The following refuge units have been opened for hunting and/or fishing, and are listed in alphabetical order with applicable refuge-specific regulations.
De Soto National Wildlife Refuge
A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. [Reserved]
B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow youth hunting of ring-necked pheasant on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with the States of Iowa and Nebraska regulations. The refuge manager will annually determine and publish hunting seasons, dates, and designated areas.
C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and wild turkey on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with States of Iowa and Nebraska regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. The refuge manager will annually determine and publish hunting seasons and dates and include them in the refuge access permit.
2. You must possess and carry a refuge access permit at all times while in the hunting area. Hunters may enter the hunting areas only within the dates listed on the Refuge Access Permit.
3. All areas open to hunting may be accessed by hunters with a valid Iowa or Nebraska resident hunting permit. Reciprocity exists, with both States allowing hunters with either resident permit to access refuge hunting land in either State.
4. Hunters holding nonresident Nebraska or nonresident Iowa permits may hunt only on the ground that lies within the State that issued the nonresident permit.
5. We allow hunters in the designated area from 3 hours before legal sunrise until 2 hours after legal sunset.
6. We prohibit the use of a crossbow as archery equipment unless the hunter has obtained a State-issued disability crossbow permit.
7. All hunters must be in possession of a valid Entrance Fee Permit.
8. Hunters may not construct or use permanent blinds or stands. Hunters must remove hunting blinds or stands and other property by the close of the season (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
9. We prohibit shooting on or over any refuge road open to vehicle traffic within 30 feet (9 m) of the centerline.
10. We prohibit field dressing of any big game within 100 feet (30 m) of the centerline of any refuge road.
11. We prohibit use of two-way mobile radio transmitters to communicate the location or direction of game or to coordinate the movement of other hunters.
12. We prohibit participation in organized deer drives.
D. Sport Fishing. We allow sport fishing in DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge in accordance with the States of Iowa and Nebraska regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. We allow ice fishing in DeSoto Lake from January 2 through the end of February.
2. We allow the use of pole and line or rod and reel fishing in DeSoto Lake from April 15 through October 14.
3. We allow the use of archery and spear fishing for nongame fish only from April 15 through October 14.
4. When the lake is open to ice fishing, we prohibit motor- or wind-driven conveyances on the lake.
5. We allow the use of portable ice fishing shelters on a daily basis from January 2 through the end of February.
6. Anglers may use no more than two lines and two hooks per line, including ice fishing.
7. We prohibit the use of trotlines, float lines, bank lines, or setlines.
8. Anglers must adhere to minimum length and creel limits as posted.
9. We prohibit anglers leaving any personal property, litter, fish or any parts thereof, on the banks, in the water, or on the ice.
10. We prohibit digging or seining for bait.
11. We prohibit take or possession of turtle or frog at any time (see Sec. 27.21 of this chapter).
12. We limit boating to ``no-wake'' speeds, not to exceed 5 miles per hour.
13. We allow anglers on the refuge from \1/2\ hour before legal sunrise to \1/2\ hour after legal sunset.
Driftless Area National Wildlife Refuge
A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. [Reserved]
B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of upland game on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
1. In areas posted ``Area Closed,'' we prohibit entry, including hunting.
2. In areas open to hunting, we allow hunting beginning November 1 until the close of State hunting seasons or January 15, whichever occurs first.
3. You may possess only approved nontoxic shot while hunting for any allowed birds or other small game.
C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
1. In areas posted ``Area Closed,'' we prohibit all public entry, including hunting.
2. In areas open to hunting, we allow hunting beginning November 1 until the close of State hunting seasons or January 15, whichever occurs first.
3. We allow archery and muzzleloader hunting only.
4. We allow deer drives only during lawful party hunting conducted within the refuge, in accordance with State regulations. We prohibit driving deer from or through the refuge to any persons hunting outside the refuge boundary.
5. We do not allow construction or use of permanent blinds, platforms, or ladders.
6. You must remove all stands from the refuge following each day's hunt.
D. Sport Fishing. Fishing is permitted on designated areas of the refuge.
Iowa Wetland Management District
A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of migratory game birds throughout the district in accordance with State regulations and subject to the following condition: For hunting, you may use or possess only approved nontoxic shot shells while in the field, including shot shells used for hunting wild turkey (see Sec. 32.2(k)).
B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow upland game hunting throughout the district in accordance with State regulations and subject to the following condition: For hunting, you may use or possess only approved nontoxic shot shells while in the field, including shot shells used for hunting wild turkey (see Sec. 32.2(k)).
