U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Eastern Massachusetts National Wildlife Refuge Complex 73 Weir Hill Road Sudbury, MA 01776 978/443 4661 Eastern 978/443 2898 Fax www.fws.gov/refuge/great_meadows Massachusetts Federal Relay Service for the deaf and hard-of-hearing National Wildlife 800/877 8339 Refuge Complex US Fish & Wildlife Service 1 800/344 WILD http://www.fws.gov Hunt Regulations May 2014 and Information

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M 9 AR 84 Wildlife Refuge C H 3, 1 Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge Welcome Welcome to the Assabet River, Hunt Seasons Assabet River NWR is open for the Great Meadows and Oxbow national hunting of white-tailed deer (archery, wildlife refuges. These refuges are muzzleloader, shotgun), spring part of the Eastern Massachusetts turkey, American woodcock, ruffed National Wildlife Refuge Complex grouse, Eastern cottontail rabbit, This goose, designed by and are three of the eight refuges and gray squirrel. Great Meadows J.N. “Ding” Darling, has in the Complex and more than 550 NWR is open for white-tailed deer become the symbol of the National Wildlife Refuge national wildlife refuges in the (archery only) and waterfowl (ducks System. country. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife and geese). Oxbow NWR is open Service administers these refuges for white-tailed deer (archery, and is responsible for conserving, muzzleloader, shotgun), spring and protecting and enhancing the nation’s fall turkey, waterfowl (ducks and fish and wildlife populations and their geese), snipe, American woodcock, habitats for the continuing benefit of ruffed grouse, Eastern cottontail the people. rabbit, and gray squirrel. NOT ALL PARTS OF EACH REFUGE In response to hunter feedback and ARE OPEN FOR EACH HUNT to streamline the hunt program, SEASON. Be familiar with the hunt some refuge regulations and maps and regulations to ensure you procedures have changed. Hunters are hunting in an open area. are encouraged to read this information carefully. Archery permits are valid during shotgun and muzzleloader seasons. It is imperative that you conduct yourself with the highest level of Applicable refuge hunting dates consideration for the safety and and times correspond to state enjoyment of others. Please respect regulations. See state abstracts for and observe refuge regulations, details. boundaries and safety zones. A lack of responsibility on Refuge Permits All hunters are required to have a your part could result in refuge-issued permit along with state a reduction or closure licenses in their possession to scout of refuge hunting or hunt on each refuge. Information opportunities in the about the application process is future. provided in a separate handout.

Refuge The information provided below Regulations and outlines refuge-specific hunt Information regulations. Persons possessing, transporting, or carrying firearms on national wildlife refuges must comply with all provisions of state and local Gray law. Persons may only use (discharge) squirrel firearms in accordance with refuge regulations (50 CFR 27.42 and specific refuge regulations in 50 CFR Part 32). Please contact us if you are confused about any of our special regulations. Closed Areas during the hunting season. Please Not all areas of the three refuges exercise caution when hunting on are open for hunting. Please ensure or near the rivers or near nature that you are hunting on land or along trails. It is your responsibility to rivers where hunting is allowed. The know where trails are located. Also maps in this brochure show where realize that some people may wander hunting is allowed. Hunters must also comply with the 500-foot safety zone around occupied buildings and 150- Woodcock foot safety zone from public roads.

off trails (even though they are not supposed to!). Please be aware that Duck non-hunters may not know that taking hunting is allowed on some parts flight of the refuges. Be respectful at all times.

Refuge Management Activities Refuge staff, volunteers and contractors may be working at any time on any of the refuges during hunting season. Our management activities for wildlife and habitat management are important and will Waterfowl hunting at Great Meadows continue to be conducted during the NWR is authorized between the hunt season. We apologize if our buoys on the Concord and Sudbury activities disturb your hunt, but some Rivers. These buoys have been disturbance will be unavoidable. installed to indicate where hunting is allowed. Waterfowl hunting on the Parking rivers is allowed only between buoys You will receive a parking pass with 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, and 7 and your refuge permit. The number on 8. There are no buoys on the Nashua this pass will correspond with your River as waterfowl hunting there is permit number. The pass must be only allowed south of Route 2 to the visible on your dashboard at all times Still River Depot Road boat launch. when parked in a designated hunter parking lot. Nature Trails Nature trails are located on all Hunter lots are shown on the hunt refuges in areas where hunting is maps. You may be fined or towed if allowed. Other outdoor enthusiasts your vehicle blocks gates, roads or may be using the Nashua River, buildings. Sudbury River or Concord River Turkey Some parking areas are on Tree stands non-refuge lands (Rt. 225 boat Refuge hunters will be allowed to launch in Bedford and Lake keep one tree stand on each refuge George Street in Devens) or during the white-tailed deer archery, are commonly used by the shotgun and muzzleloader seasons. general public to access Tree stands must be marked with the Sudbury River. the hunter’s permit number in such a Please be courteous fashion that it can be visible from the of others if ground. Tree stands may be put up parking in these as soon as the first eligible scouting areas. Also, day of the permitted season and ensure you must be removed by January 15. Any are on refuge tree stand remaining on the refuge property after January 15 may be confiscated. before you Climbers or ladder type tree stands begin hunting. are recommended. Nails, spikes, screws or other objects may not be At Great driven into any tree to access or Meadows secure the stand. NWR, hunters MUST NOT Having a tree stand in place does access the not claim your right to a specific refuge from area of the refuge. Hunters must Town of Carlisle rely on good judgment and hunter conservation ethics to avoid conflict. Tree stands lands. Parking left up are done so at the sole risk is available in of the hunter. Stands left on the the hunter lot at 342 Maple Street, refuge may be secured with a lock. Carlisle. Please be courteous as this The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a private residence. is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged property. Scouting Scouting may begin four weeks prior to opening day of the permitted season. Hunters may scout any day, sunrise to sunset. Hunters engaged in scouting must carry state and refuge licenses and permits.

