The following refuge units are open for hunting and/or fishing as governed by applicable Federal and State regulations, and are listed in alphabetical order with additional refuge-specific regulations.

(a) Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge—(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of goose and duck on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) You must obtain and possess while hunting a refuge waterfowl hunting permit (signed brochure) by signing the corresponding season's refuge waterfowl hunting brochure in ink.

(ii) Up to three additional hunters may accompany you on your reserved unit.

(2) [Reserved]

(3) Big game hunting. We allow the hunting of white-tailed and sika deer and turkey on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) General hunt regulations for this paragraph (a)(3).

(A) You must obtain, and possess while hunting, a turkey or deer hunting permit (Big/Upland Game or Quota Deer Hunt Application, FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application—National Wildlife Refuge System).

(B) We prohibit organized deer drives unless authorized by the refuge manager. We define a “deer drive” as an organized or planned effort to pursue, drive, chase, or otherwise frighten or cause deer to move in the direction of any person(s) who is part of the organized or planned hunt and known to be waiting for the deer.

(C) We prohibit shooting a projectile from a firearm, muzzleloader, bow, or crossbow from, down, or across any refuge road. A refuge road is any road that is traveled by vehicular traffic.

(D) You must check all deer harvested at the refuge-sponsored check station during hunt days when the refuge-sponsored check station is open. If you fail to check deer during operation hours of the check station, you must notify the hunt coordinator by 12 p.m. (noon) on the day after your kill.

(E) We prohibit the use of rimfire or centerfire rifles and all handguns, including muzzleloading pistols, for hunting.

(ii) Archery deer hunt. We do not allow archery hunters to hunt within areas designated for the youth hunt on designated days.

(iii) Turkey hunt. We allow turkey hunt permit holders to have an assistant, who must remain within sight and normal voice contact and abide by the rules set forth in the Blackwater turkey brochure (signed brochure).

(iv) Youth deer and turkey hunt. We allow youth hunters to hunt on designated areas on designated days (youth hunt) if they meet the criteria of a “youth hunter” as governed by State law and possess a signed refuge hunt brochure (signed brochure).

(v) Designated disabled hunt.

(A) We require disabled hunters to have their America the Beautiful Access pass (OMB Control 1024-0252) in their possession while hunting in disabled areas.

(B) Disabled hunters may have an assistant, age 18 or older, who must remain within sight and normal voice contact while hunting. Assistants must possess a valid refuge hunt brochure (permit), signed in ink, and a valid government-issued photo identification.

(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing and crabbing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) We allow fishing and crabbing only from April 1 through September 30 from legal sunrise to legal sunset in refuge waters, unless otherwise authorized by the refuge manager.

(ii) We allow fishing and crabbing by boat in the Big Blackwater and the Little Blackwater River.

(b) Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge.

(1)-(2) [Reserved]

(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and turkey on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) General hunt regulations for this paragraph (b)(3).

(A) You must obtain, and possess while hunting, a deer or turkey hunting permit (Big/Upland Game Hunt Application, FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application—National Wildlife Refuge System).

(B) We prohibit shooting a projectile from a firearm, muzzleloader, bow, or crossbow from, down, or across any refuge road. A refuge road is any road that is traveled by vehicular traffic.

(C) We prohibit the use of rimfire or centerfire rifles and all handguns, including muzzleloading pistols, for hunting.

(ii) Youth deer hunt. We allow youth hunters to hunt on designated areas on designated days (youth hunt) if they meet the criteria of a “youth hunter” as governed by State law and possess a signed refuge hunt brochure (signed brochure).

(iii) Designated disabled hunt.

(A) We require disabled hunters to have their America the Beautiful Access pass (OMB Control 1024-0252) in their possession while hunting in disabled areas.

(B) Disabled hunters may have an assistant who must be age 18 or older and remain within sight and normal voice contact. Assistants must possess a valid refuge hunt brochure (permit), signed in ink, and a valid government-issued photo identification.

(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing and crabbing in designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) We allow fishing and crabbing from designated shoreline areas located at the Ingleside Recreation Area from legal sunrise to legal sunset, April 1 through September 30.

(ii) We allow fishing from designated shoreline areas located at the Chester River end of Boxes Point and Duck Inn Trails from legal sunrise to legal sunset.

(c) Patuxent Research Refuge—(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of goose, duck, and dove on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) We require a Refuge Hunt Application (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application—National Wildlife Refuge System), and a signed Statement of Hunter Ethics (FWS Form 3-2516).

(ii) We prohibit hunting and scouting on Sundays and Federal holidays. No hunt-related activities may take place unless the Hunting Control Station is open.

(iii) We allow the use of dogs to retrieve migratory game birds.

(iv) We prohibit wading in all impounded waters except for when placing and retrieving decoys.

(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of gray squirrel, eastern cottontail rabbit, and woodchuck on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: The conditions set forth at paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section apply.

(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of turkey and white-tailed deer on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section apply.

(ii) We prohibit organized deer drives. We define a “deer drive” as an organized or planned effort to pursue, drive, chase, or otherwise frighten or cause deer to move in the direction of any person(s) who is part of the organized or planned hunt and known to be waiting for the deer.

(iii) We allow the use of portable tree stands and blinds as governed by State regulations. You must remove your tree stand(s) and/or blind(s) from the refuge at the end of each day (see §27.93 of this chapter).

(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) We prohibit the use and/or possession of lead sinkers.

(ii) We allow the use of earthworms as the only source of live bait. We prohibit the use of bloodworms, fish, or other animals or parts of animals as bait.