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) Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge -
(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of marsh hen/rail on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We require each hunter to carry at all times while hunting a signed, current refuge hunt permit (signed brochure) and a government-issued picture identification.
(ii) We prohibit hunting on Sundays.
(iii) Each hunter age 15 and younger must remain within sight and normal voice contact of an adult age 21 or older. Youth hunters must have successfully completed a State-approved hunter education course.
(iv) We allow the use of dogs while hunting for marsh hen/rail.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of raccoon on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (iii) of this section apply.
(ii) We allow hunting only on days designated annually by the refuge within the State season.
(iii) Each archery hunter must check-in at the camping site on Bulls Island before setting up camp or before starting to hunt. We require each hunter to record his or her State hunting license number in the available register.
(iv) Hunters may camp in the designated camping areas on Bulls Island during the archery white-tailed deer hunts from 9 a.m. on the day preceding the hunt until 12 p.m. (noon) on the day following the hunt.
(v) Hunters must hunt from a tree stand or the ground. We prohibit stalking, driving, corralling, or any other cooperative form of hunting.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow the hunting of white-tailed deer on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (a)(1)(i) through (iii) and (a)(2)(ii) through (v) of this section apply.
(ii) The refuge designates daily limits for white-tailed deer.
(iii) We prohibit crossbows, muzzleloaders, shotguns, rifles, pistols, and any other firearms or illegal means (as governed by State designations) to take white-tailed deer during the designated refuge archery hunt.
(iv) Hunters much check all white-tailed deer at the refuge check station prior to removal from Bulls Island.
(4) Sport fishing. We allow saltwater fishing and shell fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We prohibit cast nets on the pier at Garris Landing.
(ii) We prohibit anglers or visitors taking, possessing, or transporting more than one 3-quart plastic bag of sea shells per person per day from the refuge.
(b) Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge -
(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of mourning dove and woodcock on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) All hunters must carry a signed refuge general hunt permit (signed brochure) and government-issued picture identification.
(ii) Each youth hunter (age 15 and younger) must remain within sight and voice contact and under supervision of an adult age 21 or older.
(iii) We prohibit discharge of any weapon on or across any part of the refuge road system.
(iv) We prohibit the use of outdoor recreational vehicles (ORVs) except by mobility-impaired hunters with a Special Use Permit (FWS Form 3-1383-G) to use ORV in designated areas during specified hunts. Companions assisting disabled hunters must be listed on the Special Use Permit.
(v) For hunting, you may possess shotguns with shot no larger than #5.
(vi) Legal shooting hours for September dove hunts are 12 p.m. (noon) to 6 p.m.
(vii) We prohibit the possession of more than 50 shotgun shells during the September dove hunts.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of quail, rabbit, raccoon, and opossum on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (b)(1)(i) through (iv) of this section apply.
(ii) We require dogs for hunting raccoon and opossum. All dogs must wear a collar displaying the owner's contact information.
(iii) Upland game hunters may possess shotguns with shot no larger than #4, or .22 caliber rimfire rifles or primitive muzzleloading rifles of .40 caliber or smaller. We prohibit possession of buckshot or slugs.
(iv) Upland game hunters using archery equipment must use small game tips on the arrows.
(v) All persons participating in refuge firearms hunts and while en route to and from hunting areas must wear either a hat, coat, or vest of solid blaze orange. This does not apply to raccoon and opossum hunters.
(vi) We prohibit falconry.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer, turkey, coyote, and feral hog on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (b)(1)(i), (iii), and (iv) and (b)(2)(v) of this section apply.
(ii) Each youth hunter (age 15 and younger) must remain within sight and voice contact and under supervision of an adult age 21 or older. Each adult may supervise no more than one youth hunter.
(iii) Harvested deer, feral hog, or turkey must be checked at the designated check station prior to removal from the refuge. Hunters must complete the Harvest Report (FWS Form 3-2542).
(iv) During deer and turkey hunts, we prohibit hunters from entering the refuge earlier than 4 a.m. and staying on the refuge later than 2 hours after legal sunset.
(v) During the primitive weapons hunt, you may use bow and arrow, crossbows, muzzleloading shotguns (20 gauge or larger), or muzzleloading rifles (.40 caliber or larger). We prohibit revolving rifles and black-powder handguns.
(vi) During modern gun hunts, you may use shotguns, rifles (centerfire and larger than .22 caliber), handguns (.357 caliber or larger and barrel length no less than 6 inches [15 centimeters (cm)]), or any weapon allowed during the primitive weapons hunt. We prohibit military, hard-jacketed bullets, and .22 caliber rimfire rifles during the modern gun hunts.
(vii) 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.
(viii) We prohibit adults from possessing or discharging firearms during youth deer or turkey hunts.
