The following refuge units have been opened for hunting and/or fishing, and are listed in alphabetical order with applicable refuge-specific regulations.
Huron Wetland Management District
A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow migratory game bird hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following condition: You must remove boats, decoys, portable blinds, other personal property, and any materials brought onto the area for blind construction by the end of each day (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter). We prohibit bringing any type of live or dead vegetation onto the refuge for any purpose at any time.
B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow upland game hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following condition: We prohibit the use of horses for any purpose.
C. Big Game Hunting. We allow big game hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. We allow hunters to leave portable tree stands and free-standing elevated platforms on Waterfowl Production Areas from the first Saturday after August 25 through February 15.
2. You must label portable tree stands and free-standing elevated platforms with your name and address or current hunting license number so it is legible from the ground.
3. We prohibit the use of horses for any purpose.
4. You must remove portable ground blinds and other personal property by the end of each day (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
D. Sport Fishing. We allow sport fishing on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following condition: You must remove boats, motor vehicles, fishing equipment, and other personal property (excluding ice houses) by the end of each day (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
LaCreek National Wildlife Refuge
A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow the hunting of goose, duck, coot, common snipe, sandhill crane, American crow, and mourning dove only within the Little White River Recreation Area in accordance with State regulations.
B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow the hunting of ring-necked pheasant and sharp-tailed grouse on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. Hunters may remain on the refuge no longer than \1/2\ hour after legal sunset.
2. You must park vehicles in a designated hunter parking area.
3. Hunters must access and exit the hunting area only from a designated hunter parking area.
4. We prohibit hunting with the aid of a motor vehicle.
C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed and mule deer on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. We require a State permit for muzzleloader deer hunting.
2. All archery deer hunters must possess and carry a refuge permit (signature required).
3. Deer hunters may enter the refuge 1\1/2\ hours before legal sunrise and remain no longer than 1\1/2\ hours after legal sunset.
4. Hunters may leave portable tree stands and free-standing elevated platforms on the refuge from the first Saturday after August 25 through February 15. Hunters must remove all other personal property by the end of the day (see Sec. 27.93 of this chapter).
5. Portable tree stands and free-standing elevated platforms must bear the name and address of the owner or user, or that person's current hunting license number. The labeling must be legible from the ground.
6. We close the refuge to archery hunting during refuge firearm seasons.
7. Conditions B2 through B4 apply.
D. Sport Fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. Areas open for fishing include: Pools 3, 4, 7, and 10, the Little White River Recreation Area, and the Cedar Creek Trout Ponds. We prohibit fishing in all other areas of the refuge.
2. We allow boat use only on Pools 3, 4, 7, and 10, and the Little White River Recreation Area.
3. We prohibit the use of internal combustion motors in Pools 3, 4, 7, and 10.
4. We prohibit the use or possession of live minnows or bait fish in Pools 3, 4, 7, and 10 and the Cedar Creek Trout Ponds.
5. We will open designated fishing areas from \1/2\ hour before legal sunrise to \1/2\ hour after legal sunset, except the Little White River Recreation Area.
Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge
A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow migratory game bird hunting on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations.
B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow upland game hunting on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations.
C. Big Game Hunting. We allow big game hunting on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations.
D. Sport Fishing. [Reserved]
Lake Andes Wetland Management District
A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow migratory game bird hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following condition: You must remove boats, decoys, portable blinds, other personal property, and any materials brought onto the area for blind construction by the end of each day (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter). We prohibit bringing any type of live or dead vegetation onto the refuge for any purpose at any time.
B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow upland game hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following condition: We prohibit the use of horses for any purpose.
C. Big Game Hunting. We allow big game hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. We allow the use of archery equipment only for big game hunting on Atkins Waterfowl Production Area in Lincoln County.
2. We allow portable tree stands and freestanding elevated platforms to be left on Waterfowl Production Areas from the first Saturday after August 25 through February 15.
3. You must label portable tree stands and freestanding elevated platforms with your name and address or current hunting license number so it is legible from the ground.