C. Big Game Hunting. We allow big game hunting throughout the district in accordance with State regulations.
D. Sport Fishing. [Reserved]
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge
A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow the hunting of duck, goose, and coot on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State and Federal regulations and subject to the following conditions:
1. We prohibit all hunting February 1 through August 31 due to conflict with existing appropriate and compatible uses.
2. You may only possess approved nontoxic shot (see Sec. 32.2(k)) while hunting for any allowed bird, including waterfowl and wild turkey, or other upland or small game.
3. We allow entry into the refuge 1 hour before sunrise and require hunters to leave the refuge no later than 1 hour after sunset.
4. We prohibit shooting on or over any refuge road within 50 feet (15 meters) from the centerline.
5. You must possess and carry a refuge permit (free brochure available at the refuge visitor center).
6. We allow the use of dogs for waterfowl, pheasant, and quail hunting only.
B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail, pigeon, mourning dove, crow, cottontail rabbit, gray and fox squirrel, and fall wild turkey (2 weeks within the season) on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following condition: Conditions A1 to A6 apply.
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. Conditions A1 and A3 to A5 apply.
2. We allow the use of portable stands and blinds for hunting, and hunters must remove them at the end of each day (see Sec. 27.93 of this chapter).
D. Sport Fishing. [Reserved]
Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge
A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of ducks, geese, mergansers, coots, rails (Virginia and sora only), woodcock, snipe, and doves (mourning and Eurasian collared) on designated areas in accordance with State regulations and subject to the following conditions:
1. For units adjacent to and managed by Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, you must follow the refuge-specific regulations provided in this section of the regulations for Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.
2. Hunters may possess only approved nontoxic shot while in the field (see Sec. 32.2(k)).
3. Hunters may construct temporary blinds using manmade materials only. We prohibit bringing plants or their parts onto the refuge.
4. We prohibit the construction or use of permanent blinds, stands, or scaffolds (see Sec. 27.93 of this chapter).
5. We prohibit leaving boats, decoys, or other personal property unattended at any time.
6. Hunters must remove boats, decoys, portable or temporary blinds, materials brought onto the refuge, and other personal property at the end of each day's hunt (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
7. We allow the use of hunting dogs, provided that the dogs remain under the immediate control of the hunter at all times during the State-approved hunting season (see Sec. 26.21(b) of this chapter).
8. We prohibit the use of motorized watercraft.
9. We prohibit camping.
B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of ring-necked pheasant, bobwhite quail, gray partridge, cottontail rabbit, squirrel (fox and gray), groundhog, raccoon, opossum, fox (red and gray), coyote, badger, striped skunk, and crow on designated areas in accordance with State regulations and subject to the following conditions:
1. For units adjacent to and managed by Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, you must follow the refuge-specific regulations provided in this section of the regulations for Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.
2. Shotgun hunters may possess only approved nontoxic shot while in the field (see Sec. 32.2(k)).
3. We allow the use of dogs for upland game bird hunting only, provided the dogs remain under the immediate control of the hunter at all times during the State-approved hunting season (see Sec. 26.21(b) of this chapter).
4. We prohibit the use of dogs for hunting furbearers.
5. Conditions A8 and A9 apply.
C. Big Game Hunting. We allow the hunting of deer and turkey on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations and subject to the following conditions:
1. For units adjacent to and managed by Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, you must follow the refuge-specific regulations provided in this section of the regulations for Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge.
2. We allow the use of temporary stands, blinds, platforms, or ladders. Hunters may construct blinds using manmade materials only. We prohibit bringing plants or their parts onto the refuge.
3. We prohibit the construction or use of permanent blinds, stands, scaffolds, or ladders (see Sec. 27.93 of this chapter).
4. Conditions A6, A8, and A9 apply.
5. While hunting wild turkey, you may use only approved nontoxic shot shells (see Sec. 32.2(k)).
D. Sport Fishing. [Reserved]
Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge
A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of duck, goose, teal, brant, merganser, coot, sora and Virginia rail, dove, woodcock and snipe on Iowa River Corridor Project lands in accordance with State regulations and subject to the following conditions:
1. You may possess only approved nontoxic shot while hunting migratory birds (see Sec. 32.2(k)).
2. You must remove boats, decoys, and portable blinds at the end of each day (see Sec. 27.93 of this chapter).
B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of upland game in accordance with State regulations and subject to the following condition: You may only possess approved nontoxic shot while hunting upland game (see Sec. 32.2(k)); you may use lead shot to hunt turkey.
C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of big game in accordance with State regulations and subject to the following condition: We only allow the use of portable stands and you must remove them at the end of each day (see Sec. 27.93 of this chapter).
