News Release

2024-2045 Duck Blind Permits

Date: August 13, 2024
Contact: Nicholas Pulfer, 252-838-8900

HARKERS ISLAND, NC – – For the 2024-2025 duck hunting season, Cape Lookout National Seashore 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 before they enter the lottery. 

The lottery will open at 9:00 A.M. (EDT) on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, and will close at 5:00 P.M. (EDT) on Thursday, August 29, 2024. There is a $10 registration fee to enter the lottery. There are a limited number of lottery slots.  

After the lottery closes, 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 a time for their in-person appointment.

In-person appointments will take place throughout the day on Friday, September 13^th at the Harkers Island Visitor Center (131 Charles St. Harkers Island, NC 28531). In-person appointments allow lottery winners 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 1^st blind, and a $25.00 fee for the second blind ($75.00 total for 2 blinds). These in-person appointments on Friday, September 13 will be scheduled in 15-minute intervals from 8:00 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. (EDT). 

You MUST bring the following:

• Valid driver’s license or identification card
• North Carolina hunting license
• Signed federal duck stamp or federal e-stamp

If you arrive for an in-person appointment without ALL these documents, you will not be issued a permit and will forfeit your 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, September 16, 2024.

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 13, 2024, until March 31, 2025. Blinds must be removed by the permittee no later than March 31, 2025. 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.

Commercial hunting (or fishing) guides must obtain a permit to conduct commercial activities in a national park. To obtain a Commercial Use Authorization (CUA) permit, guides should contact park Business Manager, Katherine Cushinberry at [phone]. Guides with a CUA permit may advertise that they are an authorized hunting guide for Cape Lookout National Seashore. 

Guiding without a CUA permit may be prosecuted and result in the loss of lottery/hunting privileges at Cape Lookout National Seashore.

For more information regarding the 2024-2025 Duck Blind Lottery at Cape Lookout National Seashore, contact Chief Ranger Nicholas Pulfer at 252-838-8900.