SEASHORE DUCK BLIND PERMITS AVAILABLE FOR THE 2007-2008 HUNTING SEASON

Date: August 14, 2007
Contact: Wouter Ketel, [phone] Ext. 3005

Harkers Island, North Carolina. Acting Superintendent Charles Cranfield announces that permits for temporary duck blinds will be available at the Harkers Island Visitor Center beginning Tuesday, September 4, 2007, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., and thereafter Monday through Friday. 

PLEASE NOTE -- THE REGISTRATION PROCESS HAS BEEN CHANGED! 

For the 2007-2008 season, the park will utilize a lottery system to determine the initial order for registration.  All hunters who are present at the Harkers Island Visitor Center at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 4 will draw a numbered ticket.  This ticket will determine the order for registering a duck blind permit. All hunters who arrive after 9:00 a.m. and are not present at the start of the lottery, will register on a first come first serve basis after the initial lottery participants have registered and selected their blinds.

There is no charge for the permit this year, but a charge is likely for the 2008-2009 season. If you are interested in obtaining a Duck Blind Permit, please bring YOUR CURRENT NORTH CAROLINA STATE HUNTING LICENSE with a FEDERAL DUCK STAMP, a PICTURE IDENTIFICATION (DRIVER’S LICENSE), and be prepared to identify your blind location on a topographic map.

Superintendent Cranfield noted that the change to a lottery for the first day of registration is based on numerous suggestions from hunters. “The duck blind permit program is an effort by the park to work with hunters to develop a workable program,” said Cranfield, “we know that more work is needed and invite the public to make suggestions and to comment on the program.”

Hunting is permitted within Cape Lookout National Seashore, subject to State of North Carolina hunting regulations, as well as Federal law. The Duck Blind Permit allows hunters to place and leave temporary duck blinds in the park from September 4, 2007 until March 31, 2008. Blinds must be removed by the permittee no later than March 31, 2008. Construction of permanent duck blinds is illegal. Hunters are advised that failure to obtain a permit or failure to remove blinds at the end of the permit period may result in prosecution (fines), a bill for the cost of removing the blind, and/or exclusion from the program in future years. Illegal duck blinds found in the park will be removed without notice and the cost of removing illegal and abandoned blinds significantly adds to the cost of the program, costs that must be recovered as a fee.

Commercial hunting (or fishing) guides are expected to obtain a permit to conduct commercial activities in a national park. Guides should contact park Concessions Manager Mike McGee about permits at [phone], extension 3030.