Waterfowl hunting on Bodie Island is by reservation lottery only. To register for the lottery, you will need to complete a Reservation Request Form (RRF).
- Only one (1) RRF application per licensed hunter will be accepted. Submitting more than one (1) RRF application may result in the disqualification of all submissions.
- The October duck hunting season scheduled from October 3 – 6, 2012. There are no blinds available and hunting will be from "designated areas".Hunter are encouraged to be prepared to hunt from marsh conditions and are encouraged to bring such items as a pop-up blind and marsh seat.
- Failure to comply with RRF application instructions may result in disqualification of the application.
- The National Park Service holds a lottery to select 20 reservations per hunting day from the RRFs received. Winners will be notified of the hunting dates allotted/assigned them.
- No person will receive more than six (6) reservation days for the entire hunting season. Requests for single dates, three sets of two days, or two sets of three days each are permissible.
- Persons holding reservations (lottery winners) must be present at Whalebone Information Center for the drawing at 5 a.m. on the day of the reservation. Hunter registration will begin at 4:30 a.m.
- Any hunting area remaining after the day's drawing will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis to walk-in hunters.
Cancellations
Hunt reservation cancellations must be made by telephone no later than twelve (12) hours prior to the drawing for the hunting area: (252) 473-2111 x131. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of your remaining reservations.
Bodie Island Waterfowl Hunt Reservation Lottery
The Bodie Island Waterfowl Season Hunt Reservation Lottery will be handled by mail. No phone calls please. To enter the reservation lottery, you must mail the following two items to:
BODIE ISLAND HUNT
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
1401 National Park Drive
Manteo, NC 27954
Item 1:
A correctly completed RRF with your name, address, phone number, date of birth, driver's license number (or state issued ID card number) and requested hunting dates. You may select six (6) preferred dates and six (6) alternate dates. This RRF will be used for the lottery draw.
Item 2:
A self-addressed stamped envelope to be used for notification of hunt dates should your RRF submission be drawn in the lottery.
APPLICATIONS FOR THE WATERFOWL SEASON MUST NOT BE POSTMARKED BEFORE 12:01 am SEPTEMBER 25, 2012, AND MUST BE RECEIVED PRIOR TO 5:00 P.M. ON OCTOBER 5, 2012.
Bodie Island Hunting Area Assignment Drawing
Hunt reservation holders must be present at the Whalebone Information Center at 5 a.m. the morning of the day of their reservation to participate in the random draw for hunting area assignments. Registration for the hunting area assignment draw will begin at about 4:30 a.m. After the draw, any hunting area not assigned will be immediately assigned on a lottery basis to available walk-in hunters. Assignments are for the day, no reassignments permitted, and hunting areas not assigned in the morning will remain vacant for the day.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore Hunting Regulations
Hunting areas are administered by the National Park Service with the assistance and cooperation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the State of North Carolina. All federal and state regulations are applicable and are enforced by National Park Rangers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Agents, and North Carolina Wildlife Officers.
National Park Service regulations carry a maximum fine of $5,000 and/or six months imprisonment for violations. Call 911 to report violations and emergencies.
- Only waterfowl hunting is permitted within Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
- Non-toxic shot is the required ammunition for all shotguns.
- Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset.
- Same-day set-up and removal of temporary blinds and structures by hunters is permitted on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. Minimum distance between hunting area shall be 300 yards unless other conditions, such as natural screening, justify a shorter distance.
- Bodie Island hunting area shall be occupied by no more than 2 hunters and 1 observer (guide).
- Only 2 guns are permitted in each Bodie Island hunting area.
- Trained dogs are permitted for waterfowl retrieval provided they are leashed when traveling to and from the hunting area. All dogs must be leashed at all times elsewhere in the park.
- Any departure from a Bodie Island hunting area (other than for retrieving ducks) terminates hunting privileges on Bodie Island for the remainder of the day.
- Vacating hunting parties on Bodie Island must formally check out at Whalebone Information Center within 1 hour of the completion of their hunt; hunters must provide information regarding their take. This information is used to monitor waterfowl populations.
- All hunters taking banded waterfowl are required to report all bands by calling 1-800-327-BAND or on the web at www.reportband.gov.
- "Jump shooting" of waterfowl is permitted only in the defined hunting areas on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands and is prohibited within 300 yards of any hunting area. Jump shooting of waterfowl is prohibited on Bodie Island.
- Hunting within your hunting areas will be a radius of 50 feet from designated post. It will be your responsibility to be aware of the distance.
- Same day set up and removal of hunting blind/temporary structure is permitted in the designated Bodie Island Hunting area.
- Hunter will not be allowed to bring in non-native or invasive species as cover or built any type of permanent structure.
- All permanent hunting blinds in the hunting area are closed to hunting.Any hunter hunting outside of the designated area or from a blind will be cited and their hunting will be terminated.
- Hazards exist in the hunting area, ensure that you maintain area awareness at all time.
Alcoholic beverages are not permitted in any permanent and/or temporary hunting area located within the boundaries of Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