4. You must remove portable ground blinds and other personal property at the end of each day (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
5. We prohibit the use of horses for any purpose.
D. Sport Fishing. We allow sport fishing on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following condition: You must remove boats, motor vehicles, fishing equipment, and other personal property (excluding ice houses) by the end of each day (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
Madison Wetland Management District
A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow migratory game bird hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following condition: You must remove boats, decoys, portable blinds, other personal property, and any materials brought onto the area for blind construction by the end of each day (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter). We prohibit bringing any type of live or dead vegetation onto the refuge for any purpose at any time.
B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow upland game hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following condition: We prohibit the use of horses for any purpose.
C. Big Game Hunting. We allow big game hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. We allow hunters to leave portable tree stands and free-standing elevated platforms on Waterfowl Production Areas from the first Saturday after August 25 through February 15.
2. You must label portable tree stands and free-standing elevated platforms with your name and address or current hunting license number so it is legible from the ground.
3. We prohibit the use of horses for any purpose.
4. You must remove portable ground blinds and other personal property by the end of each day (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
D. Sport Fishing. We allow sport fishing on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following condition: You must remove boats, motor vehicles, fishing equipment, and other personal property (excluding ice houses) by the end of each day (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge
A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow hunting of waterfowl on designated portions of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. We restrict vehicle parking to designated parking lots in the vicinity of the waterfowl blind areas (see Sec. 27.31 of this chapter).
2. Unarmed waterfowl hunters on the perimeter of the refuge may retrieve downed waterfowl up to 100 yards (90 m) inside the refuge boundary.
B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow hunting of pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, and partridge on designated portions of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. The game bird season begins the Monday following closure of the refuge firearms deer season and continues through the first Sunday in January.
2. Refuge access is ``walk-in'' only. We prohibit motor vehicles, bicycles, snowmobiles, and all-terrain vehicles (see Sec. 27.31(f) of this chapter).
3. Hunters are not allowed to enter the refuge each day until 10:00 a.m.
C. Big Game Hunting. We allow hunting of deer on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. Only firearms deer hunters with a Sand Lake refuge permit (you must possess and carry) may hunt deer on the refuge.
2. Hunters with a valid State archery license may hunt on the refuge during the established refuge archery deer season. Consult the refuge manager for current season dates.
3. All individuals afield during the refuge firearms deer season must wear a minimum of 400 square inches (2,600 cm\2\) of solid fluorescent orange material on the head, chest, and back that must be visible at all times.
4. We allow portable, elevated hunting platforms not attached to trees and portable ground blinds, but they must bear the name and address of the owner or user or the year and big game tag number of the owner or user. The labeling must be readily visible and legible.
5. Hunters may place their tree stands, elevated platforms, and portable ground blinds on the refuge only during their designated licensed season. These stands must be removed by the end of their designated licensed season (see Sec. 27.93 of this chapter).
6. Deer hunters may enter the refuge 1 hour before legal shooting time and remain no longer than 1 hour after shooting time ends.
7. Refuge access is ``walk-in'' only. We allow vehicles on designated refuge roads ONLY for retrieving harvested deer and ONLY during the following times: 9:30-10 a.m., 1:30-2 p.m., and from the end of legal shooting time to 1 hour after the end of shooting time (see Sec. 27.31 of this chapter).
8. We restrict vehicle parking to designated parking lots in the vicinity of the waterfowl blind areas (see Sec. 27.31 of this chapter).
9. We prohibit bicycles, snowmobiles, and all-terrain vehicles at all times (see Sec. 27.31(f) of this chapter).
10. Trail monitor cameras are not allowed on the refuge.
D. Sport Fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. Fishing hours are \1/2\ hour before legal sunrise to \1/2\ hour after legal sunset.
2. We prohibit motorized vehicles on the ice during winter (see Sec. 27.31 of this chapter).
3. We allow ice fishing shanties, but anglers must remove them (see Sec. 27.93 of this chapter) daily.
4. We prohibit open fires (see Sec. 27.95 of this chapter).
Sand Lake Wetland Management District
A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow migratory game bird hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations and subject to the following conditions:
1. You must remove boats, decoys, portable blinds, other personal property, and any materials brought onto the area for blind construction by the end of each day (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
2. We prohibit bringing any type of live or dead vegetation onto the refuge for any purpose at any time.
3. We allow the use of motorized boats.
B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow upland game hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following condition: We prohibit the use of horses for any purpose.