Hours Hunters may enter the refuge no earlier than one and one-half hours before legal hunting hours and leave no later than one and one-half hours after legal sunset. Eastern cottontail rabbit Youth hunting alone is NOT permitted. This is not Any child only a safety consideration, but it between the ages is also respectful of refuge visitors, of 12 and 17 can staff or contractors who may be in receive a refuge the area. During turkey season, hunting permit hunters must wear an orange cap (not subject to when moving to and between their White-tailed lottery process) and hunt location. deer must be accompanied by a licensed hunter Refuge boundaries 18 years of age or older We have tried to clearly mark refuge when hunting. boundaries. However, not all refuge areas are completely signed. Please Non-hunting refer to the refuge maps and call the companion refuge office if you need clarification We no longer issue on a refuge boundary. companion hunt permits. However, we will allow Approved shot each permitted hunter Hunters may possess only approved to be accompanied non-toxic shot when hunting by one non-hunting ruffed grouse, rabbit, squirrel and companion. Non- migratory birds. hunting companions cannot engage in Dogs the act of hunting Dogs are not allowed on any of the but they can refuges during scouting. For seasons help retrieve and carry where State regulations allow the use downed game. All companions must of dogs, we allow no more than two carry personal identification with dogs per hunting party. them and be willing to show it to any law enforcement official. Non-hunting companions must be close enough to Canvasback the hunter to speak to them without decoys raising their voice.

Hunter orange During any season in which it is legal to hunt deer with a shotgun or muzzleloader, we require all hunters to wear a minimum of 500 square inches of solid-orange clothing or material on their chest, back and head (except if hunting waterfowl from a blind or boat). During all other times, hunters engaged in Decoys woodcock, ruffed grouse, squirrel, or Decoys can only be used while cottontail rabbit hunting at Assabet hunting waterfowl or turkey. River or Oxbow NWRs, as well as snipe hunting at Oxbow NWR, are Trail markers required to wear at the minimum a We do not permit the marking of any solid-orange hat. Camouflage orange tree, trail, or other refuge feature with flagging or paint. Hunters may at 1 800/632 8075. They will contact a use reflective tacks and other small Federal Wildlife Officer. The future reflective markers, which need to be of hunting on the refuges requires removed at the end of the season. We responsible hunter behavior and encourage the use of a GPS to avoid compliance with regulations. You putting up markers. can help us by complying with these regulations, reporting unethical Law enforcement hunter behavior and providing us Hunting permit holders are subject with feedback. to inspections of permits, licenses, hunting equipment, bag limits, Thank you. Have a safe and boats, vehicles, and their contents enjoyable hunting experience. by federal or state law enforcement officers. Hunters are required to For information on how to apply, present their permit upon request to please contact us at: any refuge staff member. Eastern Massachusetts National Prohibited • Driving of deer by any means Wildlife Refuge Complex Activities • Littering 73 Weir Hill Road • Use of a spotlight or other artificial Sudbury, MA 01776 light to locate wildlife 978/443 4661 • Baiting or hunting over bait or salt http: //www.fws.gov/refuge/ • Use of electronic calls great_meadows/ • Driving or screwing a nail, spike To apply online, visit or other metal object into a tree http//www.easternmapermits.com or hunting from any tree in which such an object has been driven • Trimming or cutting vegetation greater than the diameter of a quarter • Use or possession of alcoholic beverages while hunting • Use of ATVs, dirt bikes and/or other motorized vehicles • Target practice Ruffed • Camping and campfires grouse • Overnight parking • Searching for, or removing, any object of antiquity including arrowheads, pottery or other artifacts • Blocking gates or roadways with vehicles • Dog training

An Important Our wildlife is a valuable resource. Message Laws and regulations are intended to protect them. Hunters are encouraged to report any violations by calling the refuge during business hours. After hours contact Massachusetts Environmental Police

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