(ix) We prohibit placing stands on the refuge more than 3 days prior to the opening day of each big game hunt period. You must remove stands at the end of each hunt period (see § 27.93 of this chapter).
(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We allow fishing from 1 hour before legal sunrise to 1 hour after legal sunset.
(ii) We prohibit bow fishing, fish baskets, nets, set hooks, trotlines, or snagging devices.
(iii) We prohibit snagging of fish by pulling or jerking any device equipped with one or more hooks through the water for the purpose of impaling fish.
(iv) At Mays and Honkers Lakes, the creel limit on largemouth bass is five fish per person per day. All bass must be a minimum length of 12 inches (30 cm).
(v) We designate Oxpen Lake as adult-youth fishing only. A youth (age 15 and younger) must be actively fishing and accompanied by no more than two adults age 18 or older. We prohibit adults fishing unless a youth accompanies them. The creel limit on channel catfish is five fish per person per day.
(vi) We prohibit the use or possession of alcoholic beverages while fishing on the refuge.
(c) Ernest F. Hollings ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge -
(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of duck, goose, and coot on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We require each hunter to carry at all times while hunting a valid signed, current refuge hunting brochure.
(ii) Each youth hunter (age 15 and younger) must remain within sight and normal voice contact of an assistant, parent, or guardian age 21 or older. Youth hunters must have successfully completed a State-approved hunter education course.
(iii) We only allow hunting until 12 p.m. (noon) each day during the State waterfowl season.
(iv) You must remove portable blinds and decoys at the end of each day's hunt (see § 27.93 of this chapter).
(v) We only allow the use of dogs when migratory game bird hunting.
(vi) We allow scouting all year from legal sunrise to legal sunset.
(vii) You may access the hunt areas only by boat.
(2) [Reserved]
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer and turkey, and incidental take of feral hog, on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (c)(1)(i) and (ii) of this section apply.
(ii) Only youth hunters may hunt turkey on the refuge.
(iii) Except for the special quota permit hunts, we allow only archery or muzzleloader hunting for deer. During special quota permit hunts, we allow use of centerfire rifles or shotguns. We only allow shotguns for turkey hunts.
(iv) On hunt days, hunters and assistants, parents, or guardians may enter the refuge no earlier than 5 a.m. and must leave the refuge no later than 1 hour after legal sunset. We allow hunting from 1⁄2 hour before official sunrise until 1⁄2 hour after official sunset.
(v) We require all deer taken during any hunt to be checked at the designated refuge check station before removal from the refuge. In addition, all deer and turkey must be tagged (State-issued).
(vi) The refuge daily bag limit is two antlerless deer and one antlered buck that must have at least three antler points on one side. We define a “point” as an antler projection of at least 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) or more in length. The youth turkey hunter bag limit is one male turkey.
(vii) We allow incidental take of feral hog during deer hunts only. There is no size or bag limit on hogs. We may offer special hog hunts during and after deer season to further control this invasive species. We prohibit removal of live hogs from the refuge.
(viii) You must hunt deer from an elevated deer stand. We prohibit shooting big game from a boat.
(ix) All permanently fixed ground blinds are for the mobility-impaired hunt only.
(x) We prohibit crossbows on the archery hunts. We only allow muzzleloading rifles using a single projectile on the muzzleloader hunts. We prohibit buckshot.
(xi) You may use flagging to mark the site of hunter entry from roads or trails and again at the stand site. You may use clothespins with reflective tape between these sites to mark the route to the stand. Hunters must label all such markers with their last name and State hunting license number.
(xii) We require hunters to wear an outer garment visible above the waist that contains a minimum of 500 square inches (3,226 square centimeters) of solid, florescent-orange material at all times during the muzzleloader and mobility-impaired hunts for deer.
(xiii) 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.
(xiv) We prohibit accessing hunt units by watercraft.
(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We allow fishing in impounded waters contained within dikes and levees in the Beaufort County portion of the refuge annually from April 1 through August 31 during daylight hours. We close fishing during all remaining times within all refuge-impounded waters.
(ii) We only allow bank fishing.
(iii) We only allow hook and line sport fishing using rod and reel or pole.
(d) Pinckney Island 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) We only allow hunting on the refuge by lottery.
(ii) We require a refuge hunt permit (electronic form) for all hunters chosen in the lottery who are age 16 and older. You must sign the refuge hunt permit and carry it at all times when hunting.
(iii) Hunters must check-in at the designated check station and park in the designated area prior to hunting. We require personal identification at check-in.
(iv) 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.
(v) Each hunter may place one stand on the refuge during the week preceding the hunt. You must remove your stand at the end of the hunt (see § 27.93 of this chapter).
(vi) We prohibit the use of buckshot.