D. Sport Fishing. We allow sport fishing on all areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations and subject to the following condition: You must remove boats and all other fishing devices at the end of each day's fishing.
Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge
A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of duck, goose, coot, rail (Virginia and sora only), woodcock, and snipe on the Buffalo Creek Bottoms and Schwob Marsh units of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. We allow hunters on the refuge from 1 hour before legal sunrise until 1 hour after legal sunset.
2. For hunting, you may use or possess only approved nontoxic shot shells while in the field, including shot shells used for hunting wild turkey (see Sec. 32.2(k)).
3. We allow boats or other floating devices. We allow electric motors only. We prohibit the use of air-thrust boats. You may not leave boats unattended.
4. You may construct blinds using manmade materials or natural vegetation found on the refuge. We prohibit bringing plants or their parts onto the refuge.
5. You must remove boats, decoys, and blinds (see Sec. 27.93 of this chapter) from the refuge at the end of each day.
6. We allow the use of hunting dogs provided that the dogs remain under the immediate control of the hunter at all times (see Sec. 26.21(b) of this chapter).
7. We prohibit entry into any closed area to retrieve downed game, unless the hunter has received written permission from the refuge manager.
8. We prohibit hunting on road rights-of-way on any portion of the refuge not open to hunting. The road right-of-way extends to the center of the road.
B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of pheasant, gray partridge, cottontail rabbit, squirrel (fox and gray), groundhog, raccoon, opossum, fox, coyote, and crow on Buffalo Creek Bottoms, Schwob Marsh, and the Core Area in accordance with State regulations and subject to the following conditions:
1. We only allow hunting in the Core Area during the dates posted at the Refuge Headquarters.
2. We prohibit possession of shotgun slugs.
3. Hunters may only enter the refuge from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
4. Conditions A2, A6, A7, and A8 apply.
C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of deer and turkey on Buffalo Creek Bottoms, Schwob Marsh, and the Core Area in accordance with State regulations and subject to the following conditions:
1. Conditions B1 and A8 apply. Condition A2 applies only to wild turkey.
2. Deer hunters in the Core Area must possess a valid State deer hunting license and an unfilled State-issued transportation tag.
3. We allow portable tree stands, portable blinds, and freestanding elevated platforms to be left on the refuge from 7 days prior to the first deer hunting season; they must be removed prior to 7 days following the last deer hunting season. Turkey hunters must remove blinds and stands each day.
4. You must label portable tree stands, portable blinds, and freestanding elevated platforms with your name, address, and phone number if left unattended. The label must be legible from the ground.
5. You must remove any other personal property brought onto the area at the end of each day (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
6. We only allow deer hunters on the refuge from 1 hour before legal sunrise until 1 hour after legal sunset.
7. Deer hunters may possess only shot shells that shoot a single projectile (i.e., slugs).
8. We prohibit turkey hunting in the Core Area at all times.
9. We only allow turkey hunters on the refuge from 1 hour before legal sunrise until 1 hour after legal sunset.
10. We allow the use of temporary stands, blinds, platforms, or ladders. You may construct blinds using manmade materials or natural vegetation found on the refuge. We prohibit bringing plants or their parts onto the refuge.
11. We prohibit entry into any closed area to retrieve downed game, unless the hunter has received written permission from the refuge manager.
D. Sport Fishing. We allow sport fishing from the County Road A-40 right-of-way and in Buffalo Creek south of County Road 320th Street in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. We allow fishing from legal sunrise to legal sunset.
2. We allow fishing from boats on the Buffalo Creek Bottoms; however, we prohibit the use of gasoline motors.
3. We prohibit the use or possession of lead terminal tackle.
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge
Refer to Sec. 32.42 Minnesota for regulations. [58 FR 5064, Jan. 19, 1993, as amended at 58 FR 29084, May 18, 1993; 59 FR 6685, 6692, Feb. 11, 1994; 59 FR 55186, Nov. 3, 1994; 60 FR 62042, Dec. 4, 1995; 61 FR 46395, Sept. 3, 1996; 63 FR 46916, Sept. 3, 1998; 65 FR 30783, May 12, 2000; 65 FR 56402, Sept. 18, 2000; 66 FR 46356, Sept. 4, 2001; 68 FR 57316, Oct. 2, 2003; 69 FR 54362, 54390, Sept. 8, 2004; 70 FR 54168, Sept. 13, 2005; 72 FR 51542, Sept. 7, 2007; 73 FR 33175, June 11, 2008; 76 FR 56070, Sept. 9, 2011; 79 FR 14828, Mar. 17, 2014; 80 FR 51903, Aug. 26, 2015]