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Hunting on the Refuge

Deer hunting at the Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge for the purpose of wildlife management will be permitted over four weekends this Fall 2009. Refuge Manager Mark Williams, in an interview with the Marshall News Messenger 7/17/09 stated: “We’ve got deer overpopulation in some areas of the refuge. Plus we need to establish some biological data. The most efficient way to obtain that data is through a gun hunt.”

 

In order to participate in a raffle, applicants hoping to be selected for one of the 140 permits were required to submit their names and addresses on a 3 X 5 inch postcard and mail it to the refuge by 7/31/09.

On Friday, August 14, 2009 a public drawing was held in front of the refuge administration building. 140 names were selected at random by drawing cards from a wire cage. Selectees will be notified by the refuge office.

Refuge Manager Mark Williams, assisted by Katelynn Price and John Stevens conducted the drawing. Approximately 30 area hunters, Harrison County Sheriff Tom McCool, and HCSO Captain John Hain also attended. The event was also photographed by the Marshall News Messenger.


CADDO LAKE WILDLIFE REFUGE HOURS CHANGE TEMPORARILY
November 2009
Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge will be conducting a biological data collection deer hunt each weekend (Friday though Sunday) in November. Public access to the Refuge will be closed while the deer hunts are conducted. The closure of the Refuge is temporary and normal seven day per week access will begin again in December. The successful completion of the biological survey and concern for public safety are the priority considerations concerning the closure.

According to Mark Williams, Refuge Manager, information gathered during the November hunts will allow the Refuge staff to manage for optimum wildlife habitat conditions on the Refuge and enhance quality compatible public use for the visiting public in the future. Williams said, “It is unfortunate that the scheduled hunt comes so close on the heels of the official opening of the Refuge. We were pleased to have had a tremendous amount of public support on opening day, and have had a steady stream of visitors since then. We hope that visitors will not be discouraged by the temporary lapse in hours of weekend operation. People who wish to visit the Refuge in November will be able to do so during daylight hours Monday through Thursday of each week”.
Normal hours of operation will resume in December. For additional information, contact the Refuge Headquarters at 903/679-9144.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Click here to review to U.S. Fish & Wildlife Refuge System Hunting Information

State and Federal Regulations

  • Everyone who hunts on a national wildlife refuge must have the required state license(s). (State government links are provided under under the State Licenses tab.) Some refuges also require their own permits and/or user fees. These are noted in this guide.
  • Everyone over 16 years old who is hunting migratory waterfowl must have a Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp). Proceeds from these stamps are used to purchase wetland habitat for waterfowl. More than $700 million have been collected from the sale of Duck Stamps since 1934, leading to purchase of over five million acres of wetland. In some cases, state stamps are also required.
  • All state and/or refuge regulations for bag and possession limits must be followed, as well as those for tagging and checking in after the hunt.
  • Federal law (Title 50 of the Code of Federal Regulations) allows only non-toxic shot for upland and waterfowl hunting in Waterfowl Production Areas and Wetland Management Districts. Most refuges ban toxic shot.
  • Follow state and/or refuge rules for wearing hunter orange.
  • In some cases, a boat will be required to access hunting areas. While refuges have different rules on boats, all require adherence to U.S. Coast Guard and state regulations.

Refuge Requirements

  • Hunting on refuges is permitted during certain time periods and in designated areas only, and these are subject to change. It is critical to contact the refuge for authorized activities and current guidelines before your visit.
  • You may only hunt species specified by the refuge.
  • The distribution of bait and/or hunting over bait is strictly prohibited.
  • Some refuges require hunters to have hunter education certificates or bow hunters to have completed the International Bowhunter Education Course. Check individual refuge regulations.
  • Dogs are permitted only in certain types of hunting, and, in a few cases, retrievers are required.
  • Vehicles are allowed only on roads designated as open. Unless stated otherwise, all terrain vehicles (ATVs) and off-roading are strictly prohibited.
  • Hunters may not use nails, wires, screws or bolts to attach a stand to a tree, nor may they hunt from a tree in which a metal object has been driven to support a hunter.
  • If portable blinds and/or decoys are permitted, they generally must be removed from the refuge each day.

The use of artificial light to locate or take an animal is prohibited.

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