(vii) We prohibit hunting closer than 100 yards (90 meters (m)) to U.S. Highway 278 or the check station area, or closer than 200 yards (180 m) to the residence area.
(viii) Refuge personnel must check deer harvested during a scheduled hunt before hunters leave the refuge.
(ix) You may take five deer (no more than two antlered).
(4) Sport fishing. We allow sport fishing on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We allow saltwater fishing year-round in the estuarine waters adjacent to the refuge.
(ii) We prohibit freshwater fishing.
(e) Santee National Wildlife Refuge.
(1) [Reserved]
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of raccoon and opossum on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) We allow only primitive weapons. We prohibit hunting with exploding arrows, centerfire rifles, and handguns.
(ii) All refuge hunters age 14 and younger must show proof of successful completion of a hunter-education/safety course. A properly licensed adult age 21 or older must directly supervise (within sight and normal voice contact) hunters age 14 and younger. An adult may supervise only one youth.
(iii) We require hunters to possess a refuge hunt permit (signed refuge hunt brochure), a valid State hunting license, and government-issued picture identification while hunting.
(iv) You must check in all harvested animals at a designated check station. If no refuge employee is present at a designated check station to check the harvested animal, the hunter must record species harvest information on the provided data sheet (FWS Form 3-2405).
(v) You must check all animals taken on the refuge before removing the animal from the refuge and prior to 8:30 p.m. at the check station.
(vi) We require hunters to make a reasonable effort to retrieve wounded game. You must obtain permission from refuge personnel to enter a “No Hunting Zone” or “Closed Area” for any purpose.
(vii) We prohibit hunting from within 100 feet (30 meters (m)) of or across any roadway, whether open or closed to vehicular traffic, or from or within 300 yards (270 m) of any designated hunter check station or residence.
(viii) We open hunting areas from 5 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. during designated hunt periods.
(ix) We allow the use of dogs only for raccoon and opossum hunting. The dogs must wear a collar displaying the owner's contact information.
(x) We allow take of raccoon and opossum only during night hunting from the hours of 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. We prohibit hunting on Saturday nights and Sunday nights. Special State regulations apply for night hunting.
(xi) We only allow take of raccoon and opossum with a shotgun using shot size no larger than #4 or a .22-caliber rimfire rifle. We prohibit possession of buckshot or slugs.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (e)(2)(i) through (viii) of this section apply.
(ii) We prohibit night hunting of deer and feral hogs. On the refuge, we define “nighttime” as from 1⁄2 hour after legal sunset to 1⁄2 hour before legal sunrise.
(iii) We allow the unlimited incidental take of feral hog while hunting during the day.
(iv) We prohibit trail flagging. You may use clothes pins with reflective tape/tack or commercially made reflective orange glow or trail clips to mark the path to the tree. You must mark all clips and pins with your full name, and you must remove them at the end of the hunt period (see §§ 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
(v) You must hunt deer and feral hog from portable elevated hunting stands. You must wear a safety belt or harness while using a hunting stand. We prohibit ground blinds. We allow only one stand per hunter, and each hunter must clearly mark stands with his or her State hunting license number.
(vi) You may place stands, clothespins, or clips, only on open hunt areas, on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday immediately prior to each hunt (from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m.). You must remove them by 8:30 p.m. on the last day of each hunt period (see §§ 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
(vii) We open the Plantation Islands (Cuddo Unit) to deer and feral hog hunting only from 5 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
(viii) Shooting hours are from 1⁄2 hour before legal sunrise until 1⁄2 hour after legal sunset.
(ix) We allow the use of nonmotorized boats for accessing the unit's interior canals to inland areas open to hunting.
(x) 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) Anglers must sign and possess a refuge fishing permit (signed brochure), and possess government-issued picture identification, while fishing on the refuge. We require all recreational fishing boat operators to have one refuge fishing permit per boat.
(ii) We open Cantey Bay (Bluff Unit), Black Bottom (Cuddo Unit), and Savannah Branch (Pine Island Unit) only to boating and fishing, from March 1 through October 31.
(iii) We allow fishing access in interior freshwater canals and ponds only by canoes or kayaks, or by foot or bicycle travel only.
(iv) We prohibit attaching trotlines, bush/limb lines, fishing devices, signs, or any other objects to trees, posts, or markers within refuge boundaries.
(f) Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. Refer to § 32.29(h) for regulations.
(g) Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge -
(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of duck, goose, dove, woodcock, and snipe on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) You must possess and carry at all times while hunting a signed, current refuge hunting regulations brochure (signed brochure), which serves as the hunt permit.
