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) Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge -
(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of mourning dove, woodcock, common snipe, Canada and snow goose, coot, crow, and waterfowl listed at 50 CFR 10.13(c)(1) under DUCK on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) Except for raccoon, opossum, and bullfrog hunting, access to the refuge is from 2 hours before legal sunrise to 2 hours after legal sunset.
(ii) You must possess and carry a signed refuge hunting/fishing permit (signed brochure) while hunting and/or fishing on the refuge.
(iii) We prohibit hunting within 100 feet (30 meters) of a residence and discharge of firearms within 200 feet (60 meters) of any home, the abandoned railroad tracks, graveled roads, and hiking trails.
(iv) We allow trail cameras. Trail cameras must have the owner's State hunting license number clearly displayed or we may confiscate them.
(v) We allow the use of dogs for waterfowl, quail, snipe, dove, woodcock, squirrel, rabbit, raccoon, opossum, and fall turkey hunting. Dog owners/handlers must have a collar on each dog with the owner's contact information.
(vi) We allow waterfowl hunting from legal shooting time until 12 p.m. (noon).
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of squirrel, rabbit, quail, raccoon, opossum, coyote, bobcat, fox, skunk, otter, muskrat, mink, weasel, and beaver on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (v) of this section apply.
(ii) We allow coyote hunting under Statewide regulations during daylight hours only.
(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) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (v) of this section apply.
(ii) We close squirrel, rabbit, crow, woodcock, snipe, dove, and quail seasons during muzzleloader and modern gun deer hunts.
(iii) We allow the use of only 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 §§ 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter). The hunter's State hunting license number must appear on all stands left in the field.
(iv) You must use safety belts at all times when occupying the tree stands.
(v) 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.
(vi) Ground blinds used for the purpose of hunting any species during the deer modern gun, muzzleloader, and youth firearms seasons must display 1 square foot (144 square inches) of solid, unbroken, hunter orange visible from all sides. You must remove ground blinds when not in use.
(4) Sport fishing. We allow fishing and frogging on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section apply.
(ii) The following conditions apply to the Environmental Education and Recreation Area (EERA):
(A) The EERA is a day-use area only.
(B) We only allow one rod and reel or pole and line for fishing per person.
(C) We prohibit the use of live fish for bait.
(D) We allow the taking of largemouth bass, channel catfish, and bluegill in accordance with posted limits.
(E) We prohibit the hunting or harvesting of frog.
(b) Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Refer to § 32.67(b) for regulations.
(c) Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge. Refer to § 32.61(f) for regulations.
[84 FR 47675, Sept. 10, 2019, as amended at 85 FR 54113, Aug. 31, 2020]