C. Big Game Hunting. We allow big game hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. We allow hunters to leave portable tree stands and free-standing elevated platforms on Waterfowl Production Areas from the first Saturday after August 25 through February 15.
2. You must label portable tree stands and free-standing elevated platforms with your name and address or current hunting license number so it is legible from the ground.
3. We prohibit the use of horses for any purpose.
4. You must remove portable ground blinds, trail cameras, and other personal property by the end of each day (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
D. Sport Fishing. We allow sport fishing on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations and subject to the following conditions:
1. You must remove boats, motor vehicles, fishing equipment, and other personal property (excluding ice houses) by the end of each day (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
2. We allow the use of motorized boats.
Waubay National Wildlife Refuge
A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. [Reserved]
B. Upland Game Hunting. [Reserved]
C. Big Game Hunting. We allow deer hunting on designated areas in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. We prohibit deer hunting on Headquarters Island.
2. We prohibit erecting tree stands prior to hunt start dates. Hunters must remove them (see Sec. 27.93 of this chapter) by the end of the hunt.
3. Hunters may launch nonmotorized watercraft from designated access points to travel to islands.
4. We close archery seasons during refuge firearm seasons.
5. We prohibit deer drives during archery seasons. We define a drive as the act of chasing, pursuing, disturbing, or otherwise directing deer so as make the animals more susceptible to harvest by another hunter.
6. Refuge firearm hunters must wear a minimum of 400 square inches (2,600 cm\2\) of solid flourescent-orange material visible on the head, chest, and back.
7. You must label portable tree stands and freestanding elevated platforms with your name and address or current hunting license number so it is legible from the ground.
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 ice fishing after refuge firearm deer seasons close. We prohibit open water fishing at any time.
2. Anglers must not be on the ice until 1 hour prior to legal sunrise and must be off the ice by 1 hour after legal sunset.
3. Anglers must remove ice shacks (see Sec. 27.93 of this chapter) daily prior to closed fishing hours.
4. We restrict angler foot travel to posted access points, public roads, and lake ice.
Waubay Wetland Management District
A. Migratory Game Bird Hunting. We allow migratory game bird hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following condition: You must remove boats, decoys, portable blinds, other personal property, and any materials brought onto the area for blind construction by the end of each day (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter). We prohibit bringing any type of live or dead vegetation onto the refuge for any purpose at any time.
B. Upland Game Hunting. We allow upland game hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following condition: We prohibit the use of horses for any purpose.
C. Big Game Hunting. We allow big game hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following conditions:
1. We allow hunters to leave portable tree stands and free-standing elevated platforms on Waterfowl Production Areas from the first Saturday after August 25 through February 15.
2. You must label portable tree stands and free-standing elevated platforms with your name and address or current hunting license number so it is legible from the ground.
3. We prohibit the use of horses for any purpose.
4. You must remove portable ground blinds and other personal property by the end of each day (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
D. Sport Fishing. We allow sport fishing on Waterfowl Production Areas throughout the District in accordance with State regulations subject to the following condition: You must remove boats, motor vehicles, fishing equipment, and other personal property (excluding ice houses) by the end of each day (see Sec. Sec. 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter). [58 FR 5064, Jan. 19, 1993, as amended at 60 FR 62047, Dec. 4, 1995; 62 FR 47381, Sept. 9, 1997; 65 FR 30791, May 12, 2000; 65 FR 56408, Sept. 18, 2000; 66 FR 46361, Sept. 4, 2001; 69 FR 54362, 54452, Sept. 8, 2004; 69 FR 55995, Sept. 17, 2004; 70 FR 54190, Sept. 13, 2005; 73 FR 33197, June 11, 2008; 75 FR 18426, Apr. 12, 2010; 77 FR 56059, Sept. 11, 2012; 79 FR 14840, Mar. 17, 2014]