(ii) Each youth hunter age 15 and younger must remain within sight, within normal voice contact, and under the supervision of an adult age 21 or older, except when participating in the Federal youth days waterfowl hunt, when the youth hunter must be under the supervision of an adult age 18 or older. We do not require youth hunters to have a hunter-education card for migratory gamebird hunting, but they must possess a signed refuge hunting regulations brochure. The supervising adult must comply with all State and Federal hunting license requirements and also possess a signed refuge hunting regulations brochure. Each supervising adult may supervise no more than two youths.
(iii) We allow waterfowl hunting only until 12 p.m. (noon) each Saturday and Wednesday during the State waterfowl season. Hunters may enter the refuge no earlier than 5 a.m. on hunt days and must be off the refuge by 2 p.m.
(iv) We allow scouting Monday through Friday during the waterfowl season. Hunters must be off the refuge by 2 p.m.
(v) Hunters must remove portable blinds and decoys from the refuge at the end of each day's hunt (see § 27.93 of this chapter).
(vi) We allow the use of dogs only while hunting. We require dogs to wear a collar displaying the owner's contact information.
(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of gray squirrel, raccoon, and opossum on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (g)(1)(i), (ii), and (vi) of this section apply.
(ii) We allow hunting only on days designated annually by the refuge within the State season.
(iii) You may possess only nontoxic shot (see § 32.2(k)) no larger than #2 in shotguns for hunting. We allow .22-caliber rimfire rifles.
(iv) We prohibit shooting any game from a boat except waterfowl.
(v) We prohibit upland game hunting during refuge big game hunts.
(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of white-tailed deer, feral hog, and turkey on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:
(i) The conditions set forth at paragraphs (g)(1)(i) and (g)(2)(ii) and (iv) of this section apply.
(ii) We allow archery, muzzleloading (black powder), rifles (centerfire larger than .22 caliber), and shotguns according to refuge unit-specific regulations. We allow muzzleloading rifles that use only a single projectile on the muzzleloader hunts. We prohibit buckshot, rimfire ammunition, and full-metal-jacketed military ammunition.
(iii) We allow scouting all year during daylight hours except during the State waterfowl season. During the waterfowl season, the same regulations that apply to scouting for waterfowl (paragraph (g)(1)(iv) of this section) apply to scouting for big game species.
(iv) Hunters may enter the refuge no earlier than 5 a.m. on hunt days and must leave the refuge no later than 1 hour after legal sunset.
(v) We allow harvest of only one antlered deer for each hunt session; you may not exceed harvest of a total of three antlered deer per year. We allow harvest of three antlerless deer per season; you may not exceed harvest of more than two antlerless deer per day.
(vi) You may take feral hogs during refuge deer hunts. There is no size or bag limit on hogs.
(vii) We prohibit hunting on or within 100 feet (30 meters) of all routes marked as roads or trails on the hunt brochure map.
(viii) You must hunt deer and feral hog from an elevated hunting stand.
(ix) We allow only one portable tree stand per hunter, and you must clearly mark it with your State hunting license number. We prohibit placing deer stands on the refuge more than 3 days prior to the opening day of a hunting session. Hunters must remove stands from the refuge no later than 3 days after each refuge big game hunt (see § 27.93 of this chapter).
(x) We allow hunters to use flagging to mark the site of hunter entry from roads or trails and again at the stand site. We allow hunters to use clothes pins with reflective tape between entry and stand sites to mark the route to the stand. You must label all pins with your last name, and you must remove them at the end of the hunt (see §§ 27.93 and 27.94 of this chapter).
(xi) We require hunters to wear an outer garment visible above the waist that contains a minimum of 500 square inches (3,226 square centimeters) of solid, fluorescent-orange material at all times during big game hunts except for wild turkey.
(xii) We prohibit organized drives. We define a “drive” as an organized or planned effort to pursue, drive, chase, or otherwise frighten or cause game 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 game.
(xiii) We allow crossbows only during the big game hunting sessions, when we allow muzzleloaders and modern weapons.
(xiv) Each youth hunter age 15 and younger must remain within sight, within normal voice contact, and under supervision of an adult age 21 or older. Each youth hunter must possess a signed refuge hunting regulations brochure. We require youth hunters who are sitting in a hunting stand by themselves to possess a valid hunter-education card. The supervising adult must comply with all State and Federal hunting license requirements and possess a signed refuge hunting regulations brochure. Each supervising adult may supervise a maximum of one youth.
(xv) We only allow deer and hog hunting on the uplands of Sandy Island during a special archery-only lottery hunt. Hunters must apply for lottery entry (name/address/phone number) and are chosen by a random selection process. There is a quota on the number of hunters selected for this hunt.
(4) Sport fishing. We allow fishing on designated areas of the refuge.
[84 FR 47675, Sept. 10, 2019, as amended at 85 FR 54139, Aug. 31, 2020; 86 FR 48875, Aug. 31, 2021]