Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge

2020 Deer Hunt Rules & Regulations

Deer hunting is governed by applicable HUNTING HOURS WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION federal, state, and local regulations • Hunting hours are per state • Only 20 gauge shotgun or larger, unless otherwise noted below. regulations and/or bow and arrow or • Hunters will be admitted into the crossbows in accordance with state Public deer hunting by shotgun and refuge approximately one hour and federal regulations is permitted. bow is permitted on the Refuge on before legal hunting hours. • Hunters may use buckshot and/or hunting dates listed below and in Hunters should not arrive at the rifled slugs. hunting areas shown on the map. A entrance gates before 5:00 am. print-out of your Refuge Deer Hunt • Hunters must leave the refuge and signed permit and a valid Virginia or sign out no later than one hour HUNTER ORANGE after legal hunting hours, unless North Carolina hunting license and tags All hunters are required to wear the hunter is in the process of shall be carried when hunting on the hunter blaze orange or pink dragging deer. Refuge. Signing of the permit means according to state regulations.

you agree to abide by all terms and

conditions of that permit including all federal and state applicable laws, REFUGE ACCESS PROHIBITED • Access to the deer hunt areas will rules, regulations, maps, and signs. • The use of boats on Lake Violations of regulations will result in be allowed only through the three designated entrances: Railroad Drummond, the Feeder Ditch, or the cancellation of your hunt permit Ditch Road and Jericho Lane in the Dismal Swamp Canal for any and may lead to prosecution in VA, and Corapeake Ditch Road in reason while in the refuge on federal court. NC. your hunt permit. • All hunters must sign in and sign • Discharging a firearm across, or Hunters utilizing the refuge are out at the designated entrance within 50 feet of, a refuge road, subject to inspections of permits, points each time they enter and including roads closed to vehicles. leave the refuge. licenses, equipment, bag limits, • Hunting, pursuing, capturing, vehicles and their contents during • Refuge-wide speed limit is 25 mph on all refuge roads unless chasing, stalking, injuring, compliance checks by Refuge Officers, destroying, or attempting to do State Wildlife Officers, and other otherwise posted. • the same for white-tailed deer state/local law enforcement officers. Specific hunt areas may be closed due to management activities, on or within 50 feet of a refuge road, including roads closed to SEASON AND BAG LIMITS emergencies, or inclement weather that renders refuge roads vehicles. Dates: October 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17 • unsafe to travel. The use of trailers, or parking and November 6,7,13,14,20,21, vehicles in any manner which • 2020. Some roads may be closed to block roads (including roads vehicles, but open to foot traffic. closed to vehicles). Either sex deer may be taken all • The use of permanent markers, season in accordance with state such as paint, to locate stands or regulations. TREE STANDS trails. Tree stands are allowed according to • Baiting or hunting over bait. SCOUTING state regulations but must be removed • Use or possession of alcoholic A scouting day will be held on by the last day of the Refuge hunt beverages. September 26, 2020 from 8:00 am to season (Nov. 21). Hunters will not be • Camping, fires, and all overnight 2:00 pm. Only hunters with signed permitted to return for any part of their use. permits will be allowed into hunting stand after the last hunt day. • Possession of dogs on the refuge areas on the scouting day. Guests will Government is not responsible for lost during any designated hunt date not be allowed to enter with permit or stolen property. The use of nails, while in the refuge on a hunt holders. screws, or any other material that may permit. damage trees are not allowed.

DISABLED HUNTERS Great Dismal Swamp NWR Hunting is allowed in the Disabled Office: 3100 Desert Rd Hunting area with an additional Suffolk, VA 23434 refuge Disabled Hunters permit. Contact refuge office to obtain 757-986-3705 special permit.