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) Amagansett National Wildlife Refuge.

(1)-(3) [Reserved]

(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: We seasonally close the refuge to sport fishing from April 1 to August 31.

(b) Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge.

(1)-(3) [Reserved]

(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge.

(c) Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge—(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of duck, goose, rail, coot, gallinule, woodcock, and snipe on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) For hunting of duck, goose, and coot:

(A) We allow hunting on Saturday of the New York State Youth Days.

(B) We allow hunting Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from opening day of regular waterfowl season until the end of the first split.

(C) We require proof of successful completion of the New York State waterfowl identification course, the Iroquois nonresident waterfowl identification course, or a suitable nonresident State waterfowl identification course. All hunters must show proof of successful course completion each time they hunt, in addition to showing their valid hunting license and signed Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck Stamp).

(D) We require a refuge hunt permit (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application—National Wildlife Refuge System).

(E) We only allow hunting from legal starting time until 12 p.m. (noon). We require hunters to check out no later than 1 p.m., and return a completed Migratory Bird Hunt Report (FWS Form 3-2361).

(F) We require hunters to stay in designated hunting areas, unless actively pursuing downed or crippled birds.

(ii) For hunting of rail, gallinule, snipe, and woodcock, we only allow hunting east of Sour Springs Road from October 1 until the opening of regular waterfowl season.

(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of ruffed grouse, gray squirrel, cottontail rabbit, pheasant, coyote, fox, raccoon, skunk, and opossum on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) For small game hunting:

(A) We allow hunting from October 1 until the last day of February.

(B) We prohibit the use of raptors to take small game.

(ii) For furbearer hunting, we prohibit hunting from legal sunset to legal sunrise.

(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and turkey on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: We require a refuge permit (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application—National Wildlife Refuge System) for spring turkey hunting.

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

(i) We allow fishing and frogging from legal sunrise to legal sunset.

(ii) We prohibit collecting fish for use as bait.

(d) Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge—(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of waterfowl, Canada goose, and snow goose on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) For the regular waterfowl season:

(A) We require daily refuge permits (Migratory Bird Hunt Report, FWS Form 3-2361) and reservations; we issue permits to hunters with a reservation for that hunt day. We require you to complete and return your permit by the end of the hunt day.

(B) We allow hunting only on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays during the established refuge season set within the State western zone season. We allow a youth waterfowl hunt during New York State's established youth waterfowl hunt each year.

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

(D) We allow motorless boats to hunt waterfowl. We limit hunters to one boat per reservation and one motor vehicle in the hunt area per reservation.

(E) We prohibit shooting from any dike or within 50 feet (15.2 meters (m)) of any dike or road, or from within 500 feet (152.4 m) of the Tschache Pool observation tower.

(F) We require proof of successful completion of the New York State waterfowl identification course, the Montezuma nonresident waterfowl identification course, or a suitable nonresident State waterfowl identification course. All hunters must show proof of successful course completion each time they hunt, in addition to showing their valid State-issued hunting license and signed Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck Stamp).

(ii) For Canada goose and snow goose hunting:

(A) We allow hunting of Canada goose during the New York State September (or “early”) season and of snow goose during portions of the New York State snow goose season and portions of the period covered by the Light Goose Conservation Order.

(B) You must possess a valid daily hunt permit card (Migratory Bird Hunt Report, FWS Form 3-2361). We require you to complete and return the daily hunt permit card by the end of the hunt day.

(2) [Reserved]

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

(i) We close Esker Brook and South Spring Pool Trails to hunting before November 1 each year. We close Wildlife Drive to hunting before December 1 each year. We open Seneca Trail and the Refuge Headquarters area during New York State's late archery/muzzleloader season only. We allow a youth white-tailed deer hunt during the State's established youth white-tailed deer hunt each year.

(ii) You must possess a valid daily Big/Upland Game Hunt permit card (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application—National Wildlife Refuge System). We require you to complete and return the daily hunt permit card by the end of the hunt day.

(iii) We allow white-tailed deer hunters to be on the refuge during the period that begins 2 hours before legal sunrise and ends 2 hours after legal sunset.

(iv) We only allow turkey hunting during the State fall and youth turkey seasons.

(4) Sport fishing. We allow access for fishing from designated areas of the refuge.

(e) Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

(1)-(3) [Reserved]

(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: Anglers may fish from the refuge shoreline at Mill Pond from legal sunrise to legal sunset.

(f) Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge.

(1)-(3) [Reserved]

(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: Anglers may fish in refuge-controlled waters of the Great South Bay from boats only.

(g) Shawangunk Grasslands National Wildlife Refuge.

(1)-(2) [Reserved]

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

(i) Hunters must purchase a refuge hunt permit (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application—National Wildlife Refuge System). We require hunters to possess a signed refuge hunt permit at all times while scouting and hunting on the refuge.

(ii) You may take deer using archery equipment only.

(iii) 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.

(iv) Hunters may enter the refuge 2 hours before legal shooting time and leave no later than 2 hours after legal shooting time.

(4) [Reserved]

(h) Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge.

(1)-(3) [Reserved]

(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following condition: We allow sport fishing in Huntington Bay from the refuge shoreline when the refuge is open to visitors.

(i) Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge—(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of migratory birds on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) Hunters must obtain a refuge hunt permit (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application—National Wildlife Refuge System). We require hunters to possess a signed refuge hunt permit at all times while scouting and hunting on the refuge.

(ii) Hunters may enter the refuge 2 hours before legal shooting time and leave no later than 2 hours after legal shooting time.

(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of rabbit/hare, gray/black/fox squirrel, pheasant, bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse, crow, red/gray fox, coyote, bobcat, raccoon, skunk, mink, weasel, and opossum on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) Hunters must obtain a refuge hunt permit (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application—National Wildlife Refuge System). We require hunters to possess a signed refuge hunt permit at all times while scouting and hunting on the refuge.

(ii) The condition set forth at paragraph (i)(1)(ii) of this section applies.

(iii) We allow hunting from legal sunrise to legal sunset.

(iv) We prohibit the use of rifles.

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

(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (i)(1)(ii) and (i)(2)(i) and (iii) 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.

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

(i) We open Owens Station Crossing for catch-and-release fishing only.

(ii) We allow fishing from 12 hour before legal sunrise to 12 hour after legal sunset.

(iii) We prohibit the taking of amphibians and reptiles (see §27.21 of this chapter).

(iv) We prohibit minnow/bait trapping.

(j) Wertheim National Wildlife Refuge.

(1)-(2) [Reserved]

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

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

(ii) We require a permit (FWS Form 3-2439, Hunt Application—National Wildlife Refuge System) for deer hunting on the refuge.

(iii) 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.

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

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

(i) We allow shore and boat fishing on the portion of the Carmans River between Sunrise and Montauk Highways.

(ii) We allow only boat fishing from Montauk Highway south to the mouth of the Carmans River.

(iii) We prohibit spearfishing.

(iv) We prohibit the taking of baitfish and frogs (see §27.21 of this chapter).


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