawing are available at the refuge headquarters in Savannah, Georgia.

2. We allow archery hunting for deer and hog from October 1 through October 31 on designated areas.

3. We only authorize bows for deer/hog hunting during the archery hunt.

4. We allow gun hunting for deer and hog during the archery hunt.

5. We only allow shotguns with slugs, muzzleloaders, and bows for deer and hog hunting throughout the designated hunt area. However, we only allow centerfire rifles of .22 caliber or larger north of Interstate Highway 95. We prohibit handguns.

6. You may take five deer, no more than three antlerless and two antlered. There is no bag limit on feral hogs.

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 in refuge impoundments and canals from March 1 through November 30 annually.

2. We allow fishing in Kingfisher Pond year-round.

3. We allow fishing from legal sunrise to legal sunset.

4. We allow fishing year-round in the canals adjacent to the wildlife drive.

5. Anglers may only use nonmotorized boats and boats with electric motors within impounded water.

Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge

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

1. Hunters must possess and carry at all times while hunting a signed, current refuge hunting regulations brochure containing a refuge hunt permit. The hunt permit is invalid until signed by the hunter.

2. Each youth hunter (age 15 and under) must remain within sight and normal voice contact and under supervision of an adult age 21 or older. Youth hunters must have successfully completed a State-approved hunter education course.

3. We only allow waterfowl hunting until 12 p.m. (noon) each Saturday during the State waterfowl season. Hunters may enter the refuge no earlier that 5 a.m. on hunt days and must be off the refuge by 2 p.m.

4. We allow scouting Monday through Friday during the waterfowl season. We prohibit possession of a firearm by anyone scouting. You must be off the refuge by 2 p.m.

5. You may only possess approved nontoxic shot (see §32.2(k)) while hunting all species of migratory birds on the refuge.

6. We require permanent blinds. You must remove portable blinds and decoys (see §27.93 of this chapter) at the end of each day.

7. We only allow use of retrieving dogs while hunting.

8. We do not require hunter check-in and check out. There is no quota on the number of hunters.

9. We prohibit discharge of weapons (see §27.42(a) of this chapter) for any purpose other than to take or attempt to take legal game animals during established hunting seasons.

10. We prohibit hunting on any unit for wildlife other than that which is officially opened and posted or entering any areas posted as “Closed” or “No Hunting Zones”.

B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of gray squirrel, raccoon, and opossum on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:

1. Conditions A1, A2, A9, and A10 apply.

2. We only allow hunting on days designated annually by the refuge within the State season. We only allow upland game hunting on designated Refuge areas within Refuge Unit 1.

3. You may only possess approved nontoxic shot (see §32.2(k)) in shotguns. We allow .22 caliber rimfire rifles.

4. We prohibit squirrel hunting from a boat or other water conveyance on the refuge.

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

1. Conditions A1, A2, A9, and A10 apply.

2. We only allow hunting on days designated annually by the refuge within the State season.

3. We close refuge hunting areas to the general public during big game hunts.

4. We allow archery, muzzleloading (black powder) and centerfire rifles, and shotguns.

5. We prohibit crossbows, blow guns, and drugged arrows (see §32.2(g)). We only allow muzzleloading rifles using a single projectile on the muzzleloader hunts. We prohibit buckshot, .22 caliber rimfire, and full-metal jacketed military ammunition.

6. Access into all refuge hunt areas for hunting and scouting is by foot or boat. We may open some refuge roads on hunt days. We prohibit ATVs (see §27.31(f) of this chapter) and air boats on the refuge.

7. We allow scouting all year during daylight hours except during the State waterfowl season. During the waterfowl season, the same regulations that apply to scouting for waterfowl (A4), apply to scouting for big game species.

8. Hunters may enter the refuge no earlier than 5 a.m. on hunt days and must leave the refuge no later than 1 hour after legal sunset.

9. We do not require hunter check-in and check out.

10. The refuge limit on deer is one antlered buck per refuge hunt. Hunters can harvest an additional two antlerless deer per hunt during coinciding State doe days.

11. You may take feral hogs during refuge deer hunts. There is no size or bag limit on hog. We may offer special hog hunts during and after deer season to further control this invasive species. You must dispatch all feral hogs before removing them from the refuge.

12. We prohibit hunting on or within 100 feet (30 m) of all routes marked as roads or trails (see §27.31 of this chapter) on the hunt brochure map.

13. You must hunt deer and feral hog from an elevated deer stand. We prohibit shooting a hog from a boat.

14. We only allow one portable tree stand per hunter and only during the actual days of each hunt. You must remove deer stands (see §27.93 of this chapter) from the refuge no later than 3 days after each refuge big game hunt.

15. We allow use of flagging to make the site of hunter entry from roads or trails and again at the stand site. We allow use of clothes pins with reflective tape between these sites to make the route to the stand. Hunters must label all such markers with their full name and remove them (see §27.93 of this chapter) at the end of the hunt.

16. We require hunters to wear an outer garment visible above the waist that contains a minimum of 500 square inches (3,250 cm² ) of solid, flourescent-orange material at all times during big game hunts except for turkey.

17. We prohibit the use of organized drives, including the use of boats, as an aid in the taking or attempting to take big game species.

18. We prohibit distribution of bait or hunting over a baited area (see §32.2(h)).

19. We limit turkey hunts to annual quota hunts. We will select hunters by a random drawing. Selected hunters must sign, possess, and carry a Refuge Turkey Hunt Permit at all times during the hunt.

20. We prohibit turkey hunters from calling a turkey for another hunter unless both hunters have Refuge Turkey Hunt Permits.

21. We prohibit turkey hunting in Refuge Units 2 and 3.

22. Turkey hunts begin each day at legal sunrise and end each day at 1 p.m., and you must unload and case or dismantle all weapons (see §27.42 of this chapter) after 1 p.m.

23. During turkey hunts we only allow one weapon per hunter.

24. The bag limit for the entire hunt is one bearded turkey.

D. Sport Fishing. We allow fishing in accordance with State regulations.