News Release

Cape Lookout National Seashore Duck Blind Permits Available for the 2022-2023 Hunting Season

Date: July 27, 2022
Contact: B.G. Horvat, 252-838-8906

HARKERS ISLAND, NC – – Superintendent Jeff West announces that for this year’s duck season, the park will continue to use a lottery system to determine the initial order for applicants to register their duck blinds with the park. To ensure a smooth experience in entering the lottery, interested duck hunting applicants should create an account on Recreation.gov (www.recreation.gov) before they enter the lottery. Applicants can enter the lottery beginning at 10:00 A.M. (EDT) on Friday, August 12 through 10:00 A.M. (EDT) on Sunday, August 14, 2022. There is a $10 registration fee to enter the lottery.

There is a limited number of lottery slots. On August 16th, Recreation.gov will randomly select the lottery order and assign an appointment time from the pool of applicants. Those lucky enough to receive one of the limited, initial lottery slots will receive notification via email from Recreation.gov. They will also receive an email from Cape Lookout National Seashore with their appointment time on Friday, August 26th to arrive at the Harkers Island Visitor Center where they will be able to select the location of their blind(s), complete the permit paperwork and pay their permit fees. Lottery winners may select a maximum of 2 blind locations. There is a $50.00 permit fee for the 1st blind, and a $25.00 fee for the second blind ($75.00 total for 2 blinds).

Appointments on Friday, August 26 will be scheduled in 15-minute intervals from 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. (EDT). You MUST bring your valid North Carolina driver’s license or identification card, your North Carolina hunting license and a signed federal duck stamp or federal e-stamp. Those without all these documents will not be issued a permit and will forfeit their scheduled lottery appointment.

Those not selected during the lottery or who can’t make their scheduled appointment time may come to the Harkers Island Visitor Center on a first come, first served basis beginning on Monday, August 29th, 2022.

Hunting is authorized within Cape Lookout National Seashore, subject to State of North Carolina hunting regulations, as well as Federal law. Duck Blind fees are used to administer and monitor the duck blind program. The Duck Blind Permit allows hunters to place and leave temporary duck blinds in the park from September 1, 2022 until March 31, 2023. Blinds must be removed by the permittee no later than March 31, 2023. 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 penalties, 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 and may have to be passed on to the hunters in future years.

Commercial hunting (or fishing) guides must obtain a permit to conduct commercial activities in a national park. Guides should contact park Business Manager, Katherine Cushinberry, about obtaining a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) permit at [phone]. The permit will be valid from September 13, 2022 through February 11, 2023. The CUA permit costs $237.50 plus a $75.00 Application Fee.

Guides with a CUA permit may advertise that they are an authorized hunting guide for Cape Lookout National Seashore. Those caught guiding without a CUA permit may be prosecuted and lose lottery/hunting privileges for a minimum of 2 years.

For more information regarding the 2022-2023 Duck Blind Lottery at Cape Lookout National Seashore, contact Ranger Evan Knight at 252-838-8929.