The following refuge units have been opened for hunting and/or fishing, and are listed in alphabetical order with applicable refuge-specific regulations.
Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge
A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of mourning dove, woodcock, common snipe, Canada and snow goose, coot, crow, and waterfowl listed in 50 CFR 10.13 under DUCKS on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. Except for raccoon, opossum, and bullfrog hunting, access to the refuge is from 2 hours before legal sunrise to 2 hours after legal sunset.
2. We prohibit the use of motorized off-road vehicles (e.g., ATVs) and any unlicensed vehicles on the refuge (see Sec. 27.31(f) of this chapter).
3. We prohibit target practice with any weapon or nonhunting discharge of firearms (see Sec. 27.42 of this chapter).
4. We prohibit the use of horses and mules on refuge property during the State muzzleloader and modern gun deer hunts. We allow horseback riding on refuge roads and portions of the abandoned railroad tracks owned by the refuge for access purposes while engaged in wildlife activities. We prohibit horses and mules off these secondary access routes for any reason.
5. You must possess and carry a valid refuge permit while hunting and/or fishing on the refuge.
6. To retrieve or track game from a posted closed area of the refuge, the hunter must first receive authorization from the refuge manager at 270-527-5770 or the law enforcement officer at 270-702-2836.
7. We prohibit the use of flagging tape, reflective tacks, or nonbiodegradable devices used to identify paths to and mark tree stands, blinds, and other areas.
8. We close portions of abandoned railroad tracks within the refuge boundary to vehicle access (see Sec. 27.31 of this chapter).
9. We prohibit discharge of firearms or carrying loaded firearms used for hunting on or within 200 feet (90 m) of any home, the abandoned railroad tracks, graveled roads, and hiking trails.
10. We prohibit possession or use of alcoholic beverages.
11. We prohibit the use of any electronic call or other electronic device used for producing or projecting vocal sounds of any wildlife species with the exception of electronic calls used during the refuge coyote hunt starting at legal sunrise on the first Monday following the end of deer archery season and closing at legal sunset on the Friday 2 weeks prior to the beginning of youth turkey season.
12. We allow use of trail cameras. Cameras may be used year-round. Cameras must have owner's name, address, and phone number clearly displayed.
13. An adult age 21 or older must supervise all youth hunters age 15 and younger. Youth hunters must remain in sight and normal voice contact with the adult. On small game hunts, the adult may supervise no more than two youths; on big game hunts, the adult may supervise no more than one youth.
14. All persons born after January 1, 1975, must possess a valid hunter education card while hunting.
15. We prohibit the use of centerfire weapons when hunting crow.
16. We allow dogs for waterfowl, small game, and fall turkey hunting. Hunters must control all dogs by leash or chain if they are not legally using them for hunting. Dog owners/handlers must have a collar on each dog with the owner's name, address, and telephone number.
17. Waterfowl hunters must cease hunting and pick up decoys and equipment (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter), unload firearms used for hunting (see Sec. 27.42(b) of this chapter), by 12 p.m. (noon) daily during the State waterfowl season.
18. Waterfowl hunters must remove decoys, blinds, boats, and all other equipment (see Sec. 27.93 of this chapter) and be out of the field daily by 2 p.m.
19. We close to all entry as posted the Sharpe-Elva Water Management Units from November 1 through March 31 with the exception of drawn permit holders (name/address/phone) and their guests.
20. We only allow waterfowl hunting on the Sharpe-Elva Water Management Units on specified days during the State waterfowl season. We only allow hunting by individuals in possession of a refuge draw permit and their guests. State regulations and the following conditions apply:
i. Application procedures and eligibility requirements are available from the refuge office.
ii. We allow permit holders and up to three guests to hunt their assigned zone and/or provided blind on the designated date. We prohibit guests on the Sharpe-Elva Water Management Units without the attendance of the permit holder.
iii. We prohibit selling, trading, or bartering of permits. This permit is nontransferable.
iv. You may place decoys out the first morning of the drawn hunt, and you must remove them at the close of the drawn hunt (see Sec. 27.93 of this chapter).
v. We prohibit watercraft on the Sharpe-Elva Water Management Units, except for drawn permit holders to access their blinds and retrieve downed birds as needed.
B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of squirrel, rabbit, quail, raccoon, opossum, and coyote on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. Conditions A1 through A16 apply.
2. We close squirrel, rabbit, crow, woodcock, snipe, dove, and quail seasons during muzzleloader and modern gun deer hunts.
3. You may not kill or cripple a wild animal without making a reasonable effort to retrieve the animal and harvest a reasonable portion to be included in your daily bag limit.
4. You may use only rimfire rifles, pistols, shotguns, and legal archery equipment for taking upland game.
5. You may possess only approved nontoxic shot (see Sec. 32.2(k)) while hunting small game.
6. You may hunt coyote under Statewide regulations starting at legal sunrise on the first Monday following the end of deer archery season and closing at legal sunset on the Friday 2 weeks prior to the beginning of youth turkey season. Hunters may also take coyote during any daytime refuge hunt for other wildlife species with weapons, ammunition, and equipment legal for that species only.
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. Conditions A1 through A16 and B3 apply.
2. We only allow the use of portable and climbing stands. You may place stands in the field no earlier than 2 weeks prior to the opening of deer season, and you must remove them from the field within 1 week after the season closes (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter). The hunter's name and address must appear on all stands left in the field.
3. You must use safety belts at all times when occupying the tree stands.
4. We prohibit organized deer drives of two or more hunters. We define ``drive'' as: the act of chasing, pursuing, disturbing, or otherwise directing deer so as to make animals more susceptible to harvest.
5. Ground blinds used for the purpose of hunting any species during the deer modern gun, muzzleloader, and youth firearms seasons must display solid, unbroken, hunter orange visible from all sides.
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. Conditions A1 through A15 apply.
2. The following apply to the Environmental Education and Recreation Area (EERA).
i. The EERA is a day-use area only.
ii. We only allow one rod and reel or pole and line for fishing per person.
iii. We prohibit the use of any type of watercraft.
iv. We prohibit the introduction or stocking of any species (see Sec. 27.52 of this chapter).
v. We prohibit the use of live fish for bait.
vi. We close designated portions of the EERA to all entry from November 1 to March 15.
vii. We allow the taking of largemouth bass, channel catfish, and bluegill in accordance with posted limits.
viii. We prohibit the hunting or harvesting of frog.
Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Refer to Sec. 32.68 West Virginia for regulations.
Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge
Refer to Sec. 32.62 Tennessee for regulations. [58 FR 5064, Jan. 19, 1993, as amended at 60 FR 62042, Dec. 4, 1995; 61 FR 31461, June 20, 1996; 61 FR 46395, Sept. 3, 1996; 63 FR 46916, Sept. 3, 1998; 65 FR 30783, May 12, 2000; 66 FR 46357, Sept. 4, 2001; 69 FR 54362, 54393, Sept. 8, 2004; 69 FR 55995, Sept. 17, 2004; 70 FR 54168, Sept. 13, 2005; 73 FR 33176, June 11, 2008; 74 FR 45684, Sept. 3, 2009; 76 FR 3960, Jan. 21, 2011; 76 FR 56070, Sept. 9, 2011; 80 FR 31903, Aug. 26, 2015]